Toyota Raize

The Toyota Raize has a surprisingly spacious interior, despite its compact size. Passengers are greeted with a modern and functional cabin that blends practicality with youthful and sporty aesthetics. The dashboard layout is clean and driver-centric, featuring a mix of soft-touch materials and hard plastics. Though not premium, it feels durable and well-assembled. 

The seating comfort in Toyota Raize is commendable for a compact SUV. The front seats are supportive and offers decent cushioning and bolstering for long drives. The fabric upholstery in the entry-level models is comfortable, while the higher trims get synthetic leather for a more premium touch.

The two front seats, like most compact SUVs, are the most spacious. The rear seats provide ample legroom and headroom for average-sized adults, though taller passengers may find it slightly snug, especially on longer trips. The rear bench is slightly upright and that may affect comfort over long trips. Three passengers seating at the back may make things a bit crammed. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Spacious cabin
• Functional design

Cons

• Fabric seats in lower trims
• Third-row comfort limited

Features and technology

The Toyota Raize gets an 8.0-inch or a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, depending on the model. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring seamless smartphone connectivity. The display is crisp and responsive, offering seamless touch controls that make navigating menus, adjusting settings, and accessing multimedia functions effortless. The infotainment unit is connected to a multi-speaker audio system.  

The car comes with a 7.0-inch instrument panel that’s intuitively laid out, ensuring that drivers can access important data without distraction. The inclusion of a multi-information display allows for quick toggling between trip details, fuel economy, and safety alerts. Additionally, the bright and crisp illumination ensures visibility in various lighting conditions. 

Convenience features like automatic climate control, push-start ignition, and a multifunction steering wheel (higher variants) further elevate the driving experience.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Keyless ignition
• Quick toggling instrument panel

Cons

• Touchscreen response sometimes delayed
• Cooling takes time
  

Boot space and storage

The Toyota Raize has 369 litres of boot space with all seats up. The boot space is further enhanced by a two-level adjustable deck board, allowing for better organization and flexibility when loading different types of cargo. The rear seats can be folded down 60:40 to increase the storage capacity. 

The cabin gets door pockets, a central console compartment, cup holders, and a glove box, ensuring convenience for passengers to store personal items. 

Pros

• Decent boot size
• Convenient door pockets

Cons

• Limited cargo with full seating
• No dedicated underfloor storage

The Toyota Raize boasts a bold and modern exterior design that effectively blends compact proportions with an assertive, SUV-like stance. Despite its relatively small size, the Raize exhibits a rugged and sporty character, courtesy the sculpted body lines, high ground clearance, and dynamic front fascia. The front end is dominated by a large trapezoidal grille, flanked by sleek headlights that give the vehicle a sharp and aggressive look. The car gets all-around LED lighting for the higher trims. The Toyota Raize’s front bumper sports angular detailing with integrated fog lamps and a skid plate, reinforcing its adventurous appeal.  The car is mounted on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform.

Moving to the side, the Toyota Raize sports a high beltline and muscular wheel arches. The car runs on 16-inch stylish alloy wheels that add to its sporty demeanour. The black plastic cladding around the wheel arches and lower body panels enhances its SUV-like toughness. At the same time, the floating roof design, achieved through a contrasting blacked-out C-pillar, gives the Toyota Raize a contemporary and youthful feel. 

At the back, the car continues its dynamic styling with edgy taillights, a sculpted tailgate, and a distinctive bumper completing its sporty and urban-ready aesthetic. The overall design of the Toyota Raize successfully strikes a balance between practicality and style, making it an appealing choice for drivers looking for a small yet visually commanding compact SUV. The car is available in Red, Gray Metallic, Silver Metallic, Turquoise Mica Metallic, Yellow SE Black, and White Pearl SE Black colour options.

The Toyota Raize measures 4,030mm in length, 1,710mm in width, and 1,635mm in height. The wheelbase is of 2,525mm, and ground clearance is around 200mm.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Large grille forges a bold look
• Vibrant colour options

Cons

• Plastic cladding may feel pedestrian
• No full-width light bar

The Toyota Raize is powered by a 1.0-liter 1KR-VET turbo engine paired to a D-CVT transmission with a split gear providing excellent fuel consumption. It can also produce a staggering 97 horsepower and 140 Nm of peak torque between 2,400 and 4,000 rpm; or a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 87 horsepower and 113 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT.

Is Raize fuel efficient?

Yes, The fuel economy of 2WD models is 18.6 kmpl, whereas 4WD variants can obtain around 17.4 kmpl, depending on the variant.

The suspension setup of the Toyota Raize is tuned for comfort, making it well-suited for city roads and light highway cruising. It absorbs minor road imperfections decently, but since it has a relatively short wheelbase and firm suspension, passengers may feel the impact of some of the harder bumps and potholes. 

The Toyota Raize, courtesy its compact dimensions, has a tight turning radius that makes navigating through traffic a breeze. The electric power steering is responsive, though it may feel slightly vague at higher speeds, which is typical for this segment.

When taking corners, the Toyota Raize remains stable for the most part, though some body roll is noticeable because of the higher ground clearance. However, for everyday driving, the handling remains predictable and confidence-inspiring.

Pros

• Stable at moderate speed
• Predictable handling

Cons

• Suspension sometimes get bouncy
• Slight body roll

The entry-level model of the Toyota Raize is equipped with a naturally aspirated, three-cylinder, 1.2 litre petrol engine that produces 87PS/113Nm. The motor is mated to a five-speed manual transmission (MT). The powertrain is well-suited for urban driving and daily commuting. The transmission is smooth. On highways, the ride quality is stable and the car feels planted, but the powertrain may feel underpowered. The three-cylinder engine produces some engine noise.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Smooth MT
• Perfect for daily commuting

Cons

• Underpowered for highway
• Noise insulation should have been better

The higher trims of the Raize gets the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) that includes pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, and adaptive cruise control (ACC) to enhance driver confidence and prevent accidents. The 360-degree camera and rear parking sensors aid in manoeuvrability, particularly in tight spaces. Standard safety equipment like antilock braking and vehicle stability control (VSC) further contribute to passenger protection. 

The Toyota Raize offers a balance of innovation and security, making it a superb choice for modern drivers.

Pros

• Antilock braking
• 360-degree camera

Cons

• No all-wheel-drive option
• TSS limited to top variants

Competitor comparison

Toyota Raize vs MG ZS Style: Both are compact SUVs. The Raize offers a fuel-efficient 1.0-litre turbocharged or 1.2-litre engine, a tech-friendly interior, and agile handling. Meanwhile, the MG ZS Style comes with a larger 1.5L engine, premium cabin features, and a spacious design. The Raize is ideal for urban drivers seeking efficiency, while the MG ZS Style appeals to those wanting a more refined ride with added comfort. Both models offer good value, but the Raize prioritizes practicality, whereas the ZS Style leans towards sophistication and space.

Toyota Raize vs Geely X3 Pro: The Toyota Raize and Geely X3 Pro are both compact SUVs offering practicality and affordability. The Raize comes with a 1.0L turbocharged engine, a spacious interior, and Toyota’s strong resale value. Meanwhile, the X3 Pro features a 1.5L engine, modern tech, and competitive pricing. Toyota ensures reliability, while Geely emphasizes affordability and features.

Conclusion

The Toyota Raize is a great compact SUV for those looking for a stylish, fuel-efficient, and feature-packed car at an affordable price. It’s a perfect urban SUV with Toyota’s trusted reliability. While it lacks a few premium features, its overall package makes it a strong contender in the subcompact SUV segment. 

Who should buy: Urban professionals, first-time buyers, young professionals