One can call it a bit of an open secret, but it’s finally been confirmed. The Toyota Vios will finally be getting a hybrid soon, and it will make its debut in August. More specifically, it will premiere on August 21, 2025.
With that, this model will only be the second car in its class with a full and proper hybrid system. What’s the other one, you ask? That would be the Honda City e:HEV that’s been around for quite some time already.
This bit of information came from Thailand via Autolifethailand, and so far, it’s the only thing we know about the car. Mind you, the Vios is called the Yaris Ativ over there, but it’s practically the same car save for the sole engine option which is a 1.2-liter, four-cylinder unit. Well, at least until August.
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So, what to expect? It’s likely to get the same setup as the Yaris Cross HEV which shouldn’t be much of a surprise. The all-new Toyota Vios rides on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture or DNGA, the same chassis that underpins the aforementioned Yaris Cross, as well as the Avanza, Veloz, Raize, and Wigo.
Should it use the 1.5-liter hybrid system, we’re expecting a total system output of 109hp. Having experienced this powertrain first hand in the Yaris Cross, the electrified Vios should have no problem achieving 12km/L at the very least.
That said, there is another hybrid unit made for the DNGA platform. It’s seen in the Toyota Raize HEV, and it’s a 1.2-liter mill mated to a single motor making a total output of 105hp.
We’ll have to wait for the launch date for the full details, but this represents a bold new step for the Vios. As mentioned, Thailand will be the first market to get it, but there’s a good chance it will be offered all over Southeast Asia. As for the Philippine market, we’re still waiting for the redesigned Vios which is said to be arriving before the end of the year.
