Toyota Vios

The entire layout of the interior of the Toyota Vios has been significantly revamped compared to the previous version, with the new one inspired from that of the Corolla. In comes a new multi-functional steering wheel, which is leather-wrapped in the G variant. The touchscreen infotainment system now has a floating design at the top of the centre console, while having automatic climate control buttons and AC vents placed below it. 

The Toyota Vios has an all-black theme with contrast silver accents on the steering wheel, centre console and door pads. In addition, the cabin also gets soft-touch leather finish over the dashboard and door pad trims for added premium appeal. The G variant also has leather finish for the transmission lever and seats, while the sedan getting three assist grips and three USB charging ports. 

Pros and Cons:

Pro: New-age screens for instrument console and infotainment system

Con: Interior looks too similar to that of larger Toyota sedans

Features and Technology

Compared to the previous-generation model, the new Toyota Vios feels more modern and better-equipped, with it now feeling much up-to-date than before. The steering wheel here has audio, drive mode, and Bluetooth controls and tilt adjustability as standard, with the G variant also getting a leather finish, telescopic adjustability, ADAS buttons, and paddle shifters in addition. 

While the E variant has a conventional Optitron instrument console with analogue gauges and a 4.2-inch TFT MID, the G variant gets a fancier, fully digital instrument console with a 7-inch TFT MID. This 7-inch screen has four different display modes, that are configurable from the steering wheel. The common features offered in both variants are rear AC vents, an engine push start-stop button, wireless charger, illuminated scuff plates, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with four speakers and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The G variant further gets 64-colour ambient lighting, automatic climate control (manual AC in E variant), LED cabin lights (halogen lights in E variant), two additional speakers for the audio system, soft-touch door armrests, and electronic parking brake.

Pros and cons:

Pro: Many premium features are offered as standard

Con: No ventilated seats and sunroof

Boot Space and Storage

Both the variants of the Toyota Vios claim a boot space of 475 litres, which is pretty decent, but we would have loved to see a bigger improvement here over the previous-generation, which also had more or less similarly big boot compartment. The Vios also offers a usable glovebox, coin pocket, four bottle holders with one each on all door panels, two cup holders, a sunglass holder and a centre console box beneath the front centre armrest. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: Decently large boot space and cabin storage spaces

Con: Cup holders are less 

With this fourth-generation model, Toyota has made the Vios look sleeker and larger than the previous-gen model. This new version of the Vios looks inspired by larger Toyota sedans like the Corolla and Camry, making it look more premium and aspirational. 

The front profile of the Toyota Vios looks sleeker with a massive air dam covering the centre of the front bumper, which also serves as the primary grille of the car. This grille comes with several horizontally-laid blacked-out slats, while also having a slim grille above it that comes with the headlamps to its sides. These al-LED headlamps have auto on/off and follow-me-home functions, while also having L-shaped LED DRLs on outer edges. The grille in the G variant has a gloss black finish too. 

Gone are the fog lamps in this new version of Toyota Vios, which now gets vertically-aligned air curtains with gloss black finish. The elegant-looking side profile of the Vios has power-adjustable and foldable rearview mirrors, which also come integrated with LED turn signals. The chrome finish for the window beltline and a sharp crease running sideways add more character to the side profile of the Vios. The E variant has 16-inch alloy wheels, while the G variant has 17-inch alloys. 

The sleekness in the overall design language is visible at the rear too, with the Toyota Vios getting trapezoidal LED combination tail lamps, which also get sequential LED turn indicators in the G variant. The Vios also gets a gloss black garnish between the tail lamps and a slim boot-mounted spoiler. More highlights of the exterior of Toyota Vios include body-coloured door handles, aero kits, rain-sensing wipers and acoustic windshield glass. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: Premium and elegant design language

Cons: No fog lamps

Both variants of the Toyota Vios, which come with the same engine and transmission combination, claim a maximum fuel efficiency of 19.2 kmpl, which is achievable in highway driving conditions. However, the VIos delivers 12-13 kmpl fuel efficiency in peak traffic conditions, which is also pretty decent given the conditions. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: Impressive fuel efficiency on both city and highways

Con: Nothing much, actually

Sharing its DNGA-B platform with the Veloz and Avanza, the Toyota Vios has Macpherson struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear. Both the front and rear suspension of the Vios come with stabilizers for keeping the body roll in control, while also ensuring that the sedan offers plush ride quality and balance even at higher speeds. The G variant also has an all-four-wheel disc brake setup for better braking experience. 

The Toyota Vios comes with a light steering setup, which offers decent feedback at all speeds, though we would have appreciated better steering feedback at higher speeds. For a sedan, the turning radius of 5.2 metres is also pretty decent. 

Pros and Cons:

Pro: Plush ride quality

Con: Low ground clearance

Unlike its predecessor generation, which was offered with two engine choices, the new fourth-gen Toyota Vios is now available only with a single powertrain combination – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a CVT. Shared with other Toyota offerings like Veloz and Avanza, this petrol engine claims 106 PS of maximum power output and 138 Nm of maximum torque output. 

Toyota claims a top speed of 180 kmph for the Vios. The 1.5-litre petrol engine feels refined throughout its zone, though there is a lack of top-end grunt which is evident as the speeds rise. The 7-speed CVT also is far better than previous-generation CVTs offered in older Toyota offerings, though it still lacks the responsiveness of an AT or a DCT during quick overtakes. 

Pros and cons:

Pro: The engine feels refined

Con: Lack of top-end grunt

With this generation model, Toyota has made sure that the Vios makes a significant jump in safety advancements. Many of the safety features are now available as standard in both the variants of Toyota Vios, including six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist, auto door lock, front and rear parking sensors and reverse camera.

The Toyota Vios also comes with a slew of standard ADAS features, including pre-collision system, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, front departure alert, pedal misoperation control, 3D panoramic view monitor, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, front digital video recorder and emergency stop signal. The G variant further gets lane keeping control, auto high beam and adaptive cruise control.

Pros and cons:

Pro: Standard safety features, including some ADAS functions

Con: No hill descent control

Competitor Comparison

In this updated version, the Toyota Vios continues to be one of the top sellers in the premium compact segment, which also includes other alternatives like Honda City, Proton S70, Nissan Almera, Mazda 2 Sedan, and MG5.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Toyota Vios has always held a reputation for being a reliable and efficient car, which is easy to own for first-time car buyers, while also offering them the aspirational value of a larger premium car. This fourth-generation model takes the bars further with its even more premium appeal inside-out, along with several standard safety, comfort, and convenience features.