Toyota Vios

The all-new 2023 Toyota Vios rides on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) chassis that gives it some much needed composure in ride and handling. It has looks that justify its ‘Baby Camry’ moniker and a stellar suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that give it a one up on the Honda City, the Vios will take the fight to the B-segment

Design

The new 2023 Toyota Vios has the upper hand against its rivals, given its ‘Baby Camry’ looks that make it stand out on the road. The only downside to those striking looks is the compromised rear headroom.

Dimension

Being a B-segment sedan, the 2023 Toyota Vios measures at 4,425 x 1,740 x 1,480 x 2,620 mm in length, width, height and wheelbase.

Lighting

Both variants get a LED reflector headlights and LED taillights.

Wheels

The wheel size varies according to variant. The range topping G gets 17-inch wheels while the E makes do with 16-inch wheels instead.

Dashboard

The new dashboard lends it a much more modern and grown up design, crowned by an 8-inch head unit (wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) and a digital instrument cluster for the 1.5G.

Rear headroom

The sloping roofline makes it a handsome car but the drawback is the lack of headroom in the rear. Legroom is generous.

Space

Comparatively to its closest rival, the Vios' interior space isn't much to shout about, but it is just enough for everyone to get comfortable and not feel cramped in a tight space.

Boot

Boot space has reduced compared to its predecessor.

Safety Features

The 2023 Toyota Vios has 6 airbags as standard. Standard safety kit includes autonomous braking, lane-keep assist, Front Departure Alert, Pedal Misoperation Control and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The flagship also gets autonomous cruise control.

Comfort Features

Leather seats are reserved only for the range topper, even the steering wheel and gear knob are upholstered in leather. The lower spec variant makes do with fabric seats.

Infotainment

Both get a 9" touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Engine

The sole engine option for the 2023 Toyota Vios is the 1.5-litre 2NR-VE engine (naturally-aspirated four cylinder, 106 PS and 138 Nm) with a new D-CVT transmission that combines a steel chain with a planetary gear set used to complement the belt to reduce the typical CVT 'rubber band' feel.

Drive train

The Toyota Vios is front wheel drive only

Acceleration Time

The 2023 Toyota Vios manages the century dash in 12.3 seconds.

Engine Performance

The 2023 Toyota Vios lost a couple of horses and some torque in the name of fuel efficiency but you wouldn’t be able to tell. In typical Toyota fashion, the engine and transmission are faultless and will perform as expected with some an extra zest if needed.

Transmission Performance 

The D-CVT is a much smoother transmission and while the 'rubber band' feeling isn't 100% gone, gentle driving is seamless.

Steering and Handling

The Vios aces with better body control, and while the suspension is still very cossetting, the steering wheel has notable improvements in response and organicity. It’s very much comfortable on the highway as it is in the city.

Read the review of the 2023 Toyota Vios here

Passenger comfort

Ride comfort has benefited the most with the use of the DNGA platform. Passengers will enjoy the supple ride and how well-insulated the cabin is from exterior imperfections on the road.

Fuel Consumption 

In mixed conditions of highway cruising and stop-go traffic, the Vios returned fuel consumption numbers of 6.1 litres/100 km – better than the City (6.3L/100 km) but behind the Almera (5.8L/100 km).

Conclusion

The 2023 Toyota Vios has struck a sharper balance between sublime on-road manners, overall plushness and not being a slop to drive. That’s a bonus but for a B-segment volume-seller, it’s missed the easy, small wins such as the lack of rear headroom, inflexible boot (down on volume and no folding seats). Logic dictates owners would prefer that over the good looks and ride. Still, it offers a lot to the customer with it being the only one in the segment to offer stop-and-go ACC with an EPB, full-digital cluster, and wireless phone connectivity in its price range.