Toyota Sai facelift unveiled, on sale in Japan

toyota-sai-facelift-1

The Toyota what? Yes, that’s what they call the Lexus HS 250h-based sedan in Japan. Pictures of the updated Lexus emerged late last year; now it’s time for the Toyota-badged version to show us its new face.

Looking a little subtler than the Lexus, the facelifted Toyota Sai gains slim, angry-looking LED headlamps, a reworked grille and a new V-shaped front bumper incorporating bigger fog lamp housings.

A chrome strip runs along the side, and round the back, you’ll find new LED tail lamps that run across the width of the V-shaped boot lid, plus a new rear bumper. Wheels are 16-inch aluminium jobs.

toyota-sai-facelift-5

The biggest change inside is a new centre stack that holds reshaped air vents and new switchgear, amongst others. Materials and trim have been enhanced in places, creating a more upscale atmosphere. A new 10-speaker SD Navigation system with microSD, Blu-ray and USB compatibility can be specified.

Nothing’s changed under the bonnet – there’s the same 150 hp/187 Nm 2.4 litre 2AZ-FXE Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and the same 143 hp/270 Nm electric motor. Combined output is 190 hp, and fuel economy on the JC08 cycle is rated at 4.4 litres per 100 km. The Camry Hybrid has a similar setup.


Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • Gua Punya Rasa on Aug 30, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    Gua suka the front design.. so garang n smart at the same time!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 35 Thumb down 2
    • carlies on Aug 30, 2013 at 7:13 pm

      The outlook is breathtaking! Interior especially the middle console is ultimately awesome! Giving a space ship piloting feeling! Great job Toyota!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 1
  • The rear look like Hyundai Sonata…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 62
    • there we go again……but hey, sonata also looks like another car rear…bla bla bla

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 15
      • JustWannaSay on Sep 01, 2013 at 1:06 pm

        there hold then…when Proton make cars people say copy this la..copy that la…mehhh and also other car maker. . .but when Toyota..i don’t see this type comment..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 8
    • Sam Loo on Sep 01, 2013 at 1:33 pm

      Halo, kimchi designed cars will look outdated by the 3rd month on the road.

      Sushi design lasts for at least 5 years

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 11
  • Here should call Kanasai

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 39 Thumb down 25
  • Jeffrey Chew on Aug 30, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    Looks good!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 2
  • kana sai

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 16
  • Sai? really? have to change the name if they want to sell this car in Malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 1
    • Cant use Sai (i.e. shit in Hokkien) in taiwan too! Imagine saying “wa eh chia si Sai!” (my car is shit)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 2
    • In japan sai mean rhino

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 1
  • Afnan on Aug 30, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Finally a good looking Toyota.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 2
    • alldisc on Sep 02, 2013 at 10:32 am

      this is a misleading statement. you do not know Toyota has at least 30 models in its line-up all the while. and only 4-5 of those reach Malaysia (vios, corolla, camry, wish, estima)

      pls read more to learn more.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • amigos on Aug 30, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    all japan car now become red after mazda 6.very sporty look.gud job!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
  • It’s rather weird that the least shittiest looking car Toyota has gets the shittiest name…..literally. I mean it looks great, not only as a Toyota but as a car, but that name will caused as much laughter to the ethnic Hokkiens like the MR2 in France and the Suprima in Spain.
    But this is actually further proof that Japan keeps the best Japanese cars for themselves.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 12
  • Gajen on Aug 30, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    not bad looking , but the name…lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • innosera on Aug 30, 2013 at 7:45 pm

    See… the Japanese only keep nice things for their own while send their sheet to us.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
  • Gangnam S on Aug 30, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    Are you ready for Sai? YESSSSSSS!
    Are you ready for Sai? YESSSSSSS!
    Are you ready for Sai? YESSSSSSS!
    Are you ready for BN? NOOOOOOOOO!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 91 Thumb down 87
    • frenzyaustin on Aug 30, 2013 at 8:39 pm

      They should use PSY as the ambassador if Toyota managed to export it to S.Korea.
      Double PSAI! Double Style!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 4
      • I really would like to figure out what Sai means in Japanese, looks like a rather popular word….It’s a name of a Japanese weapon, Its a name of an anime character (according to my friend) from Naruto, and its a name of a drawing program I used.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Very Ugly~~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 51
  • kelvin on Aug 30, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    This should be the new corolla altis. More class

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • Modesto.hann on Aug 30, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    A car with “explosive” power and great torque matters more. We don’t want a car with the most futuristic design but can’t keep up with other cars on highway, it will only increase the intensity of shame for the driver.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4
  • Kuinosan on Aug 30, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    Hidden due to lowcomment rating. Click here to see.

    Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 124
    • to hell with all you korean supporters.

      yes we all know koreans are the leaders in design now

      but this is nothing like any of the koreans offering

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 8
  • This name cannot come in Malaysia !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • jolly_idiot on Aug 31, 2013 at 12:00 am

    When toyota learned that they need a better design. They did. But they come with a bad name.

    The car look great but name it shit. Hahaha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 9
  • Funny how Toyota can get the Sai right yet failed miserably with the LC Prado and Innova.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • thebosssedangbercakap on Aug 31, 2013 at 9:39 am

    What a good looking car, yet only produced for Japan. Proton produces Suprima Ass for global market, how to compete with this car leh? HAHAHAHA

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • matula on Aug 31, 2013 at 9:53 am

    Look alike kimchi desing loo abi feminine

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 7
  • kimchi on Aug 31, 2013 at 10:27 am

    The kimchi fans will have a field days when the T fan buy this car. Eh…u just bought Sai or shit car ah?????

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
    • Sam Loo on Sep 01, 2013 at 4:51 pm

      But when kimchi owners trade in their rotten cabbages, sushi owners will have the pleasure of their lives looking at the hailat faces of the kimchi owner, and the smile on my face

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 5
  • This “Shit” design is nice!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • SAI naming on Aug 31, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Actually the SAI naming is come from these two words:

    才能(sainou)-ability
    彩り(Irodori, or Sai)-color

    http://search.toyota.jp/page/SAI+%E7%94%B1%E6%9D%A5.html

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Chris on Sep 01, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Local Toyota:
    Expectation – Looks like Sai
    Reality – Looks like ‘Sai’

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 13
  • I dunno why but it looks Korean to me.. But good job anyways.. Nice design in and out.. But the name has got to go if they wanna sell it in countries with Hokkien speaking communities.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
    • Just sell the Lexus version, no body ask the SAI export to other place

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • C-Seg on Sep 02, 2013 at 11:10 am

    OMG, looks like nowadays Toyota and its brother Lexus are “throw” overly too much of “garang” design onto it. Overly done.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required