Two new models are launched; one to carry the torch passed on by its predecessor, the other seeking to make inroads in a new sector of the market.
With cars so expensive these days it’s now more important than ever that the manufacturers’ products offer something really special to buyers, to entice them to part with so much of their hard-earned. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why Japanese makes have been losing out to the Germans in Singapore – too much money for not enough car.
Toyota has long been known as a ‘safe’ brand. You pay your money, and in return you get years of utterly dependable, fuss-free transport. And one of the models that best epitomises this trait is the Vios.
Like previous generations, the new Vios is once again made in Thailand, but this time doing away with its friendly, rounded face in favour of a much more angular, aggressive look. Under the new sheetmetal, the drivetrain is carried over unchanged from the old car, meaning a 1.5L engine with 107bhp, a 4-spd auto and 0-100 time of 12s. Hardly inspiring figures, but you can’t argue with 6.3l/100km and a $5,000 CEVS rebate.
The interior sees a different dashboard design, with the most notable change being the instrument cluster’s shift from the top of the dashboard to the more traditional position in front of the driver. Rear passengers are also well catered for, with a flat floor and slimmer front seats ensuring greater legroom, while the boot is a competitive 476 litres, large enough for 4 golf bags.
The Auris is an altogether more intriguing proposition, one that some of you readers might recognize as having a more European flair. It joins the growing number of designed-in-Europe cars like the Hyundai i30 and i40, Nissan Juke and Qashqai, and FN Honda Civic Type-R. This is great news, because cars bound for Europe are usually engineered to a higher degree, thanks to their stricter quality demands.
With its sights set on the premium end of this segment, the Auris comes with a lot of toys Corolla owners can only dream of, like a 7-speed CVT gearbox, auto headlamps and wipers, Hill-start Assist Control, reverse camera and a handsfree automated parking assist. It’s much safer too, boasting a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating thanks to 7 airbags, stability control, traction control and ISOFIX mounts for child seats.
Similarly, the engine is a more advanced unit, a Dual VVT-i 1.6L with 132bhp, a large figure for something without forced induction. And yet despite that, its fuel consumption is just 5.7l/100km, while a low CO2 figure of 134g/km grants a $10,000 CEVS rebate.
At press time, the Auris retails for $132,988, while the Vios starts from $106,988. Both come with a 5 year warranty and free servicing for 3 years or 60,000km, whichever comes first.
