Finally, the all-new Toyota Vios has revealed itself. The subcompact's official Philippine launch was held last week, and with more variants and a more dynamic design than ever, it looks poised to strengthen its place as the country's best-selling sedan.
With that said, great sales figures don't necessarily mean a certain vehicle is the best option available. The Honda City—the above-mentioned Toyota's chief rival—isn't going to take this new car's arrival sitting down, more so considering it just underwent a refresh in 2017.
Looking at the E variants, which are both priced at P828,000, the City looks like it has an advantage up front thanks to its higher-displacement gasoline engine and size. That is, until you see that the Vios 1.3 E, despite being a mid-end variant, packs seven airbags and 15-inch alloys instead of steel rims like the City.
All things considered, we think it's a fairly even match. Safety is a pretty big deal to us. Which of these two subcompact sedans do you think is the better overall package? Check out each one's specs below and let us know in the poll.
| Honda City 1.5 E MT | Toyota Vios 1.3 E MT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 828,000 | 828,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine | 1.5-liter gasoline | 1.3-liter gasoline |
| Power | 118hp @6,600rpm | 98hp @ 6,000rpm |
| Torque | 145Nm @ 4,8000rpm | 123Nm @ 4,400rpm |
| Transmission | Five-speed manual | Five-speed manual |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated disc/drum | Disc/Drum |
| Front suspension | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer | MacPherson strut with stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | H-shaped torsion beam with stabilizer | Torsion beam with stabilizer |
| Wheels | 15-inch steel | 15-inch alloys |
| Tires | 175/65 R15 | 185/60 R15* |
| Airbags | Driver/passenger | Driver/passenger, side/curtain/knee |
| Dimensions (mm) | 4,440 x 1,695 x 1,477 | 4,425 x 1,730 x 1,475 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,600 | 2,550 |
*Note: The tire size of the Vios is based on Thailand spec sheets. We are still confirming with Toyota if this is similar to units launched in the Philippines.
