Toyota Vios Hybrid sneak peek
Toyota will be aiming to solidify its lead in the passenger-car market when it launches the Vios Hybrid sedan. Adding a hybrid variant to the Vios lineup will no doubt attract customers who are seeking a practical, efficient, and (just as important) coding-free everyday car.
The upcoming Vios hybrid, if we go by its recently-launched Thai counterpart, the Toyota Yaris Ativ, measures 4440mm long x 1740mm wide x 1480mm tall, with a 2620mm wheelbase.
Vios Hybrid is expected to pack a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine equipped with VVTi. Its 91ps / 121Nm output will be augmented by an electric motor with 80ps and 141Nm, powered by a 0.76kW-hr lithium-ion battery. (For comparison, the Toyota bZ4x battery EV has almost 100 times this capacity, at 73.1kWh). Total system output will be 111ps, and torque will be channeled via “E-CVT” automatic transmission to the front wheels. Toyota quotes an impressive efficiency of 29.4 km/liter.
Exterior styling touches will include black chrome grille with metallic gray lower grille, body-color side mirrors with LED turn signals, and LED taillights with sequential turn signals. Inside, passengers will sit on black-gray synthetic leather seats and enjoy automatic aircon with built-in PM2.5 dust filter, 9-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, wireless phone charging pad, a six-speaker Pioneer sound system, and four cup holders. There may be available red genuine leather seats.
The Vios driver will face a 7-inch color driving information display in lieu of the traditional gauge cluster, and enjoy electric parking brake with auto brake hold. The CVT can be set to a sequential shift mode. Buttons on the steering wheel will allow the driver to select from Eco, Normal, and Power drive modes. Electric power steering provides efficient and light turning.
The Vios hybrid will ride on front MacPherson struts with stabilizer bar, and rear torsion beam with coil spring with stabilizer bars. Four-wheel disc brakes will within the 16-inch wheels.
As for active safety, Vios hybrid will have available 360-degree panoramic view monitor, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor on the side mirrors, front and rear proximity sensors, follow-me-home lights, front video dashcam, six airbags, stability control, ABS and EBD brakes, and hill-start assist.
All of these features would make the Vios hybrid a compelling alternative for both new car buyers, and anyone simply seeking a subcompact car that has everything you would need for everyday commuting.
As for price, if we go by Toyota Thailand’s list, the top Vios hybrid model carries a 30% premium over the base model car. That would put the Vios hybrid at around P966,000. That price premium, given the theoretical 13.5 km/liter of an ICE-powered Vios vs the quoted 29.4 km/liter of the hybrid, and current gasoline price of P54/liter, would be recouped by the user after about 67,288km of driving. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
