New vios are powered by a 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE four-cylinder with VVT-i that
sends 109 PS at 6,000 rpm and 141 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm to the front
wheels via a four-speed auto with Super ECT, or a five-speed
stick-shift in the manual J variant.
Although the engine and gearboxes aren’t new, Toyota says that the
new car offers a 5% improvement in fuel consumption over the previous
Vios. Contributing to the improved fuel economy are various components
in the engine bay that have been redesigned to be lighter or more
compact, including the engine’s air cleaner housing and related parts.
A ‘catamaran’-shaped roof helps streamline airflow over the top of
the car, and several areas and gaps, including the underbody, have been
smoothened and sealed to reduce turbulence.
Besides more aerodynamic door mirrors, small aero stabilising fins
are present on the tail lamps and where the door mirrors meet the
A-pillars to create air vortices that improve the vehicle’s
straight-line stability. The drag coefficient has been reduced from 0.29
to 0.28.
The all-new sheet metal brings with it a large trapezoidal lower
intake, a slim grille with small intake openings and chrome bars that
intrude into the glass of the angular headlamps. The base of the front
pillar has been pushed forward and that of the rear pillar, backward –
making the side profile look longer.
The 2013 Toyota Vios’ Impact Absorbing Body Structure complies with UN
ECE R94 and R95 safety regulations, which took effect in Malaysia from
July 2012. The structure absorbs and disperses impact energy through the
entire body frame in a frontal collision. The sides are reinforced,
with beams present in all doors to reduce intrusion during a side
collision.
A knee brace for the driver is fitted below the dashboard to restrain
the lower leg, while the steering wheel column is collapsible. The
front seats are whiplash injury-lessening, and three-point seat belts
are provided for all three rear passengers.
Impact-absorbing material is integrated into the pillar areas,
headlining and door panels to cushion occupants in a collision. Also,
Toyota says the stopping distance from 100 km/h has been reduced from
the previous 44.3 metres to 42.4 metres.
The J and E variants have front disc/rear drum brakes; the rest have
discs all round. All except J get power-folding door mirrors with turn
indicator, front fog lamps, 60:40 split folding back seats and a
dashboard-integrated audio unit (the J gets a head unit).
As for headlamps, J and E get reflectors, while the G gets projectors
and the TRD Sportivo, smoked projectors – all with manual levelling
adjuster. The latter two also get keyless entry and start, an instrument
panel multi-info display, six speakers (J and E get four) and a
leather-wrapped gear knob and steering wheel with audio buttons (no
leather wrapping nor steering wheel audio buttons for J and E).
All variants have a black interior save for the G, which gets an
ivory interior. J gets black fabric seats while E gets two-tone grey and
black fabric. G and TRD Sportivo get perforated leather seats in dark
ivory and black with red trim respectively.
Also available as optional accessories are a choice of two touch-screen
systems with reverse camera – 5.8-inch DVD-AVX and 7.0-inch DVD-AVN –
and a choice of window tints. Both touchscreen systems offer DVD, MP3,
AUX, USB, SD and Bluetooth compatibility, but the bigger DVD-AVN system
adds on Smartphone Link (compatible with selected smartphones only),
Voice Recognition and navigation.
The Vios also features a UK Thatcham-1 standard-compliant security
system that comprises an engine immobiliser, tilt sensor (to prevent
unauthorised towing), hyper-frequency sensor (to detect cabin intrusion)
and a back-up battery for the siren.
Elsewhere, Premium Security Solar Film, Standard Solar Film and
Essential Solar Film window tints are available. All tints come with a
seven-year warranty which is still applicable during transfer of
ownership at a later timing.
Five body colours are available – Medium Silver Metallic, Silver
Metallic, Attitude Black, White and a new Quartz Brown Metallic. Offered
is a three-year/100,000 km warranty.
- Toyota Vios 1.5 J (manual) – RM73,200
- Toyota Vios 1.5 J (auto) – RM77,300
- Toyota Vios 1.5 E (auto) – RM82,900
- Toyota Vios 1.5 G (auto) – RM88,500
- Toyota Vios 1.5 TRD Sportivo (auto) – RM93,200
