Introduced in 2002, the Toyota Vios is a compact sedan developed for the China, Taiwan and South East Asian markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Competing in the popular compact sedan segment with other strong contenders like the Honda City, Mazda2 and Nissan Almera, the past two generations of the Vios have been a major hit with Singaporeans.
And for drivers who obtained their license through the Comfort Driving Centre, the Vios would also probably be the first car they have driven.
The third generation Vios was unveiled at the 2013 Bangkok International Motor Show and will be offered in Singapore with two trim levels.
The E grade is a basic model which features the standard equipment just enough for the common driver, while the G grade, like our test car here, would attract drivers who fancy a bit more equipment and technology.
Exterior
Although the new Vios and the outgoing model share the same platform, the new Vios is pumped up to stand at 4,410mm by 1,700mm by 1,475mm (L x W x H), which is 110mm longer and 15mm taller than the outgoing model.
Competing in the popular compact sedan segment with other strong contenders like the Honda City, Mazda2 and Nissan Almera, the past two generations of the Vios have been a major hit with Singaporeans.
And for drivers who obtained their license through the Comfort Driving Centre, the Vios would also probably be the first car they have driven.
The third generation Vios was unveiled at the 2013 Bangkok International Motor Show and will be offered in Singapore with two trim levels.
The E grade is a basic model which features the standard equipment just enough for the common driver, while the G grade, like our test car here, would attract drivers who fancy a bit more equipment and technology.
Exterior
Although the new Vios and the outgoing model share the same platform, the new Vios is pumped up to stand at 4,410mm by 1,700mm by 1,475mm (L x W x H), which is 110mm longer and 15mm taller than the outgoing model.
Aesthetics wise, the new Vios takes after newer Toyota models such as the RAV4 and sports the new signature Toyota corporate face, where the chrome strip on the grille extends into the headlamp casing, thereby evoking a sense of sophistication.
Projector headlamps (G grade) are housed in there, completing the brilliant and stylish look at the front, and although they are not Xenon-enabled, we reckon that won't stop car enthusiasts from changing the ballast and bulb from aftermarket dealers.
Swift lines on the sides of its sheet metal help to define the Vios's sportiness. They run all the way to the back to meet redesigned taillight clusters which, together with the wing mirrors, are fitted with aerodynamic fins for improved stability and performance.
Interior
As soon as you step in, you notice that one of the major changes is that the instrument panel is no longer mounted at the centre of the dash as with previous generations of the Vios.
That said, the instrument panel now sports a new tri blue-ringed backlit speedometer and tachometer rev counter, with a small information screen nestled below showing you important vehicle information.
The interior is decked out in solid two-tone plastics accompanied by chrome accents which help to give the cabin a brighter feel.
Given that the Vios is considered an entry level compact sedan, the cleverly styled plastics on the dash and door panels leaves a visible line of thread, making it look as though they are hand stitched leather.
As soon as you step in, you notice that one of the major changes is that the instrument panel is no longer mounted at the centre of the dash as with previous generations of the Vios.
That said, the instrument panel now sports a new tri blue-ringed backlit speedometer and tachometer rev counter, with a small information screen nestled below showing you important vehicle information.
The interior is decked out in solid two-tone plastics accompanied by chrome accents which help to give the cabin a brighter feel.
Given that the Vios is considered an entry level compact sedan, the cleverly styled plastics on the dash and door panels leaves a visible line of thread, making it look as though they are hand stitched leather.
With the hot weather on our sunny island, the solid air-conditioning in the Vios is very effective in cooling occupants. But on a rainy day when it can get a little chilly, the system can get a little too cold to handle.
Aside from that, there are no overhead reading lamps at the rear which makes finding a misplaced pen or coins a little difficult but the absence of a transmission tunnel would help in having more space to look for them.
It also keeps the rear floor flat which is a plus for rear passenger's podiatric comfort. A 474 litres boot ensures most of your shopping needs are seen to and, if need be, the rear seats can be folded flat for an additional 30 litres of space.
Aside from that, there are no overhead reading lamps at the rear which makes finding a misplaced pen or coins a little difficult but the absence of a transmission tunnel would help in having more space to look for them.
It also keeps the rear floor flat which is a plus for rear passenger's podiatric comfort. A 474 litres boot ensures most of your shopping needs are seen to and, if need be, the rear seats can be folded flat for an additional 30 litres of space.
The Drive
Under the bonnet of the Vios lies the same 1.5-litre engine used in its predecessor that provides 107bhp and 141Nm of torque. Mated to a four-speed automatic transmission which works efficiently with the engine, power delivery is linear.
Nonetheless, the ageing powerplant can get a little rough and noisy when it is revved hard, which makes it a little unrefined. But thanks to a noise-damping acoustic glass (G grade), wind noise is pretty much minimised.
Still, it is actually quite amazing that the drivetrain technology, which is more than ten years old now, can still provide sufficient performance to see to your grocery needs. Although many reckon that it's high time to refresh the engine, Toyota made a good choice not to mess with a good thing.
Living up to its name, the new Vios is a better fuel saver now with a claimed figure of 15.8km/L, thanks to better aerodynamics, although we only managed 12.7km/L with some hard driving.
Under the bonnet of the Vios lies the same 1.5-litre engine used in its predecessor that provides 107bhp and 141Nm of torque. Mated to a four-speed automatic transmission which works efficiently with the engine, power delivery is linear.
Nonetheless, the ageing powerplant can get a little rough and noisy when it is revved hard, which makes it a little unrefined. But thanks to a noise-damping acoustic glass (G grade), wind noise is pretty much minimised.
Still, it is actually quite amazing that the drivetrain technology, which is more than ten years old now, can still provide sufficient performance to see to your grocery needs. Although many reckon that it's high time to refresh the engine, Toyota made a good choice not to mess with a good thing.
Living up to its name, the new Vios is a better fuel saver now with a claimed figure of 15.8km/L, thanks to better aerodynamics, although we only managed 12.7km/L with some hard driving.
The Vios may be no performance car but it goes where you put it. The steering may not be quick to turn in, but it is well weighted and accurate around curves, making it a rather fun car to chuck around.
In terms of handling, it is pretty neat and confident. While the suspension is a little firm at lower speeds, it soaks up bumps and ruts comfortably when the car gets up to speed.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the all new Vios is a great improvement from the outgoing one. The design and styling is up two notches and the drive is significantly smoother as compared to its predecessor.
For a decent family compact sedan, the Vios definitely fits the bill.
In terms of handling, it is pretty neat and confident. While the suspension is a little firm at lower speeds, it soaks up bumps and ruts comfortably when the car gets up to speed.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the all new Vios is a great improvement from the outgoing one. The design and styling is up two notches and the drive is significantly smoother as compared to its predecessor.
For a decent family compact sedan, the Vios definitely fits the bill.
