When Toyota went affordable

Clever design upgrades help differentiate the Etios facelift from its more traditionally-styled predecessor. 

Design Review

For years, Toyota has been a name that is familiar worldwide for setting quality and performance benchmarks in the affordable, compact car segment. Getting behind the wheel of one further accentuates the fact that you’re driving something that will probably last forever. And that is exactly what makes Toyotas of today (not including the utterly brilliant GT-86) rather dull, soulless appliances.         

If the Mayans were to come back tomorrow and ask you what a car is, you might try to explain that it is powered by an internal combustion engine and it has four doors and wheels. Or put it this way: you would simply want to show them a Toyota.   

The Etios, since it first hit the showrooms, has come under heavy criticism for its uninspiring design and below par quality of the interiors. So when we first heard that Toyota was bringing out a facelift, our thoughts immediately leapt to visions of a refreshed Etios, a car that is far more impressive to look at and sit in.

What you see here, though, is a mild makeover for the year 2013 with particular focus on refinement and quality. So before going through with the review, ask yourself; will I be driving all the time? If yes, head to the Maruti Suzuki dealer and go for a Swift Dzire. The long and short is that it will be more rewarding behind the wheel. However, if practicality and reliability really count, read on.

The earlier Etios was never a head turner or a terribly striking looking thing. Its appeal was rather more intrinsic – in what it offered to the buyers. For 2013, the Etios has undergone a facelift though you will have to look closely to spot it. At the front, the Etios still greets you with a wide grin with the only redesigned bit – the chrome-finished grille.

While the headlamp design and the hood remain the same, the rather busy looking aero kit comes courtesy of the TRD Sportivo limited edition which was introduced last year. A few other upgrades such as the all-new taillight design and rear-view mirrors with turn indicators continue to enhance the appearance of the family sedan. Overall, the mild design upgrades help differentiate the Etios facelift from its more traditionally-styled predecessor. 

User Experience Review

Inside, the Etios’ cabin stays nearly unchanged for 2013, with the exceptions being the addition of a new 2-din audio system with connectivity for Bluetooth, USB and what not. Our test car featured all-new, two-tone ash brown interiors which really lifted up the ambiance.

Given the fact that it sits in the entry-level sedan segment, the Etios boasts of a fairly spacious cabin. There’s acres of space both in front and at the back. Speaking of which, the front seat offers good comfort levels and thanks to the Etios’ ergonomically designed cabin, it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. As for the rear, the flat rear bench is in fact supportive and can accommodate three full-sized adults without any trouble. The real deal though, is how practical the Etios is: besides the big 13-litre chilled glovebox, there’s plenty of room for your usual set of knick knacks. 

Boot space is one of the big selling points for a car of this segment, and as there’s an impressive 595-litre of it, the Etios doesn’t disappoint. The Etios’ boot in fact is usefully big and can pretty much accommodate whatever you throw at it. 

The top-of-the-line Etios that we had is fairly well spec’d out, with features including ABS with EBD, dual airbags, height adjustable driver’s seat, steering mounted audio controls, adjustable headrests at the front and a chilled glove box, besides the feature-rich audio system and the two-tone interiors.  Also, the cabin looks and feels a bit better put together than the previous Etios. However, despite the advent of such upgrades, the overall quality and the design of the interior leave a lot to be desired. 

Performance Review

Underneath, the Etios facelift comes with the same 1.5-litre petrol engine that powered the old car. With about 90PS of power and 132Nm of torque, the engine not only offers reasonable amount of grunt, but does the job in a rather smooth, linear way. Gearshifts too on the short-throw five-speed gearbox are quick and smooth.

In terms of real world performance, the Etios boasts of good bottom-end torque which means it goes off the moment you prod the throttle. The 1.5-litre engine is quite responsive when doing crawling speeds and when the speed rises; it has enough torque to get you out of light traffic. While the Etios still isn’t terribly refined, the engine loves to be revved and it is only when the needle is hovering above the redline that the engine feels like it is out of its comfort zone.          

To improve comfort and on road manners (especially over rough roads) Toyota says the Etios facelift sits slightly higher off the ground than its predecessor and that it comes with optimized front and rear suspension. The revised set up indeed is well suited to roads we have here. The Etios, as a result, rides impressively over the worst of excuses for a road our country can throw at it.

Verdict:

There is absolutely no shortage of options when it comes to entry-level sedans. While the current segment leader, the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire is hard to fault, the Tata Manza and the Mahindra Verito make for quite a bargain choice when you factor in the price and the sheer amount of comfort on offer.

As for the Etios, thanks to the makeover that Toyota has given, this new model not only looks that extra bit more appealing than its predecessor, it is also every bit as practical. So while it still won’t exactly set your pulse racing, the Etios will give you peace of mind, a clear conscience and on top of all, Toyota’s bulletproof reliability.