2013 Toyota Vios

• Driven Web Series 2014 #1: Best of the B-segment – 2014 Honda City vs Toyota Vios vs Nissan Almera

  In Car Reviews, Cars, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Videos / By Hafriz Shah / 9 July 2014 11:00 am / 144 comments

  Enough waiting, Driven Web Series is back with a new season, powered by the new Petronas Primax95 with Advanced Energy Formula!

  Just like last season, we’re kicking things off with everyday cars. The ever-popular Toyota Vios came out tops in our mixed pairing last year, so now we’re pitting it against its closest class rivals, the 2014 Honda City and Nissan Almera – all in top-spec TRD Sportivo, V and VL guises respectively.

  Looks, performance, handling, comfort and safety – everything considered, which is the best B-segment sedan on sale in Malaysia? Watch the video above to find out the Driven Web Series verdict. As usual, we hold no punches.

  Thanks for watching, and be sure to head over to CarBase.my to compare the full specifications of the three cars here. It’s sure good to be back, and we hope you enjoy the show!

  PS: No, Harve won’t be wearing a dress in this episode – that’s so 2013, anyway. But don’t worry, other surprises await, and next week we’ll have three sexy cars with a guest host that looks properly stunning in white. Stay tuned :)

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Driven Web Series Episode 1: The RM90k shootout – Toyota Vios vs Proton Suprima vs Honda Jazz Hybrid

  In Car Reviews, Cars, Honda, Proton, Toyota, Videos / By Hafriz Shah / 19 November 2013 11:05 am / 110 comments

  Driven is back, powered by PETRONAS Primax! You’ve enjoyed our local news coverage, international highlights and pored over our car reviews, now it’s time to sit back and enjoy our latest Driven Web Series.

  This week, we find out the best way to spend RM80k to RM90k on a car. Is it the usual suspect, the 2013 Toyota Vios, Malaysian’s own unsung hero, the Proton Suprima S, or the green and mighty Honda Jazz Hybrid? Watch to find out our definitive verdict.

  As always, we do things a little differently here. A surprise awaits at the end of the episode, so be sure to watch it to the finish. As they say, it ain’t over till the (not quite so) fat lady sings. Don’t get it? Watch the final reveal and read this again ;).

  Enjoy the show, and remember to tune in again same time next week to catch our next episode. We’ll be taking things to new heights. Quite literally.

  Remember to check out Fuelled by Fans Powered by Primax to get a shot at winning RM100,000.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2012 and 2013 Toyota Vios: we pitch old against new in a fuel consumption and in-car noise level test

  In Car Reviews, Cars, Feature Stories, Toyota / By Jonathan James Tan / 10 October 2013 8:03 am / 272 comments

  

  So, you’ve read our full launch report, you’ve read our comprehensive review, and you’ve pored over every little difference between the 2012 and 2013 Toyota Vios. What else is left to know, short of us going out to buy one ourselves to tell you what the latest iteration of Malaysia’s best-selling non-national passenger car is like to own?

  Well, two of Toyota’s claims for the new Vios kept eating away at us long after last week’s launch: that the car was quieter as well as 5% more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. Had all the relevant figures been officially given, we might just have taken Toyota’s word for it and gone home.

  But they weren’t, and being the four curious cats that we were; armed with the old and new car, a sound level meter, a little money and an afternoon to kill, we took the opportunity to find some numbers that would prove (or disprove) those claims.

  So we planned a route that would take us to Rawang and back through a good mix of highway-, trunk road- and city-driving conditions. Roughly halfway, we’d stop for coffee and then swap cars between the two drivers (Danny and I) for the return leg.

  

  The cars were to keep in close convoy for as much as possible throughout to establish a degree of consistency in their behaviour and movements – any slip-streaming or drafting effects would be cancelled out as best as possible by each car taking a turn to lead. We were to drive ‘normally’, without coasting in neutral or turning the air-con off.

  The day began at a petrol station in Section 17, PJ, where we brimmed the cars’ tanks to the first click (using the same fuel nozzle), zero-ed our trip meters as well as the new car’s average fuel consumption reading, and began our journey north. Each car carried two people, including the driver. Danny first led the way in the new car with Anthony, and I followed in the old car with Hafriz.

  The outgoing leg was done via the Sprint Highway, Jalan Semantan, Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Kuching and then Federal Route 1 to Rawang, past Selayang and Templer’s Park. There was a fair bit of traffic at the start, particularly on Jalan Parlimen and Jalan Duta, where we spent nearly 15 minutes in stop-and-go conditions. The rest of the way was mostly smooth-going, although it wasn’t without its traffic light stops and sudden braking.

  After a short coffee break at Anggun Rawang, we found a quiet stretch of road where we could do a test of the in-cabin sound levels for both cars.

  

  The subject of logging the in-car noise level measurements of both old and new Vios came up during a discussion on the matter – Toyota says the new car is quieter, but by how much? Curious as to that, we decided to set out to measure the differences in an objective fashion – we’re not in the business of measuring in-car noise levels for a living, but a scientific approach always helps some.

  Now, a better sound level meter (essentially, a true Class 2 IEC-standard device) than the Radio Shack 33-0099 – or the older, bulkier 33-2055 – would have been ideal, but the little RS SLM, intended for hobbyists, is a cheap, efficient beater to have. Despite a +/-2.0 dB-sound pressure level (SPL) overall accuracy, the unit provided us with a very usable impression of the differences in relative SPLs between the cars in a number of states.

