With over 505,000 units sold in Malaysia across three generations, the Toyota Vios is a very important bread and butter model for UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT). This may surprise you, but while the first two generations of the Vios hung around for between four to six years each, the third-generation model has been on sale for nine years.
First introduced in 2013, the third-generation Vios underwent two facelifts – one in 2018 and another in 2020 – to keep it relevant. Even so, there’s no denying that a total overhaul was needed, especially when the Vios’ closest rival – the Honda City – upped the ante in its fifth generation.
Thankfully, an all-new Vios was exactly what we got to see last August with the debut of the fourth-generation model in Thailand. We have had to wait a little while for the latest Vios to be launched in Malaysia, but on March 20, 2023 at 8pm, Toyota’s B-segment sedan will officially go on sale – estimated pricing is between RM90k to RM96k across two variants.
Ahead of tomorrow’s launch event, we had the opportunity to try out the fourth-generation Vios (designated AC100) in Langkawi to experience just how much of an improvement it is over its predecessor and how it roughly stacks up against a fellow heavyweight in the B-segment sedan ring.
Daihatsu bones, Toyota skin
Even before the AC100 Vios came to light, it was heavily reported that Daihatsu would be involved in the model’s development (the project was internally known as D92A). Daihatsu’s parent company is Toyota, and in 2016, both parties announced the establishment of an internal company called the ‘Emerging-market Compact Car Company’ or EMCC.
EMCC is responsible for the development of the AC100 Vios, and the joint development product that resulted adopted the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA). With the new platform, the Vios has grown slightly, measuring in at 4,425 mm long (+5 mm), 1,740 mm wide (+10 mm) and 1,480 mm tall (+5 mm).
Of more significance is the wheelbase, which has been increased by 70 mm to hit 2,620 mm. For context, the City’s wheelbase is 2,600 mm, but measures 4,553 mm long and 1,748 mm wide – the height is slightly less at 1,467 mm.
The lengthy wheelbase is reflected in the styling, with a side view showcasing the promise of a roomy interior. Visually shorter overhangs are also part of the profile, and Toyota is keen to point out the Vios’ fastback design with its gently sloping C-pillars – do you agree with this claim?
Up front is where the Vios is most distinctive given its new face that looks modern and less curvaceous than the outgoing model. A large gaping mouth is still present, but the surrounding elements help to make the design easier on this eyes, at least for this writer.
Highlights include sharper headlamps that appear to be “hanging” by the tip of the L-shaped daytime running lights, with the effect further emphasised by the thin black bar running through the Toyota badge. This also acts as a divider between the large lower grille and body-coloured trim trailing from the clamshell bonnet, providing a less “busy” look compared to the previous model.
The lower apron also gets a few neat touches like a spoiler lip and functional air curtains (with ‘VORTEX GENERATORS’ printed on them), with the latter serving to channel air for improved aerodynamics and is also claimed to help cool the front brakes.
The front lip is part of an aerokit that also comes packaged with side skirts, a boot lid lip spoiler and a diffuser-like element for the rear bumper, the last of which also gets air curtain-like bits, although they are purely decorative. Also at the rear are angular taillights (with sequential turn signals!) linked by a black trim piece that houses the reverse camera and boot release button.
The popular consensus among the motoring media is the Vios looks kind of like a “baby Camry,” which is somewhat merited. To my eyes, the new Vios also gets a little bit of Corolla and is a radical departure from its predecessor. Of course, looks are a subjective matter, so feel free to pass judgement and compare it to the City in the comments below.
Premium interior with familiar bits, some inconveniences
Just like the exterior, the Vios’ interior also gets overhauled and now features a simpler dashboard design that is devoid of the previous car’s many lines and complex shapes. Taking centre stage is a 9-inch touchscreen head unit that is strangely off-centred in its placement, so OCD folk might feel a little uneasy.
Positioning aside, the head unit similar to the one you find in Corolla Cross, meaning you get a high-resolution display that is impressive for a car in this segment. Even more impressive is the support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is a feature that is uncommon in the realm the Vios lives in – the City relies on a wired connection. During the media drive, my Samsung Galaxy S21 easily connected to the system for Android Auto and did not suffer any dropouts as we navigated from place to place.
The head unit is surrounded by soft-touch material, which is also used for the armrest on the door cards and centre console as well as the driver’s knee pad. These contribute to the premium feel, but you’ll still find some basic plastic components in most areas, although certain pieces are made to be glossy black and textured.
Another change from the previous car is the raised centre console that has no cupholders. If you want somewhere to place your drinks, there are now cupholders at the corners of the dash much like in the Perodua Ativa, with the one on driver’s side being a little fancier with a push-to-deploy mechanism.
The new centre console also houses two small storage cubbies and controls for an electronic parking brake (with auto brake hold) that is making its debut on fourth-generation model. There are also two buttons for the 64-colour ambient lighting system, although this only illuminates limited areas in the cabin.
At the tail end of the centre console under the armrest is another storage area that contains a wireless phone charger, but you’ll have to mindful about how thick your phone is to use it. My co-driver’s S22 Ultra with a thicker case couldn’t fit into the slot, but an S21 with a Spigen Liquid Air had no such problems.
Given Daihatsu’s involvement in the AC100 project, you’ll notice quite a few familiar bits like the steering wheel and gear lever look exactly like what’s in the Ativa. Elsewhere, the configurable 7-inch TFT instrument cluster display is pretty much identical to the one in the Ativa, albeit with Toyota-specific animations and graphics.
As for life in the rear, the Vios also finally gets rear AC vents in this generation, which is likely a feature many have been waiting for, and there are ergonomically placed cupholders to complement larger storage pockets on the door cards.
There are also two charging ports – one USB-C and one USB-A – for rear passengers, but those at the front only get one USB-A on the head unit. There are no dedicated USB charging outlets at the front of the cabin (unlike the Vios/Yaris Ativ in Thailand), so you’ll have to invest in a charger to plug into the 12-volt power socket that curiously has blanked out sections flanking the all-seat seatbelt reminder.
Alternatively, you could just plug into the rear outlets and drag the cable to the front, which is what we did. It isn’t elegant, but when you’re pressed for time and absolutely require high-wattage fast charging – which the rear outlets can provide – it sure beats a wireless charger.
Meanwhile, legroom is generous thanks to the wheelbase, even when the driver’s seat is adjusted for my co-driver’s 178 cm frame. However, rear headroom was an issue for my drive partner as his head was touching the headliner when sitting upright. With my 170 cm height, there was a little more space – about one to two fingers worth – but I had to slouch slightly to actually be comfortable on the move.
Curiously, this was less of an issue in the previous car as well as the City, so maybe the fastback shape is more form over function. Perhaps deeper concaves in the headliner – as seen at the front – would help remedy this.
Another shortcoming is the removal of a folding rear bench, so trying to load long pieces of flatpack furniture will be an issue. We were told by the engineers that the rear seat bench would be too thin if it could be folded down, so a decision was made not to provide the feature – there isn’t a rear armrest either.
On boot space itself, you do get 475 litres (down from 502 litres) and a large entry aperture, so getting wide items in shouldn’t be too much of hassle. With the boot tray and floor lifted, you’ll get even more space to stow items, although there’s no room for a spare tyre. The amount of room under the boot floor is certainly enough to accommodate hybrid components, and a Vios Hybrid has been said to make its debut sometime this year.
Capable engine, new CVT
The switch to the DNGA platform also sees the Vios be powered by the 2NR-VE, which is Daihatsu’s version of the 2NR-FE that comes with 1.5 litres of displacement, four-cylinder, DOHC and Dual VVT-i. Delivering 106 PS at 6,000 rpm and 138 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm, the 2NR-VE is marginally less powerful than the departing 2NR-FE that made 107 PS and 140 Nm. Against the City, the Honda wins with its 1.5 litre NA i-VTEC four-cylinder engine that makes 121 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm.
Paired with the 2NR-VE is a CVT that comes with seven virtual speeds and paddle shifters (new for the Vios). According to the Vios’ development team, the transmission is essentially Daihatsu’s D-CVT (Dual mode CVT) with a split-gear system that combines belt drive with a gear drive – we’ve detailed the technology before. This combination, along with the more aerodynamic exterior, is claimed to deliver a fuel consumption of 5.2 litres per 100 km.
Driven in a civilised manner, the setup delivers power smoothly to get up to common speeds most would be at on their daily drive. In situations where immediacy is needed, say for overtaking rapidly or charging up Gunung Raya, the CVT drops virtual gears to bring the engine revs up and you get to hear quite a bit of noise from the engine as it attempts to pile on speed.
The transmission decides when the gear drive kicks in based on how much of the accelerator pedal is depressed, but there’s still some rubber banding effect felt, although it isn’t as severe as what would experience in older CVTs. Acceleration is competitive enough versus the City in a demonstrated drag race and is helped by the fact that the DNGA platform (and lack of a spare tyre) trims around 110 kg off the Vios’ weight compared to the outgoing model. In the case of the G variant we spent all our time in, the kerb weight is listed as only 1,035 kg – the previous G was 1,145 kg.
With expectations set right and a gentle right foot, the powertrain remains relatively quiet and pleasant to use in most cases, but there will be moments where the transmission sees fit to kick down and you’ll be hearing the more of the 2NR-VE that you would like to. The Vios also comes with three drive modes (Normal, Eco and Power) if you need to force the engine to be more responsive (holding the engine at higher revs) or reserved (less responsive to throttle inputs for fuel efficiency).
Improved comfort and handling
Other touted benefits of the new platform are improved handling and comfort, both of which were on display on a closed course with a slalom and quick lane change. In both exercises, the Vios remain composed and assured with quick directional changes, helped along by its wider 205/50 profile Continental PremiumContact C tyres wrapped around 17-inch wheels – the largest for the model yet. As before, the suspension continues to be MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear, but the chassis is stiffer.
During our runs up and down Gunung Raya, the Vios felt agile through the corners and provided good brake feel (i.e. not too mushy). The electrically assisted steering is accurate enough but there’s not much in the way of feedback, with the focus more on making it light and easy to manoeuvre.
On normal roads, the Vios was compliant to be more comfortable than its predecessor. Primary ride was good, with the car remaining composed over large bumps, while secondary ride was well handled so it doesn’t feel too obnoxious to the point that we’re bounced around. The manually operated seats were also supportive and provided sufficient comfort, although a longer drive would be more conclusive.
Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) were also much improved over the previous generation thanks to the fitment of acoustic glass for the front windscreen. Certain areas of the chassis also get foam inserts to help dampen out unwanted intrusions, further improving NVH.
Toyota Safety Sense made better
When the third-generation Vios got its second update, the Toyota Safety Sense suite was added to improve its safety chops, but only came with two systems: Pre-Collision System (autonomous emergency braking) and Lane Departure Warning.
The latest model takes things many steps further by adding Lane Departure Prevention, Front Departure Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Control and Auto High Beam. You even get Pedal Misoperation Control, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a 3D panoramic view monitor, front and rear parking sensors as well as a multi-view reverse camera.
These are on top of the standard six airbags (the previous driver’s knee airbag is now gone) and list of passive systems (VSC, ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill start assist, etc.) In today’s world where such active safety systems can be found on cars that cost less, it was inexcusable if the Vios only offered only the basics, but thankfully, this isn’t the case.
A winner in many ways with some faults
Compared to its predecessor, the fourth-generation Vios is a major leap forward in many aspects, particularly in terms of ride and handling as well as NVH. The comprehensive feature set also complements the premium interior feel, while the expanded list of safety features is an absolute necessity and warmly welcomed. As for the new powertrain, it doesn’t post higher figures, but it does well enough in most driving situations if you taper expectations.
However, there are some things related to practicality that car buyers might find to be an issue with like the headroom limitation for particularly tall rear seat passengers. The inability to fold the rear seat bench down is also a point of contention, especially when the City offers this as standard across its entire variant line-up – the previous Vios 60:40 split-folding rear seats on the E and G variants. These are viable concerns for those who rely on only one car to meet as many needs as possible, including ferrying people and/or cargo.
Toyota took their time with the AC100 Vios and the end result is a product that impresses in many ways and better suited to compete against the two-year-old-plus City. It’s not without faults, but there are plenty of positives and improvements that some may overlook the shortcomings.
GALLERY: 2023 Toyota Vios media test drive official photos
GALLERY: 2023 Toyota Vios official photos
less powerful than city
rear seat couldnt be fold down
packed with features.
all about look
Vios is more reliable than City.
Vios doesn’t mean that already less powerful, already come with DCVT that makes quicker acceleration and have better fuel consumption
Vios also better comfort and handling and NVH
Vios got BSM and 360 degree camera but City uses lanewatch
This is more worth it….
Honda City and Vios is not a sport car or performance oriented car. Its mean for B40 and M40 traveling to work. Kalau nak performance beli Supra atau Civic Type R (Bukan wannabe Type-R)
b40 wont buy vios or city. trust me.
Those who said no spare tyre, there is repair tyre kit to repair tyres
Myvi sedan or new bezza?
This is Vios la
Not Perodua now, Now is Toyota article
Vios = Mini Camry
It’s only the Toyota sticker. Both the Bezza and the Vios share the same beautiful design and the engine power doesn’t differ much.
LOLLL Bezza? Beautiful design?? B40 detected..
$T20 buy Bently and Porsche Maserati
My dream car.
Kesian, orang dream big but you dream this?
Go to the showroom to see if you complain
nape permainkan dream org? hebat sgt ler tu. At least his dream might be within his grab but for you tht dream soo big and cant fulfill even after 100 time die and idup semola….itu angan2 mat jenin namanya.
work hard and stop day dreaming
He already worked hard, so he can buy what he likes
Price ?
Perhaps Rm95-99K….dont expect anything lower.
Because of more features and brand new look
But this car very equipped. Score 100 for this car
A daihatsu based vios? What a shame..prefer toyota based platforms for toyota cars…
Talk like you can even afford one… in reality many ppl here use “sambung bayar” Myvi.. cant even mampu beli baru sbb kena black list what a shame…
I am driving real toyota car here not celup like you..go fly kite
This is still under Toyota. Vios also done by Toyota
Unfortunately they don’t offer the 3cyl. 1.0 NA from the Axia. But as they already cut engine power and torque they are on the right way. Maybe a facelift will being us the 67hp 3cyl?
A 2nd grade toyota as it uses daihatsu platform…what a shame….prefer toyota based platform for toyota cars
If you don’t even understand what the platform is, you are not the target market then.
I understand well, perhaps you need to go back to school to learn more rather than being a low life keyboard warrior
so the car is not suitable for u. simple. u can always buy more expensive one such as camry or rav4 which use toyota platform. cheers.
damn, auto rain sensor, wireless AA
usually company give only wireless CP, but both also got
making it more upmarket
current gen NSP151 center console very narrow, u put the overpriced UMW wireless charger it becomes barely functional, new Vios centre console looks bigger, acceptable a bit with the wireless charger
but the 12V cigarette lighter + cubby underneath makes it perfect for an aftermarket wireless charger install wired directly
also lack of front USB ports, not a worry with the blank buttons right next to the 12V socket, just add ma, aftermarket lot of options, blank button right under screen, perfect for aftermarket install make it look like stock
speaking of which, the AC dials with the rotary knobs, Auto AC but somehow looks cheap, current gen AC setup looks much better, like much much better
my RM0.09
Vios is looking better. Wow
Baik lah, trade my Vios facelift to this
headroom limitation and to an extent, claustrophobic rear seat accommodation is more and more common with todays sedans and even hatchbacks. My best guess is car companies market studies shows that most backseats are rarely used, or if used, mainly used for kids.
Interior feel like premium of Axia dashboard but overall looks great
What’s wrong with the Axia dashboard? And what more do you expect for RM100k?
Surprisingly, the deal breaker for me is the inability to fold down the rear seats. What a shame. I loved this feature in my 2008 Vios
Overall, looks more fun and better than outgoing Vios
Nice
Pricewise city E better at rm83k.Acc are a seldom use features.
City don’t have BSM, AEB, 360 camera but come with halogen bulb,
performance is such a disappointment.
No money buy gr , I buy this one lo..
