TOYOTA WIGO— SMALL NOT SMALL

NOT surprisingly, many looked at the country’s longtime number-one carmaker when it released the Wigo hatchback years ago – effectively serving as the entry point to Toyota’s stable of quality vehicles. Predicated on a threecylinder, 1.0-liter engine, the Wigo endeared itself to many with its generous space and reasonable spunk.

Today, the Wigo starts at an affordable P576,000 for the manual transmission variant, and the G Grade we tested for Wheels comes out at P611,000. If you’re wondering, its power plant puts out 65hp at 6,000rpm and 89Nm at 4,400 – proving more than enough grunt to move its 860-kg. body, along with the people ensconced within.

P611,000 gets you 14-inch alloy wheels, a Navi-ready stereo system, power windows, steering wheel controls, and a sundry of features that aren’t standard fare for other “entry level” denizens. In fact, you tend to forget the that Wigo comes with an accessible price tag because it is, well, comfortable and user friendly. As STAR Motoring editor Manny de los Reyes confirmed, the rear seating is generous. Fellow columnist Angel Rivero, for her part, observed how comfortable the seats are. Indeed, the biggest thing about the Wigo is that, well, it is big. You might tend to overlook the hatchback on the road as another wee ride, but taking a ride in one will surprise you.

So, corny as it may be, it does make sense if we go in a Wigo.