  All in-car logging was done with the SLM set to A-weighting (filtered range of 500 Hz to 10,000 Hz, effectively the human ear’s most sensitive range), set mid-forward in the cabin, with both fast and slow response measurements taken.

  The logging was done over double runs over the same stretch of road, with four people in the car. Primarily, the idea was to find out what the noise levels were at idle, full bore and up to intermediate speeds, so we picked both 50 km/h and 80 km/h as speed markers.

  

  Not much difference at a constant 50 km/h, the two dBA difference being minor in actual psycho-acoustic perception terms, but moving to the 80 km/h mark, the pick up in differences were audible subjectively; objectively, this translated to the new Vios being six dBA quieter. A level change of around six to 10 dB translates to a doubling of the sensed volume, so the differences were definitely noticeable to the ear.

  Because we were pressed for time – and with the primary aim being to do the fuel consumption evaluation – a 110 km/h pass wasn’t done, but given that from the intermediate speed measurement, the quieter nature of the new car would have continued to shine, because at the national speed limit the differences were again audible. Under full throttle acceleration, both cars returned identical readings.

  Likewise at idle, or nearly, with a one dBA difference, but this with the air-con off. With the air-con blower set to position two in each car, the surprise was how the new Vios had a three dBA higher level than the old car, until one of the guys mentioned that the new car’s air-con blower was stronger at the same position. Guess you can’t have something without sacrificing something else.

  

  

  The return leg was done through Kundang, Sungai Buloh, the North-South Highway and the NKVE, with Danny and Anthony in the old car following Hafriz and I in the new car this time, the driver change to facilitate an even spread of driver-related behaviour.

  While the new car’s multi-info display showed an average fuel consumption hovering around 12 km per litre on the outgoing leg, the decibel test, with its full-throttle blasts, four of us in both cars and many about-turns, had worsened the reading to around 11 km per litre. Again, we were faced with more moderately heavy traffic on the way back, especially on the trunk roads of Rawang, on the approach to the Damansara NKVE exit and the Sprint Highway thereafter.

  Upon returning to our point of origin in Section 17, we once again filled up both cars to the first click (with the same fuel nozzle we used earlier), with the amount of fuel going in taken to be the amount of fuel used since the first fill-up, to yield the following results:

  

  Of course, had we more time with the cars, we could have driven a longer distance for a potentially even more accurate representation – but, as it turned out, even a sub-100 km trip was enough to more than substantiate the claimed 5% improvement in fuel economy.

  The ‘2012 update‘ Vios used in this test was in fact delivered earlier this year, and had less than 5,000 km on the clock. The 2013 Vios was of course brand spanking new and its engine had not been thoroughly run-in, which means it could have the potential to get even better mileage than tested.

  Some brief driving notes on both cars to bring us to a close – both do about 2,750 rpm at 110 km/h in top gear, but the new Toyota Vios is altogether noticeably more refined, with better road manners than the 2012 car. Those redesigned, more widely-adjustable seats do wonders for comfort.

  As noted earlier, the new car’s air-con blower is stronger, and while it is louder than the old car’s from the second speed onwards, it does cool the cabin faster, upon which you can switch to the first speed, which is significantly quieter than the second speed. From outside, the new car’s air-con compressor is quieter in its operation than the old car’s – unless you’re really paying attention, you won’t notice it turning on or off.

  

  

  The old car has a tendency to leap forward rather uncomfortably even if you so much as feather the accelerator after it slips into first gear at low speeds (after a speed hump or a slow right-angled bend, for instance, or when moving off from rest). The new car solves that – its throttle action is much more gradual, and the uptake lighter and more linear. The steering also feels a little more precise and better isolated from road surface undulations.

  It’s so much more intuitive (for me at least) to look at the instrument panel through the steering wheel rather than having to steal a leftwards glance at the middle of the dash. Because the steering wheel isn’t telescopically adjustable, the dials are huge and in your face, displaying clear, bold number fonts that are very legible indeed.

  But above all, we liked the upscale impression that the new cabin gives off. Yes, the hard plastics and pseudo-stitching mean the interior is better to look at than to touch, but it’s still rather a pleasant place to step into after a long day at work. The piano black dimple grain on the centre stack, coupled with the G variant’s ivory-coloured dash and upholstery, contribute towards making the car look more expensive than it actually is, which can’t be a bad thing outright.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• GALLERY: 2012 and 2013 Toyota Vios, side by side

  In Cars, New vs Old Gallery, Toyota / By Jonathan James Tan / 4 October 2013 4:30 pm / 313 comments

  

  You must have 2013 Toyota Vios coming out of your ears by now – but here comes more! The car of the hour, also our country’s best-selling passenger car from a non-national brand and one of the most significant vehicles to be launched this year, has put six out of every ten Malaysian B-segment buyers on wheels since its birth in 2003.

  Never mind that it isn’t the fastest, nor the most technologically sophisticated, nor the most generously-equipped choice you can make for this kind of money – the fact remains that Toyota clearly has a pretty good idea of what the majority of its target market want, or don’t want. You only have to look around you on the roads to see how many of them there are.

