LOFTY AMBITIONS
The country’s popular B-segment saloon gets a facelift — and a sporty-looking version on top of the range costing nearly 800,000 baht
WHAT’S NEW?
This is the mandatory mid-life facelift for the Toyota Vios, a highly popular B-segment saloon in Thailand.
As the four-door Vios has already received a new 108hp 1.5-litre petrol engine and CVT automatic transmission last year, Toyota has limited the changes to just the visual side.
Up front is where the main action is taking place. The grille design now comes closer in appearance to the bigger Corolla, while the garish bumper design apes that found in the all-new Camry that’s just been launched in the US earlier this year.
Tested here is the range-topping S model, which is being pitched as the sportiest Vios to look at. The cabin, in particular, is dominated by a mix of red and black colours on the fascia, door panels and seats, the last ones being billed by Toyota as “sporty” when compared to the lesser, cheaper versions wearing the G, E and J badges and doing without the S’s keyless entry and go function.
The price of the Vios S has been set at 789,000 baht — some 40k more than before. The others cost 729,000 baht for G, 679,000 baht for E and 609,000 baht for J.
WHAT’S COOL?
During the entire duration of our test drive, the Vios managed to make many heads turn. That’s probably due to two factors: the prominent face and the red body colour. Speaking of hues, the interior complements the Vios’ sporty mission.
Like its Honda City arch-rival, the Vios is a B-segment car that isn’t made to Ecocar rules. As a result, it comes with a reasonably punchy engine and responsive CVT auto to make performance ample in either city or highway driving.
The chassis in the Vios remains basically what most users are looking for: absorbent low-speed ride and easy handling.
WHAT’S NOT?
When the Vios was launched in its current generation over three years ago, we found the interior trimmings to be an all-out ordeal with hard plastics — and not the soft-touch type your eyes may have led you to believe. Sadly, that hasn’t changed.
And while driving oomph would probably be enough in most hands, you can always feel its power inferiority it succumbs to in the City’s 117hp 1.5-litre motor.
Then there’s the price of the Vios S which, to put it bluntly, is eye-watering at 789,000 baht — only 10k inside that of the entry-level Corolla C-segment saloon. And the Vios isn’t generously equipped, either.
For exactly what the Vios S asks for in price, you can get a range-topping Mazda 2 with two things the Toyota doesn’t feature: a raft of driver-assist technologies plus a punchier and far more economical 105hp 1.5-litre dieselturbo engine.
And for 38,000 baht less, the City can be had it top-ofthe-line form with additional side and curtain airbags; the Vios only has two frontal ones in whichever grade you opt for.
BUY OR BYE?
If you glance around the entire Thai B-segment — be it a car with or without Ecocar privileges — the Vios isn’t really an interesting choice anymore, bar its strong brand credentials.
The S model, especially, simply looks like a rip-off if you glance what’s available left or right. Its comparable rivals are much worth contemplating for.
Maybe it’s better to dip lower down the Vios range and settle for the lesser models, although be reminded that the basic J is really a stripped-out version deprived of several creature comfort items here and there.