Toyota Etios: Landscapes of Indian hatches are gearing up for a big change, as Toyota readies the return of the Etios Liva which has received an extensive makeover which now offers a sporty proposition, as opposed to the utility player it once was.
Such a strategic rebirth is poised to strike as the popularity of cost-effective-yet-emotionally rewarding automobiles that offer driving pleasure backed by the Toyota brand’s trademark reliability continues to rise.
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Toyota Etios Transformation of Design: Utilitarian to Affective
The all-new Etios Liva grabs your attention the moment you set your eyes on it– the new design is greatly influenced by Toyota’s sportier global models than the earlier simplistic- design.
It has a more aggressive, wider and bolder grille with honeycomb mesh inserts while also getting sharp LED headlamps up front with unique daytime running lights that give it a striking appearance along with a better visibility.
Travelling down the profile there are heavy character lines that add a visual tension, producing movement at standstill. Its muscular wheel arches contains 16-inch gunmetal-finished machined alloy wheels (on top end model), further improving the car’s look and handling with reduced unsprung weight.
The dynamic silhouette is enhanced by sloping roofline with integrated spoiler, which doesn’t impinge too much on rear headroom – a perfect blend of style and pragmatism.
The rear end finishes the transition with quarter-hugging LED taillamps that add recognition and visibility. The new look front bumper features subtle diffuser fins and a central fog lamp that pays homage to Toyota’s racing heritage – details that serve to inject a sense of genuine sporting spirit over decorative frills.
Colour options also show some real consideration to the potential for emotion-driven purchases beyond basic A-to-B transportation, bringing choices like Sporting Red, Turbo Blue and Thrilling Black alongside the more conservative Platinum Silver.
Trunk Experience: A taut but fun ride
Toyota Etios Slip inside New Etios Liva and you will notice a driver-centric layout designed to add a sporty feel to your everyday drive. The dash is a horizontal layout with contrast stitch and brushed aluminum-effect highlights that provide some visual depth without overdoing it or feeling forced.
The driver-oriented cabin features a three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching and friendly thumb rests. This sizeable wheel has great traction and audio and phone controls that make driving from the seat of your pants less distracting.
Clamped within its protective binnacle are twin combination analogue meters displaying tachometer and speedometer, with a large, easy-to-read central, LCD screen that is operated by a convenient handlebar mounted switch and displays additional information such as gear position, fuel consumption, traction control status, external air temperature, odometer and dual tripmeters.
Seating comfort is another positive contributor of Toyota’s design research, as the front seats feature more pronounced side bolstering for increased lateral support when cornering without inhibiting ingress and egress.
Sporty looking fabric upholstery offers eye appealing, high quality design with contrasting stitching for a more comfortable and durable everyday use. Three passengers ‘can’ sit on the rear bench if they absolutely must, but the best seating at the back is for two persons.
The infotainment system is the recipient of a huge upgrade, with an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
Fair enough; you can’t ask for everything in life, but even with that limitation, you’ve got an instrument that quite literally and practically offers the best of both worlds.
Credentials: Spirited but sensible.
Under the snazzyhood of the all new Etios Liva, not one but two exciting engine options enticing onesoomngling performance and that too without gulping gallons of fuel.
One of Toyota’s much-hyped engine is the standard 1.2-liter naturally aspirated plant with a pat from VVT-i and an optimized intake manifolds to deliver 88 hp and 113 Nm of torque – performance figures that are ideal for the city while still maintaining an excellent fuel mileage of around 18 kilometers per liter.
For those who want more performance, the optional 1.0-liter turbo produces 110 hp and 170 Nm, which really good pulling power for a car in this class.
The powerplant is equipped with direct injection and a carefully tuned turbocharger to minimize lag, providing excellent flexibility throughout the rev range – traits that add to both every day drivability and spirited back-road driving.
The available transmissions are an accurate 5-speed manual along with a 6-speed automatic, which comes with paddle shifters on the upper variants.
The manual provides more driver involvement with clear gate definition and short throws, and the automatic adds urban-grind convenience while still retaining engagement with a willing manual shift override.
Chassis dynamics: Engineered for Fun
Toyota Etios The suspension design gets a major retune that ends up not only transforming the on-road performance but it also maintains daily-drive-ability.
For handling precision, Ride and comfort and lowering costs, a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension is retained and the spring rates, shock tuning and bushings are revamped at key points.
The electric power steering system has been retuned for more progressive weighting and better feedback – things that inspire confidence to the driver during competitive cornering, while remaining light and easy to use when parking.
Its tight 4.8 turning circle ensures that you can maneuver well even in dense downtown traffic.
And braking is greatly improved as well thanks to larger front disc brakes with a new pad material that offers stronger initial bite with better feel and ultimately grater stopping power.
The ABS calibration gets a tailor-made tune for Indian road conditions for maximum intervention with steering control without heavy pedal pulsation on different terrains.
Integration of Features-Appropriate Technology
The all new Etios Liva is designed with ergonomics and great comfort yet simple operation in consideration. This long list goes on with car being offered with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist across all models car on move it with features that actually provide safety features rather than just having it because it’s mandatory.
A five-speed manual with an optional auto – both with hill-hold and electronic stability control – along with keyless entry with push-button start, auto air-conditioning and cruise control (on high-spec variants) all play in a better sense of everyday practicality without blowing accessibly priced positioning irretrievably. The rear camera with active guidelines makes parking in tight city spots easier.
Value Proposition & Valid in the Market
The new Etios Liva by Toyota bites the corner of the chunk we know as ₹6.5-9.5 lakh (ex-showroom) and makes enough sense for the potential buyer who wants to indulge in some driving without going penniless.
The pricing realizes the long-stated goal of the Sienna being an aspirational yet affordable choice, promising emotional fulfillment along with the bulletproof Toyota dependability.
The new and improved, super-smooth warranty cover is now 3 years/100,000km (extensible) – confidence-inspiring cover that demonstrates the strength of Toyota’s faith in the basic engineering integrity of the product.
Toyota Etios Conclusion
The new Toyota Etios Liva has been evolved and revolutionized to make a best selling car that an entire generation next would desire from their hearts.
The addition of pleasurable performance and daily functionality combined with reasonable accessibility aligns the Toyota with a strong profile – not with drivers in need of a reliable and affordable daily driver, but tuning enthusiasts in search for unrivaled stupendousness.
Yet for all those who’ve long been hunting for accessible driving fun without having to give up on the practicality and reliability they rightfully demand from the wheels that carry them everyday, the new Etios Liva appears to be an extremely well thought out option that provides actual sporting nature without many compromises – a welcome departure from a segment that virtually thrives on being at either the make-some-sense extreme or at the other give-me-some-pretentiously-unusable-excitemeness end.