  Therefore, in an attempt to study the buying trends of the B segment – which, with around 19,000 cars sold per month, accounts for nearly two-fifths of the Malaysian passenger car market – the Vios is as good a lab specimen as any. We park the just-launched 2013 Toyota Vios and its immediate ‘2012 update‘ predecessor alongside each other, go crazy with the camera and give you a summary of the changes.

  

  For a start, the all-new sheet metal is pretty obvious. A more angular shape overall makes the third-gen car look bolder, leaner and more athletic than the bulbous second-gen model. The windscreen and rear window are now less steeply-raked, making the side profile look longer.

  Available for the first time are projector headlamps (G and TRD Sportivo only), LED DRLs (standard on TRD Sportivo, optional as part of an aerokit on all other variants) and rear fog lamps. All headlamps, including the J and E’s reflectors, now get a manual levelling adjuster.

  The 2013 Toyota Vios is 110 mm longer and 15 mm taller overall than the outgoing car, but weighs between 10 and 30 kg less thanks to increased use of high-tensile steel in its structure (56%, compared to 30% previously) and a thinner roof that Toyota says does not compromise on strength.

  

  New additions that help aerodynamics are a ‘catamaran’-shaped roof, redesigned door mirrors, aero stabilising fins on the tail lamps and the base of the door mirrors, plus smoothened and sealed areas and gaps, including on the underbody. The drag coefficient has been reduced from the old car’s 0.29 to 0.28 as a result.

  Making an entry on the new car is a three-layer acoustic windscreen (G and TRD Sportivo only). It also gets a redesigned engine mount, more optimally-positioned insulating materials, an insulation pad on the underside of the bonnet, revised door seals and increased use of asphalt sheets around the floor to improve cabin refinement.

  Boosting rigidity is a higher number of spot welds (increased by more than 100) around the door openings and the bulkhead cowl, and the new car’s Impact Absorbing Body Structure features reinforced sides and door beams all round to comply with UN ECE R94 and R95 safety regulations, which took effect in Malaysia from July 2012.

  

  The stopping distance from 100 km/h has also been shortened from the previous 44.3 metres to 42.4 metres – no doubt mostly due to the weight loss, since the brakes haven’t changed. The suspension, although the same MacPherson-front, torsion beam-rear layout, adds a rear stabiliser to complement the existing front unit.

  Yes, the 109 PS/141 Nm 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE four-cylinder engine with VVT-i, the five-speed manual and the four-speed auto aren’t new, but Toyota claims a 5% improvement in fuel consumption over the previous Vios – the new car is, after all, lighter.

  Also contributing to the claimed improvement in fuel economy are engine bay components that have been redesigned to be lighter or more compact, including the engine’s air cleaner housing and related parts.

  

  

  A new, more upscale-looking interior (helped by the Piano Black dimple grain dash trim and the pseudo-stitching?) sees the relocation of the instrument panel from the middle of the dash to behind the steering wheel – itself featuring a new design with new audio buttons.

  The old car’s cubbyholes on either side of the centre stack make way for a single console tray with a rubberised surface that’s located more conventionally ahead of the gear lever, and the doors now have three opening stops so as to avoid hitting another car or wall by the side.

  A multi-info display is now standard across the range, with the instrument dials on the current TRD Sportivo getting a sporty outlook to differentiate from the rest. Also on the new car but not offered on the old are an Eco light (except J manual) and keyless entry and start (G and TRD Sportivo only).

  

  

  The front seats have increased seat-to-body contact and thinner backs, yielding 75 mm more legroom and 44 mm more knee room for rear occupants. The horizontal adjustment range of the front seats has been widened from 16 steps at 15 mm intervals to 26 steps at 10 mm intervals, while the driver’s seat has a 15 mm-higher lifter range.

  The boot can accommodate up to 506 litres of luggage (J variants, which do not get folding back seats, hold a little over 500 litres). This represents an increase of 31 and 28 litres respectively over the old Vios. The boot opening is also slightly larger, and the sill 21 mm lower, making loading even easier. Remote boot release is now standard across the range.

  Folding the 60:40 split rear seats is now done more easily through a push of a button – you had to pull up a knob in the old car to release the seat back catches. A three-point seat belt is now available for the rear occupant in the middle (previously lap belt) and there are now Isofix points for child seats.

  

  

  Look up and you’ll notice the absence of a central ceiling lamp in the new Vios, when the old car had it. The utility hook has also moved from the back of the front passenger seat to the headrest (you now get two retractable hooks). The cupholder on the centre console is now open, as opposed to the previous car’s foldable lid.

  Of course, there are new wheel designs, with alloys now standard across the range. There’s an eight-spoke for J and E cars, a multi-spoke for G and a ‘dynamic’ five-spoke for the TRD Sportivo, with TRD logo in the middle. Previously, we had a 12-spoke for J, E and G (dark silver for G Limited) and a bronze seven-spoker for the TRD Sportivo. All mentioned are 185/60 R15s.

  As for body colours, in comes Quartz Brown Metallic and out goes Deep Amethyst Mica Metallic. Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black and White continue as is.

  

  

  The 2012 update also offered a choice of two optional DVD-AVX and DVD-AVN touch-screen systems with reverse camera, but the new car adds SD compatibility to both. The higher-end DVD-AVN system now has a 7.0-inch screen compared to the previous 6.1, and introduces Voice Recognition and Smartphone Link.

