5 things to know about the upcoming Toyota Vios

While the highly-anticipated Toyota Veloz is still due to launch in Malaysia, the Thai market gets the all-new fourth-generation Vios (known as Yaris Ativ there) earlier this month. As Toyota’s answer to the latest Honda City, the new Vios has been co-developed by Daihatsu and Perodua adding an extra Malaysian flavouring to the next-gen sedan. It shares underpinnings with the Veloz and the recently launched Perodua Alza.

Today, we will be discussing the five important things you should know about the upcoming 2023 Toyota Vios. So, let’s get started. 

Increased dimensions

Based on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture, the new Vios has a larger footprint with slightly increased length, width and height. However, the wheelbase has significantly grown by 70 mm contributing to the passengers’ comfort inside the cabin. Here, we compare the new Vios dimensions with its chief rival.

Specs	Toyota Vios	Honda City
Length	4,425 mm	4,553 mm
Width	1,740 mm	1,748 mm
Height	1,480 mm	1,467 mm
Wheelbase	2,620 mm	2,600 mm

Looks like a mini Camry

The new Vios looks all matured and sleek, giving the vibes of the Camry. The front end is inspired by the larger sedan with a slim upper grille and a huge lower grille incorporating horizontal slats. The sleek and angular LED headlights and L-shaped daytime running lights further tell that the automaker has tried to give the sedan a more mature and premium look just like the Camry and Corolla.

Towards the sides, we can notice the slightly increased wheel arches with the widened door openings and stretched window lines. At the back, a trim piece on the boot lid connects the new LED tail light clusters. On the lower apron lies the slender faux air outlets and the reflectors integrated into a diffuser-like element.

Better-equipped cabin

To rival the likes of the City and Almera, Toyota has equipped the next-gen sedan’s cabin with several cosmetic tweaks and comfort & convenience bits.  It looks sleeker and more high-class with soft-touch materials, a generous amount of what looks like leather, a fully digital 7.0-inch instrument panel and a sleeker dashboard with fewer buttons, levers, and toggles. The automatic climate control system gets the new digital air-conditioning controls, including power outlets and the control for the PM2.5 air filtration system.

At the centre of the redesigned dash lies an all-new 9.0-inch touch screen infotainment display paired with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity options and a six-speaker Pioneer sound system. With the standard models, customers get the 8.0-inch head unit.

The Thai-spec model also gets the much-needed tilt and telescopic adjustments for the steering wheel that puts the 2023 Toyota Vios in line with the City and Almera. Another feature that bridges the gap between Vios and City is the inclusion of rear air-conditioning vents. Also new for the generation is an electric parking brake and a 64-colour ambient lighting system.

We expect the upcoming Malaysian-spec Vios will feature the same specifications.

New mechanical setup

The all-new Vios offered in the Land of Smiles benefits from a new drivetrain, which seems to be a Thai-exclusive thing. The new unit is a 1.2-litre Dual VVT-I 4-cylinder mill generating 94 hp of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 110 Nm of peak torque at 4,400 rpm. Compared to the ongoing 2NR-FE 1.5-litre four-cylinder, the output is decreased by 11 hp and 30 Nm. 

However, the automaker claims the new unit has improved fuel consumption (23.3 kmpl) and CO2 emissions matching the Euro5 standards. Tied with the new engine is a new Super CVT-i gearbox with a sequential shift sending power to the front wheels.

Well, the Malaysian-spec Vios is expected to carry the ongoing engine setup with the upcoming generation update.

New features added to the TSS

Toyota Thailand also benefits from an improved Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite. The newly added gears include All-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beam, Front Departure Alert, and Pedal Misoperation Control. Included in the continuing active safety systems are Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Alert and Pre-Collision System.

When it comes to passive bits, the new Thai-spec model takes a step back by dropping the driver's knee airbag and is now packed with six airbags. This is quite disappointing.

Parts of the standard safety kit are Anti-lock Braking System with EBD & BA, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-start Assist Control, Emergency Stop Signal and parking sensors.

That’s all about the new Thai-spec Vios (Yaris Ativ) and the expected specs for the local shores. Do you think the new Vios has the potential to emerge as a market leader? Tell us in the comments.

Also read: 2022 Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4E MT 4X4: What's on offer