Toyota Vios Hybrid to be introduced soon; will compete against City e:HEV RS

KUALA LUMPUR: Toyota Vios aka Toyota Yaris Ativ is a popular name in not only the local market but in Thailand and Indonesia as well. Now, we hear about reports from Headlightmag, a Thai publication about the soon arrival of a hybrid version.

The all-new Toyota Yaris Ativ Hybrid version is said to land on Thai shores by the end of 2023. The upcoming model is said to benefit from a simple and less expensive one-motor, Daihatsu-sourced series-type hybrid and not the more advanced & expensive two-motor series-parallel type full-hybrid drivetrain as seen on the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

What does that mean exactly? Well, a one-motor series hybrid means the wheels won’t be driven by the petrol engine, the latter only functions as a generator charging the high-voltage battery. Therefore, regardless of the car’s speed, the engine is always spinning at the most fuel-efficient speed. The same configuration can be found in the lease-only Perodua Ativa Hybrid (in Malaysia) and the Nissan e-Power.

As per the publication, the Yaris Ativa Hybrid will get a larger 1.5-litre mill with the hybrid drivetrain coming from Daihatsu's e-Smart Hybrid range. The use of a simple and cheaper setup means the car is also less expensive than its competitors which in this case is the City e:HEV RS (with a more sophisticated two-motor series-parallel hybrid unit).

The difference between the Yaris Ativ Hybrid and Honda City e:HEV RS will be a prominent one. While the former being a single-type hybrid will focus more on the economy, the latter is more performance-oriented. Also, the 2-motor hybrid system was initially meant for larger cars like the Accord and CR-V before it was repackaged to fit smaller B-segment cars.

At the moment, the Honda City and City Hatchback are the only hybrid models in their class and with the arrival of the Ativ Hybrid there would surely be a spin in customer preference; with it being cheaper and offering enough power for daily commute.

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