The Vios has always been considered a reliable daily driver. But sporty? Not exactly. Now, Toyota Motor Philippines is looking to make its local subcompact-sedan lineup a little bit livelier by introducing the Vios GR-S.
Launched in Malaysia late last year, the Vios GR-S immediately piqued the interest of those who’ve held back from buying the sedan in hopes of something flashier arriving. If you’re among those who’ve waited, your patience will now be rewarded in the form of aesthetic alterations that give the vehicle a more energetic vibe.
The Vios GR-S will set you back P1,020,000 (additional P15,000 for White Pearl Crystal Shine). For that amount, you get the same 1.5-liter DOHC gasoline engine found in the Vios 1.5 G, paired with a CVT programmed to simulate 10 forward gears. The engine produces 106hp at 6,000rpm and up to 140Nm of torque at 4,200rpm, so don’t expect changes in mechanical performance here.
What you can expect, though, are a handful of considerable changes to the exterior. The Vios GR-S comes equipped with front and rear bumper skirts, side skirts, and a subtle rear spoiler. It also flaunts a mesh grille up front, as well as piano-black door handles and side-mirror housings (as opposed to chrome and body-colored finishes).
Changes have been made to the sedan’s interior as well. Inside, you’ll be greeted by suede and synthetic leather seats, and a generous amount of red stitching has been added to components like the leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats, and shift knob.
In terms of features, you’re looking at paddle shifters, a 6.75-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, a six-speaker sound setup, automatic A/C, a rear parking monitor, push-to-start ignition, and seven airbags. This is the best Toyota has to offer when it comes to its subcompact sedan.
Perhaps the only downside, if you’ll even consider it one, is that the Vios GR-S is only available in three colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Super Red V, and black. Personally, we’d go with white—it’s just the cleanest-looking of the bunch.
So, there you have it—a slightly sportier-looking Vios that offers all the creature comforts you’d expect from a mass-market Toyota. Do you think the package justifies the price? The comments section is open.