  The TRD Sportivo continues to be the top-of-the-range Vios. It obviously can’t offer a honeycomb mesh grille like the old one did, since there’s no real grille to speak of this time. But the TRD Sportivo suspension upgrade (coil springs and dampers with revised rates; tuned by TRD Asia for local conditions; lowering ride height by 10 mm), previously specifiable as an option on all variants, is nowhere to be found – perhaps it’ll crop up in the future.

  

  So you now know what the 2013 Toyota Vios has over the outgoing car. What does it still not have? VSC, more airbags, auto climate control and a front demister are some of the things a few of its segment rivals have that it has yet to offer.

  Finally, the price difference. No change for the J variants, which cost RM73,200 (manual) and RM77,300 (auto), while E, G and TRD Sportivo are now RM600, RM1,187 and RM1,187 more expensive at RM82,900, RM88,500 and RM93,200 respectively, on-the-road with insurance for Peninsular Malaysia. Read our preview drive report here, and our launch report here.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  2013 Toyota Vios
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  2012 Toyota Vios
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• DRIVEN: 2013 Toyota Vios 1.5 G sampled in Putrajaya

  In Car Reviews, Cars, Toyota / By Hafriz Shah / 3 October 2013 4:20 pm / 255 comments

  

  Yes, it was time the game moved on. All automakers know that it’s a bad idea to lose the buying public’s interest – to have them saying that all cars look the same. So we’ve seen some gentle bumps and bulges in the norm-defying envelope as a bit of self-expression tries to break out. The Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic, to name but two.

  But the trick is to be really bold and really mainstream simultaneously; to be truly outrageous with your biggest-volume product. It takes someone as big as Toyota to do that. And Toyota, after the turn of the Millenium, is not quite known to be forward-looking or edge-designing. But it’s confident now that it has done exactly that.

  Recently, it was goodbye the well-loved executive-like XV40 Camry and hello the edgier, younger-looking XV50 Camry. Oh dear, the public isn’t quite ready yet, as the declining sales figures would suggest. Now it’s goodbye tedious and boring Vios, hello new, third-generation 2013 Toyota Vios. Are our streetscapes really going to look like that?

  

  There’s no danger of mistaking the new Vios for anything else. It pushes this edge business as far as it’s safe to go. Further than Toyota did with the Camry softening-up exercise, but not quite as far as with the contrived and slightly overdone Lexus IS. It’s a largely successful redesign, avoiding many of the old Vios’ numerous stylistic downfalls.

  From the outgoing Vios, it inherits enough of the rounded face not to look totally alien, but its profile and high-strutting stance are all-new for a mainstream B-segment family sedan. The cabin is just as full of lines and sweeps, and there’s the newfound bump in refinement and comfort to think about, too.

  The 2013 Toyota Vios has just been launched in Malaysia, and as expected, there’s already a long queue at every Toyota dealership in the country. Should you join the line, though? That’s what we’re about to find out.

  Click here to see the full story and 120-picture gallery.

   

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• 2013 Toyota Vios officially launched in Malaysia – five variants, priced from RM73,200 to RM93,200

  In Cars, Local Car Launches, Local News, Toyota, Videos / By Jonathan James Tan / 2 October 2013 2:30 pm / 468 comments

  

  It’s finally official – the 2013 Toyota Vios has been launched in Malaysia! Locally assembled at UMW Toyota Motor’s Assembly Services (ASSB) facility in Shah Alam, the third generation of the hugely popular B-segment sedan is available in five versions – J (manual), J (auto), E (auto), G (auto) and TRD Sportivo (auto).

  All of them are powered by a 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE four-cylinder with VVT-i that sends 109 PS at 6,000 rpm and 141 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm to the front wheels via a four-speed auto with Super ECT, or a five-speed stick-shift in the manual J variant.

  Although the engine and gearboxes aren’t new, Toyota says that the new car offers a 5% improvement in fuel consumption over the previous Vios. Contributing to the improved fuel economy are various components in the engine bay that have been redesigned to be lighter or more compact, including the engine’s air cleaner housing and related parts.

  UPDATE: Read our preview drive report of the 2013 Toyota Vios here.

  

  Elsewhere, a ‘catamaran’-shaped roof helps streamline airflow over the top of the car, and several areas and gaps, including the underbody, have been smoothened and sealed to reduce turbulence.

  Besides more aerodynamic door mirrors, small aero stabilising fins are present on the tail lamps and where the door mirrors meet the A-pillars to create air vortices that improve the vehicle’s straight-line stability. The drag coefficient has been reduced from 0.29 to 0.28.

  The all-new sheet metal brings with it a large trapezoidal lower intake, a slim grille with small intake openings and chrome bars that intrude into the glass of the angular headlamps. The base of the front pillar has been pushed forward and that of the rear pillar, backward – making the side profile look longer.

  

  At 4,410 mm long, 1,700 mm wide (including wing mirrors) and 1,475 mm tall, the 2013 Toyota Vios is 110 mm longer and 15 mm taller than the outgoing car, although it sits on the same 2,550 mm wheelbase.

  With kerb weights ranging from 1,050 to 1,095 kg depending on the variant, the 2013 Toyota Vios is between 10 and 30 kg lighter than the car it replaces. The body structure utilises more high-tensile steel (56%, compared to 30% previously) and the roof is thinner without compromising strength, Toyota says.

  Rigidity gets a boost too, through a higher number of spot welds (increased by more than 100) around the door openings and the bulkhead cowl.

  

  

  

  The 2013 Toyota Vios’ Impact Absorbing Body Structure complies with UN ECE R94 and R95 safety regulations, which took effect in Malaysia from July 2012. The structure absorbs and disperses impact energy through the entire body frame in a frontal collision. The sides are reinforced, with beams present in all doors to reduce intrusion during a side collision.

  A knee brace for the driver is fitted below the dashboard to restrain the lower leg, while the steering wheel column is collapsible. The front seats are whiplash injury-lessening, and three-point seat belts are provided for all three rear passengers.

  Impact-absorbing material is integrated into the pillar areas, headlining and door panels to cushion occupants in a collision. Also, Toyota says the stopping distance from 100 km/h has been reduced from the previous 44.3 metres to 42.4 metres.

  

  Suspension is taken care of by independent L-arm MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam out back, both with stabilisers (previously only on the front). The settings have been revised and several components have been redesigned. The electric power steering system, offered as standard, is also claimed to offer more precision while transmitting less road shocks.

  Enhancing refinement are an acoustic windscreen (only on the G and TRD Sportivo variants), a redesigned engine mount, more optimally-positioned insulating materials, an insulation pad on the underside of the bonnet, revised door seals and increased use of asphalt sheets around the floor.

  There’s a completely new interior, which is a marked improvement over its predecessor’s. The seats have increased seat-to-body contact, and the horizontal adjustment range has been widened from 16 steps at 15 mm intervals to 26 steps at 10 mm intervals. The driver’s seat also has a 15 mm-higher lifter range.

  

  The instrument panel has been moved from its previous location in the middle of the dash to a more conventional position behind the rake-adjustable steering wheel. There’s a multi-info display showing odo/trip meter, gear position, average speed since start, instant and average fuel consumption and range (G and TRD Sportivo only). Eco light is available in all variants except the manual J.

  A three-dimensional centre stack that ‘floats’ above the dash is finished in Piano Black with a fine dimple grain that prevents scratches and fingerprint marks. The instrument panel, door trim and steering wheel feature a three-dimensional stitched design.

  There’s more cabin space as well – rear legroom is up by 75 mm, and knee room by 44 mm. The doors now have three opening stops so as to avoid hitting another car or wall by the side. The console tray has a rubberised surface to prevent items from sliding around, both front seat backs have pockets and there’s a pair of cupholders in the rear armrest.

  

  

  

  The boot can accommodate up to 506 litres of luggage (J variants, which do not get 60:40 split folding back seats, hold a little less). This represents an increase of between 28 and 31 litres over the old Vios. The boot lid opens to a vertical position, and the load area is slightly larger, with a 21 mm-lower boot sill.

  No matter what variant you choose, you get ABS with EBD and BA, dual-cell body-coloured reverse sensors, dual front airbags, Isofix, door visors, rear fog lamps, remote boot release and intermittent time-adjustable wipers. No VSC though.

  How do the five variants differ? We’ll start with the wheels. Although they all ride on 185/60 R15 alloys (steel spare tyre), there are three separate designs – an eight-spoke for J and E cars, a multi-spoke for G and a ‘dynamic’ five-spoke for the TRD Sportivo, with TRD logo in the middle.

  

  

  The J and E variants have front disc/rear drum brakes; the rest have discs all round. All except J get power-folding door mirrors with turn indicator, front fog lamps, 60:40 split folding back seats and a dashboard-integrated audio unit (the J gets a head unit).

  As for headlamps, J and E get reflectors, while the G gets projectors and the TRD Sportivo, smoked projectors – all with manual levelling adjuster. The latter two also get keyless entry and start, an instrument panel multi-info display, six speakers (J and E get four) and a leather-wrapped gear knob and steering wheel with audio buttons (no leather wrapping nor steering wheel audio buttons for J and E).

  All variants have a black interior save for the G, which gets an ivory interior. J gets black fabric seats while E gets two-tone grey and black fabric. G and TRD Sportivo get perforated leather seats in dark ivory and black with red trim respectively.

  

  Apart from those already mentioned, the range-topping TRD Sportivo gets an aerokit (specifiable on other variants as an optional extra) that comprises a front bumper extension with LED DRLs, a rear bumper extension, side skirts and a boot spoiler.

  It also exclusively gets TRD body decals, sports seats, red stitching on the steering wheel, TRD embossed front door sill scuff plates and TRD Sportivo floor mats. The multi-info display features white backlighting and a drive monitor, and sits within a sports instrument panel.

  Also available as optional accessories are a choice of two touch-screen systems with reverse camera – 5.8-inch DVD-AVX and 7.0-inch DVD-AVN – and a choice of window tints. Both touchscreen systems offer DVD, MP3, AUX, USB, SD and Bluetooth compatibility, but the bigger DVD-AVN system adds on Smartphone Link (compatible with selected smartphones only), Voice Recognition and navigation.

  

  The Vios also features a UK Thatcham-1 standard-compliant security system that comprises an engine immobiliser, tilt sensor (to prevent unauthorised towing), hyper-frequency sensor (to detect cabin intrusion) and a back-up battery for the siren.