Complains about performance like you really do 180kmh whenever the car starts.
i doubt it can even reach 180kmph. at best is 170kmph. even a 250cc bike can beat it on a straight road. paying more for lower performance.
Performance is overrated. The less power, the slower and therefore safer the car.
why would someone going after performance still want to look at vios? it’s been ages since the city is always better than vios in terms of performance. vios is better at it’s durability, stability, NVH, etc etc
Beauty
check your eyes asap
You don’t like, then don’t buy. Simple is that
Mini Camry
Got Mini One, Mini Cooper, Mini Countryman, but never a Mini Cumry!
This is the only Toyota I like at this moment since the strongest competitor which is Honda City lack the ACC with stop and go function(it only function above 30km/h in City).
Unless of course if City Malaysia bringing the Turbo version, it is different story.
The only car in this segment this is light and powerful is the Almera, only it doesnt have the convenient of ACC and AutoHold function. (Both are important in jam prone Malaysia traffic)
Vios Display panel looks more full compared to City from the pictures above too. Exterior design both are about similar between City n Vios. Almera is slightly sportier design both at front and at the back.
Just hoping for Toyota to put in their Vios and Altis small size turbo similar to Almera and Civic respectively.
I wonder how will this compare to the outgoing Mazda 2 in terms of handling and interior quality.
The new Vios has a MyVi engine mated to a whiney CVT at speeds while the Mazda 2 has a more powerful engine mated to a conventional 6-speed automatic.
Utility-wise, hands down the new Vios. Not sure about their handling though. Hmm. Perhaps people have forgotten about the cute little Mazda 2. Lol.
I bet if new bezza comes in, it would be like this with less powered 1.3/1.2 cc engine
Even less power than the Vios? This are good news, as our roads will become more safe then.
Honda listen to customer, toyota syok sendiri
Hope so for honda…reliability still have problems…every honda models no BSM and 360 camera
Lanewatch is really dated technology other countries already dispose lanewatch
Yes, Honda should follow Toyota and cut engine power and torque too to make our roads a safer place.
it looks ok..the body kit is so OTT..i bet the lower variant without those kits look a bit classier..
IMO though , those bits that are taken from P2 products somehow makes the Vios less of what it should be , when its kinda obvious it shares things and technologies with a lower end “local” Ativa and myvi…if I’m moving from those cars to City or Vios , I don’t want any association with a lower priced product…for me the City makes more sense and more of a standout product…
Make more sense…no BSM, no 360 camera…no buy
Well worth it….
Good looking car !
Dugong 2
Very equipped. Even Vios also have BSM and rear aircond vents
People should be grateful that they get rear aircon vents for as cheap as RM100k.
hmm,, the axia’s absent of rear demister to me is ok bcoz i never use it and it ruins your tint in the long run, but the folding seat, it really comes in handy when say u wanted to carry a new mattress or ikea furniture
New mattress in a Vios? LoL… Get real…
Rear demisters only ruin cheap tints. Wanna buy RM100k car but spend less than RM100 on tinting? You get horrible adhesive problems, simple as that.
I’m looking for a car and this is my absolutely first choice. It has almost everything I was looking for. I can overlook the cheap looking 9in touchscreen with awful looking thick round shinning bezel. I can also overlook the lack of armrest at the back. But no folding seat? Really? I can’t think of a car off my head where the rear seat(s) cannot be folded. Even the cheapo Axia rear bench can be folded! What the heck Toyota. So disappointing. It’s not for me.
Good lord.. why must they go for a fastback design for such a narrow gawky car. Just look at the proportions. There’s not a single hint of geometrically-pleasing golden-ratio design elements anywhere. Slab-like front grill with disproportionately tiny headlights. Bulbous fastback side profile with long rear overhang.
Perhaps the most aesthetically coherent and proportionate car in this segment is the current gen Almera. Even the Honda City has weird proportions.
Toyota-Daihatsu really streching their profit at 90k price tag for elongated Axia with bigger engine.
Vios now can use Axia spare parts. That’s an advantage.
You can now service your Axia at Win Hing!
This car looks more like Segment B.5 with the 17 inch rims and price
Is Axia using the same DNGA platform as the new Vios?
the rear seats really look upright. Not sure if comfortable during long journeys for rear passengers. Thin rear seats is the reason it cannot be folded. Come on!!
