Toyota Motor Thailand has officially launched the facelifted Toyota Vios, with the B-segment sedan being offered in four variants there – 1.5J, 1.5E, 1.5G and 1.5S – with prices ranging from 609,000 baht (RM76,621) to 789,000 baht (RM99,268).

Under the bonnet, all variants are powered by the 2NR-FBE 1.5 litre four-cylinder Dual VVT-i engine, which the Vios received as part of an update in March last year in Thailand, and in October for Malaysia. The mill provides 108 hp at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm at 4,200 rpm, with drive being sent to the front wheels exclusively through a CVT automatic gearbox with seven virtual ratios (no manual option).

Of course, the biggest (and most polarising) change as you can tell is in the styling department, with the Vios having a lot in common with the Chinese-market Vios launched at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, and showing hints of the US-market 2018 Camry. At the front, there are new projector headlamps with integrated LED positioning lights, a prominent T-shaped grille and repositioned LED fog lamps (with new LED DRLs beside them).

As for the rear, the taillights are now LED-type units with revised graphics, and now feature a thinner chrome bootlid bar linking them. The bumper has also been restyled to provide a less “busy” look than before, with more fluid rear fog lamps. Other exterior features include 15- or 16-inch alloys, and a reverse camera (depending on variant).

Compared to the exterior, there doesn’t appear to be any significant changes on the inside, as far as we can tell. Items such as the double-DIN seven-inch touchscreen audio system, keyless operation, leather/fabric seats, multi-info driving display and automatic air-conditioning (not available in Malaysia) all continue to feature here. The Thailand-spec Vios also comes with four different interior themes, which are dependent on variant.

Safety-wise, the Vios comes standard with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, a collision safety body (GOA), Isofix rear child seat anchors, as well as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and traction control.

Customers in Thailand will get to choose from six exterior body colours – Red Mica Metallic, Quartz Brown Metallic, Super White, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic and Attitude Black Mica. With the launch of the new Vios in Thailand, we’d expect UMW Toyota to bring in the more fearsome-looking model soon. Interested?