  Elsewhere, Premium Security Solar Film, Standard Solar Film and Essential Solar Film window tints are available. All tints come with a seven-year warranty which is still applicable during transfer of ownership at a later timing.

  Five body colours are available – Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black, White and a new Quartz Brown Metallic. Offered is a three-year/100,000 km warranty.

  

  

  

  The Toyota Vios first entered the Malaysian scene in 2003, and quickly rose to become the best-selling non-national car in the country. As of August, nearly 265,000 units of the first- and second-gen models have found Malaysian homes.

  Since order-taking started in July, more than 8,000 units of the 2013 Toyota Vios have been ordered to date, and UMW Toyota Motor is hoping to sell around 36,000 units of the new car per year, up from 30,000 previously.

  “We are also proud to announce that the local content in the new Vios has increased from 15% when we first started to now close to 50%,” said UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ismet Suki.

  

  Finally, the on-the-road pricing, with insurance (Peninsular Malaysia) for the 2013 Toyota Vios is:

  • Toyota Vios 1.5 J (manual) – RM73,200
  • Toyota Vios 1.5 J (auto) – RM77,300
  • Toyota Vios 1.5 E (auto) – RM82,900
  • Toyota Vios 1.5 G (auto) – RM88,500
  • Toyota Vios 1.5 TRD Sportivo (auto) – RM93,200

  The E, G and TRD Sportivo variants are dearer by 0.7%, 1.3% and 1.3% respectively over those of the outgoing model, while the pricing for the J variants has not increased.

  Read our preview drive report on the 2013 Toyota Vios here.

  In the meantime, view the large gallery of live launch and official photos, as well as that of the Vios 1.5 G and 1.5 TRD Sportivo here.

   

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• GALLERY: 2013 Toyota Vios looking good at IIMS

  In Cars, Toyota / By Paul Tan / 20 September 2013 11:42 pm / 157 comments

  

  While we wait for the 2013 Toyota Vios to be launched here very soon, here’s a gallery of photos of a 2013 Toyota Vios live from the Toyota stand at IIMS 2013.

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for the launch report

  You’re looking at the Toyota Vios 1.5 G Auto model, which is top of the line in Indonesia and comes with a two tone interior and a touch-screen infotainment system. This particular Vios 1.5 G isn’t standard – it’s kitted with large sporty rims and subtle body decals for show car purposes. Inspiration for would be Vios owners here in Malaysia perhaps? You won’t be able to get your Malaysian Vios to look exactly like this though, because as far as we’ve been informed, red is not one of the colours offered in Malaysia.

  While Indonesia only has three variants of the Vios on sale, (1.5 E Manual, 1.5 G Manual and 1.5 G Auto), the Malaysian range is more diverse. Our Vios line-up starts from a Vios 1.5 J Manual with an estimated price tag of RM73,200. Then there’s also the 1.5 J Auto, a 1.5 E Auto, a 1.5 G Auto and the top of the line 1.5 TRD Sportivo priced at an estimated RM93,200. Check out preliminary pricing and specs for the 2013 Toyota Vios in our previous story: 2013 Toyota Vios now open for booking in Malaysia.

  The 1.5 E variant of the Malaysian spec Vios was previewed in a Vios Spot & Snap Cruisers teaser campaign throughout September 2013. Check out the preview car here: 2013 Toyota Vios – Spot & Snap reveals the Grade E.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2013 Toyota Vios – Spot & Snap reveals the Grade E

  In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Anthony Lim / 6 September 2013 8:23 pm / 202 comments

  

  We caught a view of the 2013 Toyota Vios out in the open today in Petaling Jaya, where the car was making a scheduled stop at its designated hotspot, as part of the Vios Spot & Snap Cruisers programme.

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for the launch report

  Our man Hafriz was in Uptown earlier in the afternoon, and snapped photos of the Grade E variant of the car. He didn’t manage to get a look at the interior though, as only exterior shots were allowed by the people running the ‘preview’.

  The new Vios is set to be officially launched in Malaysia next month. The order books opened in mid-August for the car, with estimated pricing revealed, and earlier, we pretty much ran through the impending arrival’s specifications and equipment list from a brochure, so the car is very much a known entity.

  The chance to view the Vios goes on – until September 22, the car will be showing up at hotspots around Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru. You can check Toyota Malaysia’s Facebook page for the date, time and location as to when the Vios will be nearest to you, and if you’re diligent enough to take a pix of it and upload it to your Facebook timeline, seems there’s a gift in store for doing that.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2013 Toyota Vios – spot and snap, and a preview too?

  In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Anthony Lim / 5 September 2013 6:39 pm / 87 comments

  

  We know that the 2013 Toyota Vios is set to be officially launched in Malaysia next month – the order books opened in mid-August for the car, with estimated pricing revealed, and earlier, we pretty much ran through the impending arrival’s specifications and equipment list from a brochure. Not much left to do but wait for the car to be unveiled.

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for the launch report

  Ah, but there’s still a bit of time to go, and as such, UMW Toyota has come up with a teaser campaign, one that involves some photo taking – you stand to win a gift, and there may be a chance to preview the car too.

  Starting from tomorrow until September 22, the Vios will be showing up at hotspots around Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru as part of the Vios Spot & Snap Cruisers programme. If you happen to see the car, snap a pix of it and upload it to Facebook – UMW Toyota will be handing out gifts to those who post a picture of the car on their Facebook timeline.

