Toyota Wigo

The Toyota Wigo’s cabin follows a simple and functional design philosophy. Given its affordable pricing, the cabin isn’t premium, but it is well-organized and user-friendly. The dashboard features a clean, no-frills layout with easy-to-reach controls. The dashboard itself and door panels get hard plastic, but with some textured surfaces for a better feel. The plastic parts does look a bit cheap but enhances durability. Fabric upholstery with durable stitching is standard across all variants. The glossy black trim (on higher variants) add a modern touch. While there are basics sun visors, driver’s side in lower variants get no vanity mirror.

The Toyota Wigo is a compact city hatchback but still makes good use of its interior space. It can accommodate up to five passengers, though it’s best suited for four for optimum comfort. The two front seats, like in all hatchbacks, are the most comfortable. The driver’s seat is manually adjustable but provides decent visibility. All seats come with adequate padding. But they don’t get lumbar support for long drives. The steering wheel is non-adjustable, which may be a drawback for some drivers.

The rear seats are bench-type and offer good comfort for short to medium-length trips. Legroom and headroom is decent for a small hatchback. But the seats may feel uncomfortable for long drives, particularly for taller passengers. There are no rear air-conditioning vents, and that may be uncomfortable in hot weather.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Durable plastic materials ensure longevity

Con: Rear-seat not suitable for three adults

Features and Technology

The Toyota Wigo comes with an upgraded 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The screen is responsive but not very sharp as in the high-end models. The higher trims get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The entry-level model gets a two-speaker setup. Higher variants come with a four-speaker system. The system includes Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calls and music streaming, as well as USB ports. The analogue instrument cluster comprises a small digital multi-information display. The high-end models get steering-mounted audio and phone controls. The Toyota Wigo gets manual air-conditioning.

Pros and cons

Pro: Responsive touchscreen

Con: No automatic climate controls

Boot Space and Storage

The Toyota Wigo comes with a rear cargo capacity of around 265 liters, which is decent for a small hatchback. The Wigo doesn’t get the most spacious trunk in its segment, but it’s enough for everyday use. The rear-seat gets 60:40 split-folding option. Folding down the rear seats significantly increases the available storage, making it possible to fit larger items. 

Toyota’s compact hatchback comes with small storage solutions throughout the cabin, making the Wigo a very practical for daily use. Front-row occupants get a standard-sized glove box. Front doors have pockets that can hold a water bottle and a few other small items. Some variants offer a small open storage area below the air-conditioning controls, suitable for a phone or wallet. There are two cup holders in the front, located near the gear lever.

At the back, the car gets seatback pockets, available in some models. The rear door pockets have minimal space but can hold a small water bottle.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Practical boot

Con: No adjustable floor

The new-generation Toyota Wigo measures 3,760mm in length, 1,665mm in width, and 1,515mm in height. The car has a wheelbase of 2,525mm. The Toyota Wigo sports a modern and sporty exterior design. Unlike the previous models that looked simpler, the latest version has evolved with more aggressive styling. The front-end gets a bold hexagonal grille. The design varies by trim level, with some versions featuring gloss black accents and others a honeycomb mesh pattern. The sharp, angular headlights complement the grille. Higher trims gets LED daytime running lights (DRLs). The sculpted bumper with fog light housings (on higher variants) enhances the sporty character.

On the side, the hatchback gets a character line that runs from the front fender to the taillights, adding a sense of motion even when the car is stationary. Some trims get side skirts. The wheel arches are slightly flared. Depending on the variant, the Wigo rides on either 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps or 14-inch alloy wheels with a stylish multi-spoke design.

The rear-end of the Toyota Wigo is simple but attractive. It gets a high-mounted stop lamp for added visibility. The wraparound taillights are sleek and well-integrated into the design, giving the car a more modern look. The rear bumper is sculpted like the front. It gets black plastic inserts or reflectors for extra detail. The top-end models get a roof-mounted spoiler that enhances sporty aesthetics while improving aerodynamics.

The Toyota Wigo is available in Yellow, Gray Metallic, Silver Metallic, Orange Metallic, and Red Mica Metallic colour options. 

Pros and cons

Pro: Looks sporty and modern 

Cons: Entry-level model looks a bit flat 

The new-generation Toyota Wigo is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the Philippines' compact hatchback segment. Under city driving conditions, the car returns a mileage of around 14 kmpl. Highway mileage often reaches 20 kmpl. But the Toyota Wigo isn’t much of a highway car as the 1.0-litre engine feels underpowered. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Great city mileage

Cons: Highway performance feels underpowered

Being a lightweight car, the new-generation Toyota Wigo is easy to manoeuvre, particularly in city traffic. The electronic power steering is light, making city driving and parking effortless. However, at high speeds, it lacks feedback, which may not inspire confidence during aggressive driving. Since it's a compact car, the Toyota Wigo experiences some body roll when negotiating sharp corners. But it manages to retain its balance.

The Toyota Wigo uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam at the back that’s common among budget-friendly hatchbacks. The suspension is tuned to offer a balance between comfort and stability, but it's more on the firm side. It can feel stiff over rough roads. Small bumps and potholes are absorbed reasonably well. But the larger bumps or deep potholes may cause noticeable jolts inside the cabin. Some road noise does enter the cabin, though the powertrain is pretty silent.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Easy to manoeuvre

Con: Suspension gets hard sometimes

The 2024 Toyota Wigo is powered by the 1KR-VE 1.0-liter 12-valve DOHC 3-cylinder engine. This powerplant, equipped with variable valve timing, unleashes a spirited performance with 67 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque. Drivers can choose between a responsive 5-speed manual transmission or the convenience of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), offering a tailored driving experience to suit individual preferences.

The compact hatchback achieves a commendable balance of efficiency and power, ensuring a smooth ride through urban landscapes. The engine's variable valve timing enhances fuel efficiency and optimizes performance across various driving conditions. The fuel tank, with a capacity of 36 liters, caters to both short city commutes and longer journeys, providing a convenient range. 

The Toyota Wigo comes with a nice set of driver-assist features that include lane departure-alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The last-named feature maintains a set speed while adjusting to the distance of the vehicle ahead. Most of the driver-assist features are available only in the high-end models.

Active safety features of the  Toyota Wigo include anti-lock braking, vehicle stability control, and traction control that prevents wheel spin during acceleration on slippery surfaces to ensure better grip and stability, and hill-start assist. The compact hatchback also gets dual front airbags and side impact beams that reinforce the vehicle's structure to absorb and distribute impact energy during side collisions. The Toyota Wigo gets an impact-absorbing body structure that absorbs and dissipates crash energy, minimizing injury to passengers.

Pros and cons

Pros: Decent safety kit 

Con: Some rivals have better apparatus

Competitor Comparison

The Toyota Wigo has several competitors in the Philippines market and Geely X3 Pro is one of them. The Wigo is a compact hatchback while the X3 Pro is a subcompact crossover. The Wigo is known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability, making it an excellent city car. It has a 1.0L engine and a simple yet practical interior. The Geely X3 Pro offers a more powerful 1.5L engine, a more spacious and tech-loaded cabin, and a modern design. The Wigo excels in affordability and maintenance costs, while the X3 Pro provides better performance and comfort.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Toyota Wigo is a great choice for urban drivers wanting an economical and practical hatchback. It has a stylish design, offers great fuel economy, and comes with essential features at an affordable price. While the performance is not thrilling, it excels in manoeuvrability, ease of use, and low maintenance costs.