2019 Toyota Vios: First impression
So, the day finally arrived when Toyota Malaysia launched the new 2019 Vios here in Malaysia. Ever since the word came out at the end 2018 that Toyota might be planning to bring the new Vios to our country, speculations started around the subject. Then we got to know that it’s quite likely that Toyota is going to unveil the new Vios at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2018, and it did. And now the new B-segment sedan is officially launched. We are keen to get our hands on this machine, but until that happens here is our first impression of the 2019 Toyota Vios.
Exterior design
It wouldn’t take a genius to tell that the new Toyota Vios looks very much familiar to the Yaris hatchback. While we don’t get the hatchback in Malaysia, it’s available in some of our neighbouring countries. Anyway, the new Vios is very attractive, especially from the front. Its large and angular headlamps cover up most of the front face of the car, and hence the attention. Below the headlamps is a sporty-looking bumper which has a blacked-out grille in most of its part. Then there are fog lamps on its either end. Toyota has also placed the LED DRLs at the front bumper only.
Just like the front, the highlight of the rear end of the car is its large tail lights. These are two-piece combination units and does a great job in alerting people behind about the presence of a car ahead of them. We also see a spoiler with brake light integrated into the tailgate. This is a nice addition to add a sportier character.
Overall, the exterior design of the new 2019 Toyota Vios, even though familiar, is not done well and shouldn’t come in between you and your buying decision.
Updated interior
Okay, things are a bit familiar here as well. A portion of the dashboard is similar to that of the Lexus NX, and the steering wheel appears to be borrowed from Toyota’s own Corolla Altis. We do get mounted controls on the steering, and the dashboard has a nice design with a 6.8-inch touchscreen in the middle which supports USB, HDMI, MP3, AUX, and Bluetooth. It also comes with a voice dial feature and a DVD player. While the infotainment system is definitely better in terms of various supporting features, it does lack with the latest developments in the auto-tech field- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Other interesting features here include a fully digital AC control system, leather upholstery, paddle shifters, illuminated door sill scuff plates, and a dashcam. Oh, and of course, there is also the new Optitron instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch multi-info display. It really looks cool and the layout is well put together.
The space inside the cabin is good. The seats are comfy and well bolstered. There is sufficient legroom for the rear passengers. However, there is no rear AC vent which is a bit of a disappointment.
Powertrain
There are 3 variants of the Vios available in Malaysia - 1.5 J, 1.5 E, and 1.5 G. And all of them are powered by the same 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. The 2019 Toyota Vios specs sheet confirm that this engine churns out 107 PS of max power at 6000 rpm and generates a peak torque of 140 Nm at 4200 rpm. It is one of Toyota’s trustworthy engines. It comes mated to a 7-speed CVT Shiftmatic transmission.
Toyota has also provided a drive mode switch in the new Vios. As the name suggests, this allows the user to switch between either the Eco or Sport mode.
Safety features
This is where Toyota has kept the standards at a good level. The new 2019 Vios comes with many active safety features like Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) & Traction Control (TRC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Front Digital Video Recorder (DVR), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD & BA, and Parking Sensor. Other than these, there are 7 airbags in the car that come as standard in all the three variants which is really appreciated. No wonder Toyota boasts about Vios’ 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.
So, this was our first impression of the newly launched 2019 Vios. As mentioned earlier, there are 3 variants of the car and all of them are available in Dark Blue Metallic, Red Mica Metallic, Attitude Black, Silver Metallic, and Super White II. The 2019 Toyota Vios price begins at RM 77,200.
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