  Apparently, you might even be able to get a closer look at the new Vios during the activity period, given that the company says in its press release that “brand ambassadors will get the public to get up close and personal with the all-new Toyota Vios.” Which should mean more than just a mere peek, presumably.

  You can check Toyota Malaysia’s Facebook page for the date, time and location as to when the Vios will be nearest to you.

   

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• 2013 Toyota Vios now open for booking in Malaysia

  In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Danny Tan / 16 August 2013 9:24 am / 240 comments

  

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for launch report

  We all know that the Malaysian launch of the 2013 Toyota Vios is just around the corner, but it’s good to have confirmation. UMW Toyota has done so by putting up a new cover picture on the Toyota Malaysia Facebook page, and we’ve just received a press release announcing that new Vios is now open for booking, ahead of its official launch in October.

  Most importantly, estimated prices have been announced too, ranging from RM73,200 for the base 1.5J manual to RM93,200 for the range topping 1.5 TRD Sportivo. Check out how each variant’s new price compares to that of the equivalent outgoing car in the table below.

  

  The new model carries a tag line of “Value Beyond Belief”, featuring “class above fuel economy and high performance along with the safety and durability that Toyota is known for.” Also claimed is an interior with high quality materials, a more spacious cabin with improved legroom, larger trunk capacity, plus enhanced comfort and handling stability.

  Earlier this month, we showed you scans of the Malaysian Vios spec sheet along with pics of the local spec cars, as posted on our sister classifieds site oto.my. As confirmed today, five variants are to be introduced – the baseline 1.5J in both manual and auto guise, a 1.5E, 1.5G auto and a range-topping 1.5 TRD Sportivo version.

  

  Common to all trim levels is the familiar 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE, which produces 109 PS at 6,000 rpm and 141 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm, paired to the tried and trusted four-speed auto (or five-speed manual in the 1.5J MT).

  We now have the official local spec/equipment breakdown as well as the kit list, which includes new things like a push start button and the optional touch-screen DVD-AVN unit with reverse camera and voice command. More details here, or check out the full spec sheet, including comparison between all five variants, in the gallery below.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2013 Toyota Vios – specs list pops up on oto.my

  In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Anthony Lim / 6 August 2013 1:07 pm / 374 comments

  

  Sometime last month, photos of the Malaysian-spec 2013 Toyota Vios emerged in an ad on oto.my, offering the first visual take of the local car, which is expected to be launched in October. As recently as last week, the new Vios was spotted on a transporter here.

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for the launch report

  Now, another ad for it has popped up on oto.my, this time offering scans of the car’s brochure leaflet and as such, the specifications for the Malaysian Vios. The resolution isn’t terrific, but you can nonetheless make out what’s on it. You can view the ad here: 2013 Toyota Vios on oto.my.

  Five variants are set to be introduced, the baseline 1.5J in both manual and auto guise, a 1.5E, 1.5G auto and a range-topping 1.5 TRD Sportivo version. Common to all is the 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE, which produces 109 PS at 6,000 rpm and 141 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm, paired to the tried and trusty four-speed auto box (or five-speed manual in the 1.5J MT).

  
  

  Click image to view larger version

  The Vios wears halogen headlamps throughout the range, with that for the 1.5E and 1.5J being complex surface reflector units, while the 1.5G and 1.5 TRD Sportivo get projectors, the ones on the TRD variant featuring a smoked finish.

  The brochure lists 15-inch alloys with 185/60 profile tyres for all variants – no sign anywhere of the 16-inch and 195/50 rubbers that the Thai Grade S model wears, so it’s just fifteens to be had by the looks of it.

  Interior-wise, the 1.5E and 1.5J gets a black interior, with black fabric seats for the 1.5J and two-tone grey/black units for the 1.5E. The 1.5G, meanwhile, gets an ivory-shaded interior, with seats wrapped in dark ivory perforated leather.

  

  

  

  As for the TRD Sportivo, the variant gets dressed up with combination black/red perforated leather seats, with the steering wheel and gearshift knob also finished in leather. The TRD Sportivo will also come with a Sports Analgue meter combination, with the multi-info display offering a range of drive monitor modes compared to the 1.5E and 1.5J’s odometer/trip meter-only readouts.

  As for entertainment systems, standard issue is a dashboard integrated CD/MP3 player for the 1.5E, 1.5G and TRD Sportivo, with the 1.5J getting a two-DIN CD/MP3 head unit. The units are paired to six speakers in the case of the 1.5G and TRD Sportivo, while the 1.5E and 1.5J make do with four.

  Two optional two-DIN DVD-AVN systems are listed, in seven-inch and 5.8-inch touch-screen sizes. Aside from MP3/USB/Aux/SD Card functionality, Bluetooth connectivity and reverse camera common to both, the seven-inch adds a smartphone link, voice recognition (command) and navigation to the mix. This might be identical to the unit as seen on the Indonesian market version.

