Reasons to go for the Toyota Vios 1.5 G

Since 2003, when the first Vios was introduced locally by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), it has sold close to 300,000 units to date and just last year accounted for 25% of all passenger cars sold in the country.

Overall, the Toyota Vios owns more than 43% of its segment, making it the undisputed king of all passenger sedans.

When the all-new model was released in mid-2018, it brought with it a distinctly bold exterior, optimized interior comfort, signature Dual VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence), great fuel efficiency, and a comprehensive set of safety features.

It is also the only model in its segment whose variants are all certified by the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) with an astounding 5-star rating, the highest in its charts.

If you’re in the market for a subcompact sedan and want to see what the range-topping Vios 1.5 G offers, read on as we detail the specs and amenities so you can see why it the best-selling passenger car in the country.

Aside from the new face (a smaller implementation of the “keen look,” shiny new wraparound three-tier LED (light-emitting diode) headlamps and the large air intake panel, the shoulder line is a lot more expressive now as it sweeps up from the front fender, through the doors and up until the rear quarter panel.

It also comes with LED daytime running lamps with line guide, LED front fog lamps, color-keyed outer mirrors, side turn signal lamps built into the outer mirrors, chrome plated door outside handle grip, rear combination LED lamps with line guide, a fin-type antenna, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Full body measurements are 4,425mm in length, 1,730mm in width, 1,475mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,550mm.

The Vios 1.5 G uses Toyota’s 2NR-FE inline-four engine with a few features including EFI (electronic fuel injection), Dual VVT-i, and exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head to reduce emissions.

EFI is a system that allows for very precise control over how much fuel is sprayed into the cylinders by taking cues from the mass airflow sensor (MAF) that determines how much air is entering the engine at any given time. This improves cold and hot starting performance, provides optimum air/fuel mixture for starting, and allows for superior atomization that results from injection of the fuel as compared to fuel delivery from a carburetor.

Dual VVT-i works by adjusting timing on both intake and exhaust camshafts to allow engine start and stop to occur almost unnoticeably at minimum compression. It also rapidly heats up the catalytic converter, sending it to its light-off temperature to be able to significantly reduce hydrocarbon emissions.

Power output is 105hp and 140Nm of torque sent to a CVT or a five-speed manual transmission (MT).

An Optitron meter gauge is standard. It is a colored LED system that backlights the instrument cluster to make it easy on the eyes.

Climate controls also come standard along with a seven-inch touchscreen display with CD + MP3 + Weblink for iOS and Android + Bluetooth + USB + Aux-in. Audio is sent to six speakers.

It has a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and a steering column is tilt-adjustable and comes with EPS (electric power steering), which is more fuel efficient compared to hydraulic systems as it doesn’t use power from the engine to turn the vehicle.

The trim with the CVT comes with paddle shifters, an Eco drive mode, and Sport drive mode.

Both the CVT and the five-speed MT have leather-wrapped shift levers and knobs, a push-start system, and a light control system with Follow-me-Home feature.

Modern “power” features include power windows with jam protection on the driver’s side window and speed-sensing power door locks as well, and power-adjustable and power-retractable side mirrors.

Safety features include driver and passenger airbags, knee airbags (driver’s side only), side and curtain shield airbags, vehicle stability control, hill-start assist control, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, two three-point ELR (emergency locking retractor) seatbelts with pretensioner and force limiter in front and three three-point ELR seatbelts in the second row, child lock protection on second row doors, and a high-mount stop lamp.

The Vios 1.5 G also comes with TVSS (Toyota Vehicle Security System) and a Smart Entry system that allows you to unlock the vehicle without clicking the key fob (as long as you have the key fob on you like in your pocket or bag).

Body colors of the Vios 1.5 G include White Pearl, Super Red V, Grayish Blue Mica Metallic, Alumina Jade Metallic, and Black.

The Toyota Vios 1.5 G starts at P1.012 million for the MT and P1.071 million for the CVT.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines