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By Ulysses Ang, Contributor
Each time a car owner pumps gas, it also burns
holes in his pocket. And with little signs of reprieve from rising
gas prices, the way people choose their new cars are affected. What
was once a question of lust and desire has become one of
practicality and durability. In this regard, it’s no wonder that
the Toyota Vios has been a strong and formidable passenger car
contender since its market introduction.
Exciting it certainly isn’t, but the Vios
provides what the Philippine car market needs—everyday
transportation. With attributes such as refinement, reliability,
durability and customer satisfaction, the car buyer sees this as the
proper first step in new car ownership. It has certainly showed
itself in the way the Vios remained strong despite seeing countless
rivals come up. In fact, the Vios sold so well it held the top spot
in its class just as the new model debuted.
The all-new Vios follows the same recipe as its
predecessor. It doesn’t break new ground but offers countless
improvements in its mechanical and cosmetic aspects, which frankly,
makes it a formidable force in the next couple of years.
All in all, the second-generation model offers
much better packaging and refinement while boasting of improved fuel
economy and cost-effective maintenance—qualities that prove
popular with the typical consumer.
Externally, the Vios follows the Toyota familial
look started by the all-new Camry. The guppy-like headlamps are
surrounded by larger front bumpers that extend to the grille area.
The remaining areas of the car, such as the greenhouse and roofline,
have been given better flowing lines that smoothen out the Vios’
profile. Not only does the new design theme a very modern look, but
it adds bulk that’s complemented by 15-inch alloys (the test unit
provided by Toyota had sportier 17-inch wheels).
In addition, the 1.5 G has side-mirror-mounted
turn signal repeaters—a de rigueur luxury touch nowadays.
Thankfully, Toyota resisted giving the Vios a
beige interior color scheme and instead retains a sporty all-black
motif. A leather seating option that adds 60/40 split-fold
functionally in the rear seats is available on the 1.5-liter models,
but most people will find that an unnecessary and costly extra.
Silver-painted plastics on the audio and air-conditioning controls
visually uplift the cabin, while a plethora of storage spaces give
the Vios a thumbs-up from the fairer sex.
The overall layout of the Vios follows that of
its sister car, the Yaris, but with some minor changes. The most
obvious is the Y-shaped air-conditioning stack (the Yaris makes do
with a vertically arranged one) just below the center-mounted
gauges. The Optitron gauges are clear and legible under direct
sunlight and provides for a nice, unobtrusive view of the road
ahead. In addition, a trip computer with mileage and range function
has been added as standard—perfect for those who carefully monitor
their daily or weekly fuel consumption.
A height-adjustable seat with a tilting steering
column provides for sound ergonomics.
In terms of fuel consumption, the Vios posts an
impressive double-digit fuel-economy rating of 12.23 kilometers per
liter during my test drive period. I reckon the mileage could have
been better if not for the car’s rather surprisingly addictive
performance.
With VVT-I variable-valve timing technology, the
1.5-liter produces 107 horsepower and 142 Newton-meter of torque.
The test unit came with a five-speed manual that provides for
excellent off-the-line acceleration and overtaking prowess. Typical
of a Toyota four-cylinder engine, the Vios’ power plant uses its
wide torque band rather than peak horsepower to provide power when
needed. The manual gearbox is excellently matched to the engine and
gives one of the best shift actions fitted into a Toyota with its
smooth and precise engagement.
If clutching in traffic’s a turn-off, the Vios
is also available with a four-speed automatic.
Underneath the Vios is a chassis setup that’s
a basic carryover from the first-generation model. In front are
independent MacPherson struts and at the back is a torsion beam
axle. Though the chassis tuning doesn’t result in the most
exciting driving experience, it does lend a very composed and mature
feel on whatever road surface.
The test unit fitted, which is fitted with
45-series tires, still returned a soft, dampened ride. Four-wheel
disc brakes make it onto the Vios for the first time, and they
provide good bite despite their rather spongy pedal feel. However,
extra security is provided by standard antilock brakes with EBD and
brake assist.
The latest Vios certainly builds upon on the
strength of the previous one, but adds much more bang for the buck.
Though it offers nothing extraordinarily new in this segment, the
incremental improvements in features certainly makes it hard to top
in terms of overall packaging excellence.
But perhaps the most shocking thing is the Vios’
hefty price increase as it actually overlaps the base-model Corolla
Altis. That said, the Vios does provide a choice for the Filipino
car buyer who’s looking for refinement and durability. It’s no
surprise that both cars come with a big “T” on the grille.
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