  Standard equipment across the range are dual airbags, ISOFIX points as well as ABS with EBD and brake assist (no VSC present in the kitbag), while the 1.5G and TRD Sportivo features a smart entry/push-start ignition, the 1.5E and 1.5J making do with the conventional keyed route. Oh, and pricing – the ad lists an estimated pricing of RM80k to RM97k for the Vios range.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• SPIED: 2013 Toyota Vios spotted on a trailer in M’sia

  In Cars, Local News, Spyshots, Toyota / By Hafriz Shah / 2 August 2013 10:25 am / 91 comments

  
  Click to enlarge

  Here we go again, boys! A pair of uncovered 2013 Toyota Vios models has been spotted on a transport trailer in Malaysia, as sent in by reader Jared Ling. It gives us yet another view of what will the latest edition of Malaysia’s top selling non-national car be in local specifications.

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for the launch report

  The grey car in the back appears to be the same one we’ve seen before, but it’s the brown one ahead of it that’s more interesting. It appears to be wearing a bodykit with a different set of wheels than the TRD Sportivo unit in the last round of our Vios spyshots.

  
  Click to enlarge

  Our best guess is that the grey one with the eight-spoke alloys is the E grade variant, while the other one with fancy multi-spoke wheels is a higher spec G grade model fitted with an optional Aerokit, much like the current Vios G Limited. It has chrome door handles and boot trim too.

  So we’ve now seen the E, G and range-topping TRD Sportivo variants of the Malaysian 2013 Toyota Vios range. Only the base J grade model remains an unknown for now. Won’t be long till the official launch now, slated to be in October. Anyone here placed a booking yet?

   

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• Toyota Vios 2013 promo video for the Indonesian market reveals tech-laden touch-screen system

  In Cars, International News, Toyota, Videos / By Jonathan James Tan / 1 August 2013 4:00 pm / 49 comments

  Here’s a promotional video from Indonesia for the new 2013 Toyota Vios, highlighting features including its “catamaran shape roof,” remote boot release and new interior design.

  What caught our eye is a rather premium-looking touch-screen in place of the standard radio unit – something we don’t believe we saw in the Thai-spec cars. It features a DVD player, internet browser, finger gesture recognition, drag-and-drop icons, M-Toyota app, wireless auto answer, voice command and Bluetooth connectivity. No mention of navigation, though.

  

  Click to enlarge

  A quick check on Toyota Indonesia’s website reveals this system to be offered only on the G-grade cars. Indonesia gets E M/T, E A/T, G M/T and G A/T variants, priced between Rp 242.5 and 272.5 million (RM76,360-85,800).

  Closer to home, the 2013 Toyota Vios has popped up on our sister classifieds site oto.my, in regular and TRD Sportivo forms. An October launch has been suggested for Malaysia. Full information and Thai pricing and specs here, and a live gallery from the Bangkok show here.

   

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• Toyota Vios TRD Sportivo Malaysian spec on oto.my

  In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Paul Tan / 24 July 2013 12:11 am / 225 comments

  

  The last time we saw an ad for the upcoming 2013 Toyota Vios on oto.my, the ad listing suggested an October 2013 launch. This latest ad that we found while scouring the oto.my car classifieds site reveals that an October launch might just be right after all, as UMW Toyota appears to have done some kind of dealer presentation recently.

  The oto.my ad shows two different Malaysian-spec cars. The white car has a sporty bodykit on it with TRD stickers on the side, so it must be the top of the line Toyota Vios TRD Sportivo spec. We also noticed daytime running lights below the fog lamps. The other grey Toyota Vios without a bodykit in the photo set has tape covering the badges on the rear, so we don’t know what spec it is. It must be either E or G grade variant, since it has proper alloy wheels.

  

  

  Another difference noticed are the reflector headlamps on the grey car and the higher-spec projector headlamps on the white car. You can also see a Honda City with a Malaysian number plate in one of the photos parked next to the grey Vios, an obvious benchmark for the car, as the City is the biggest rival to the Vios in our market.

  The Toyota Vios ad listing also suggests estimated pricing for the car – an RM80k to RM96k ballpark figure is given, with the RM96k price tag likely for the TRD Sportivo model. The ad also suggests a RM72k model, that could be a baseline J model. Five colour choices are listed – Quartz Brown Metallic, Attitude Black Metallic, Silver Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, and Solid White.

  If you’re interested in the new Vios, you can contact the sales person who posted the ad. Live gallery of the Thai-spec new Vios here.

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2013 Toyota Vios on oto.my – October launch?

  In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Jonathan James Tan / 15 July 2013 1:50 pm / 199 comments

  

  As far as new cars go, surely few are as eagerly anticipated as this. The 2013 Toyota Vios entered the Thai market in March, not long after which we brought you a live gallery from the Bangkok show.

  UPDATE: 2013 Toyota Vios now launched in Malaysia – click here for launch report

  And now it seems our turn is nigh – our sister classifieds site oto.my has yielded a listing for the popular B-segment sedan that suggests a Malaysian launch in October.

  Apart from stating that G and TRD versions will come with leather seats and push start, the ad doesn’t offer any other details of the equipment or trim levels that will be available here. An indicative price of RM80,313 is mentioned – but this has yet to go official, of course.

  As you know by now, the 2013 Toyota Vios gets a new exterior and interior as well as projector headlamps (G and S grade only). At 4.41 metres long, 1.7 metres wide (including wing mirrors) and 1.475 metres tall, it’s slightly bigger than the outgoing car.

  The familiar 109 PS/141 Nm 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE motor soldiers on, as does the four-speed auto ‘box. J, E, G and S grade variants are available in Thailand. Click here for full information and Thai pricing and specs, or here to go to the oto.my ad.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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