The old Toyota Wigo can best be described as, well, transport. It won’t wow you in any way, and quite frankly, was way too long in the tooth before the all-new model arrived in 2023. Yes, it was cheap, but it was the very definition of ‘you get what you paid for’. Nothing more, nothing less.
Against other similarly sized cars, the previous-ten Wigo just felt outclassed. It was slow (even among its peers), buzzy, unrefined, and quite frankly, not too fuel efficient. If it didn’t have a Toyota badge on, we doubt anyone would buy it.
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But thankfully, the redesigned model is here after nearly a decade of the first-gen model. Longer, wider, and taller than before, it promises to be a far more substantial car than before. Granted, the bar set by the previous model isn’t that high, but any improvement is welcome, right?
What we want to answer is this: Is the new Wigo something you’d actually consider or simply a car to buy because it’s all your budget allows? We’re hoping for the prior and not the latter.
Exterior
Styling is a subjective thing, but let’s be real here: It looks way better than before. So far, we haven’t heard of anyone saying that the old one looked better, and the reception towards its styling has been positive.
It’s a combination of cute and aggressive, this all-new Wigo. The sharp lines at the front make it look a tad more aggressive and gives it much-needed presence given its size. In contrast, the rest of the body is smooth, clean, and simple. We think this will age well in the long run. The best part is, it doesn’t look like a basic set of wheels. There’s actual effort in the design this time around.
Interior
The showroom appeal carries over inside. The dash is no longer just a plastic slab with vents, buttons, and dials strewn all over the place. Like the exterior, there was an effort to actually style it. Yes, everything is made of hard plastic, but the interior feels more substantial now.
As expected from anything by Toyota, switches, buttons, and dials are logically placed. Ergonomics are simple and straightforward, so all you’ll need is muscle memory to interact with the controls. We commend the front seats that feature thicker padding. It’s a welcome thing for those who have to drive the Wigo for ling distances. Speaking of the seats, we’re also happy to see a seat height adjuster.
Space is what you’d expect from a car its size. It’s good for its class but we reckon it could be a little bit better. There’s no problem with headroom in front, but some might find shoulder and legroom at a premium. At the back, legroom and headroom are also decent, but the mounts for the front seat get in the way of foot space. That said, it’s heaps better than the previous model.
But the small sacrifice in rear passenger space does pay off in cargo space. Toyota won’t mention the exact capacity, but we can confidently say that it’s one of the biggest in its class. There’s a longer and wider cargo floor, meaning you don’t have to bring out your Tetris skills when it’s time of do groceries.
Engine performance
The all-new Wigo has a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine straight from the Raize crossover. However, that engine is not offered in the Philippine-spec model. Instead, we get an updated version of the familiar 1.0-liter, three cylinder mill.
The local Wigo makes 66hp and 89Nm of torque, a (very) modest increase of 1hp and 1Nm of torque. Toyota has finally ditched the four-speed automatic in favor of a continuously variable transmission. Obviously, it’s not a fast car but the Wigo was never meant to be an autobahn cruiser. To be honest, it goes about the same as the last model.
It might not be any quicker, but the redesigned Wigo makes huge gains in fuel efficiency. Thanks to the new transmission, 20km/L is easily achievable on the expressway. In heavy traffic, you’ll do 10km/L with no effort, something the previous version struggled to reach. In near gridlock conditions, it’ll still return 9km/L. These gains in economy are very welcome indeed given its small fuel tank of 36 liters.
Ride and handling
Because of the larger dimensions, the Wigo hops around less on bad roads and highways.
The ride is soft, if a little too soft for some tastes. Still, when it comes to dealing with rutted roads, this all-new model no longer sends a shock up your tailbone thanks to the improved suspension and seats.
When it comes to handling, well, it stops and steers. The soft suspension means it pitches and leans around corners. It’s no corner carver, but roadholding is good for what it is. Curiously, we do like the steering feel as it’s on the weighty side. It allows for a little more feel and feedback and returns a surprisingly engaging drive for a budget car.
Points for improvement? Better body control over wavy roads would be welcome, and that three-cylinder could be quieter.
Extra features
In terms of equipment, the Wigo has several surprise and delight features that will make you feel you’re getting more for what you paid for. There’s a wide touchscreen audio display, audio controls on the steering wheel, and a digital climate control system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is present, but the one in our tester wasn't working. Here's to hoping that customer units don't have that issue.
As a bonus, there’s a built-in dashcam for the 1.0 G, something that’s becoming more common in Toyota models. But what we like most is the inclusion of stability control. It’s not exclusive to the top-spec variant, either, meaning even the most basic version has it, too.
Verdict
We’ll go ahead and say it: The all-new Toyota Wigo is leaps and bounds ahead of the past model. It looks better, more comfortable, more efficient, and just generally more pleasant to live with. The new Wigo no longer feels like a car that’s forced upon you if you have a limited budget. Instead, it’s now something you’d consider because it’s a genuinely good car.
Yes, it’s a lot more expensive than the previous generation, but you get a whole lot more car for the money. At P729,000 for the range-topper, it’s about P30,000 more than the old car. But we think that’s a small price to pay for everything it has to offer.
SPECS: 2024 Toyota Wigo 1.0 G CVT
Price: P729,000
Engine: 1.0-liter inline-three
Power: 66hp
Torque: 89Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Layout: FWD
Seating: 5
Score: 8/10
More photos of the 2024 Toyota Wigo 1.0 G CVT
