2020 Vios 1.3 XLE introduced by Toyota, gets only 3 airbags

MANILA: The Toyota Vios requires no introduction, does it? Moreover, the popularity of the sedan in the Philippines can be guessed by the fact that it is the top-selling passenger car in the country. Not only that, the Toyota Vios has been one of the safest cars out there with top-notch safety features throughout the lineup.

However, Toyota doesn't seem to be too happy with the recent sales figures and the performance of the Vios sedan in the Philippines. While the major factors behind the decline are the TRAIN laws and the new design language that didn't go down too well with the Filipinos, Toyota has taken a decision too strange to regain the hold and roll-out more and more units of the sedan out of the production facilities.

So, for the year 2020, Toyota has not only tinkered the Vios’ variant lineup but also made a few changes to some of the existing models in order to make them more affordable than before. For starters, the Japanese automaker has introduced a brand-new mid-range variant called Vios 1.3 XLE, which is based on the Vios 1.3 E model and features a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple Carplay. Also,

the new trim continues to offer both the 5-speed manual and the CVT gearboxes as well. The change, however, comes in the form of a reduced number of airbags, as the 2020 Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE gets only 3 airbags instead of 7. Hence, rather than having a set of driver-passenger-knee-curtain airbags, the new XLE includes just the driver, passenger, and driver knee airbags.

Similar to the 2020 Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE, other models like Vios 1.3 XE, Vios 1.3 J, and the Vios 1.3 Base will also now sport only 3 airbags. Other than the fewer airbags, the abovementioned trims continue to get Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA),

Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). As for the pricing, Toyota has priced the 2020 Vios 1.3 XLE at Php 841,000 and Php 791,000 for the CVT and the manual transmission, respectively. The new 1.3 XE, 1.3 J and 1.3 Base models, on the other hand, will have their prices hiked by Php 10,000 and retail at Php 748,000, Php 698,000, and Php 672,000, respectively.

All other models above the XLE trim, that is, the Vios E, Vios G, and the Vios Prime will continue to be available at the same prices as before. Considering how Toyota is a brand that vouches for safety and equips its cars with ample safety features, the decision to reduce the number of airbags on its top-selling passenger car in the country and then also increasing price is a nothing but a shocker.

Also read: Toyota Vios - What makes it desirable over its competitors?