The all-new Toyota Vios’s arrival in the Philippines had always seemed inevitable, but over the course of our three-year wait for the new generation, there were times when it felt that the day would never come. Because of how quickly automotive technology is evolving, cars go stale much more quickly these days, and we’ve seen updated models launched barely a beat after their predecessors.
But they say good things come to those who wait, so is that the case with the latest Vios? Or make that ‘ey-tiv’: The all-new iteration is now known as the Toyota Ativ, and it will be sold alongside the previous-generation car that retains the Vios moniker, but now that it has lost the 1.5-liter engine option, it has been relegated to fleet-car status.
Before the Ativ was officially introduced in the Philippine market, we were able to take it for a quick drive from Makati to Tagaytay. There are 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engines in the lineup, but we were able to drive the range-topping 1.5 HEV, otherwise known as the hybrid version. You can read about the full specs of each variant here.
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The journey to Tagaytay took longer than expected because of a damaged electric post that blocked the path, but it did mean more time spent behind the wheel. Among the things that stood out for us were the better-looking and higher-quality materials in the cabin, the more refined ride quality (at least after we set the tires to the correct pressure), and the much-improved fuel economy.
We’ve put together a full video to show you our first taste of Toyota’s all-new subcompact sedan, which ranges from P918,000 for the base 1.3 E manual to P1,198,000 for the top-spec 1.5 HEV CVT that we drove. Click play on the video below, and let us know your thoughts on the Ativ. Do you think it’s worth the three-year wait?