Upright seats teach children a upright seating position. The teachers in school will welcome that.
Oo ok.. next.
7 speed on cvt? Anyway, a new Beng is born
D-CVT bro, not usual CVT
baru keluar gua ka? previous vios..city already use cvt with virtual 7 speed.
Knapa juga huduh btl ni?
No spare tyre…what a sad. Town is ok but puncture in East West Highway… cry la! Road condition now very bad. I hope the car is does not have a self-centering steering problem like in MyVi.
I am thankful that they cut engine power and torque. Less power and less torque means less speed and increased safety on our roads!
Better than City
better buy d cheaper new vios… new Alza low spec RM62k only.. same engine, same DCVT gearbox and same DNGA.. interior almost d same.. only looks different… just my opinion
ok thanks we will wait for 2024 new Bezza
Please tell me they got rid of the fog lamps or at least make them auto switch off at the end of every drive
Considering Malaysians’ overall ignorance on when to use fog lamps and the general irrelevance of fog lamps in Malaysia, the government should ban the presence and usage of fog lamps on cars. Morons will be driving with their rear fog lamps on, glaring the vision of other vehicles behind them, for absolutely no reason.
Bring hybrid
Kereta lembu belakang rumah aku jauh berkualiti dari semua kereta vios. Chit. Poorah!
does toyota include the body kit as standard because it’s a bit much tbh. kind of wanna see it without. that being said this is a major upgrade from the model it replaces. the biggest downgrade would be the inability to fold down rear seats. that could be a dealbreaker for some. looks are subjective and while i do feel the front could look better without that massive grill, i don’t find it offensive. i guess it really depends on if you’re team toyota or honda at this point. if anything, i’m all for competition and options for buyers at this price point.
looks like umw toyota inherited our cari malaysian makan culture, the aerokit decorative accs costing few thousand ringgit supposed to be optional.
does it mean i can build a monster fast Axia by putting the vios 1.5 engine into the Axia?
You can build a save Axia, because Toyota cut engine power and torque with the new model. Less power and torque = less speed = more safety
why no speed follow??
There is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) where you can adjust any speed you want
but no stop & go function trafic jemm
no spare tire, only tyre repair kit without pump? The road here is like being hit by a bomb. No use when your tyre ‘pecah’. Not practical at all.
Can consider this
A 3rd world type of sedan. Actually europe and most advanced world has not been endorsing sedan anymore. Except for luxury segment sedan
It is not like Vios 3.5 generation as what you think. Vios 4th generation is not advanced as TNGA models but at least more advanced and not so third world country
There cut down weight by using thinner metal sheet and more plastic?
Adeh no folding rear seats is a deal breaker for some people.
this is the best and safest japanese b-segment sporty family sedan
The ambient lighting button and lighting system should have been replaced with a central locking button like Perodua cars and a spare tyre. It’s just too gimmicky for a sub 100K car.
Many love to see this
Gaya style sacrificed rear headroom as city. Same engine as myvi price a bit steep. Those aeb, lka, acc are useless and disturbing features to me. Luckily is from umw bukit raja without the eco idle. Dnga the only winner compared to city
Then you buy Vios E like me, if you think that those that don’t need. Up to you bro
Those who said no spare tyre, there is repair tyre kit
2NR-VE. Myvi engine.
Vios = Myvi with premium features.
DNGA Vios is better than the lowered X50.
Toyota made a good choice albeit annoying sometimes by mandating automatic headlights that cannot be turned off on all their models as standard. You’ll never see a late model Vios or Yaris or even Hilux driving around at night in the city without headlights… Owners complain but they persisted. But luckily they removed the rear foglights. Malaysian drivers especially the older generation for some reason have a phobia with turning on the car lights. And some insist on turning on everything foglight & rear foglight. Honda on the other hand…. They did the right thing by making the light switch act like a spring when switching off the lights on the higher end models ie Civic, CRV. But with the Honda City however, kosong halogen light base model with super bright DRL’s, there are so many new City’s driving around at night with only DRL’s and no rear lights.