The Look
The Etios has been styled in such a manner that most of the people will neither hate it nor love it. It proportions and shape is such that it's exactly what a 5-year old will doodle as a 'car'. Looks wise it's no Linea, but at the same time it's no Dzire either. So again by keeping a large consumer base in mind, Toyota has made sure it doesn't offend anyone. It has a great amount of subtleness to it and spotting it in the opposite lane in fast moving traffic would be sort of difficult. There aren't many distinctive styling features, but the large Toyota 'smiling' grille is clearly noticeable. The overall shape and size do give an insight to all the space inside, especially the boot. Overall an average looking car which looks built for the purpose.
Interiors
We drove the top-of-the range VX version. So we got the red-black combo seat covers, and red inserts in the door cards. Along with a very sporty looking flat-bottomed steering wheel with audio-controls mounted on it. The entire feel and grip of the steering wheel was amazing, we just loved it! But this is where we think it is flawed. Overall the car has no sporty appeal to it, and from a broader perspective isn't designed to be either. Giving red inserts in the interior not only make nil sense but also looks loud, some other sober colour would have done. The seats don't have adjustable head-rest but have been engineered perfectly, despite being thin (thus saving precious space) they manage to be very comfortable.
Space is one place this car is a notch up. Even after the front seats pulled all the way back, there is ample of space behind and 3 adults could sit very easily. The plastic quality is not something to write home about, but is acceptable. The dashboard is a bit out there, with AC vents in the centre placed to cool the rear of the car. And they do the job rather effectively.
The placement of the dials in the centre of the console is not new but the layout was disappointing. The tachometer was very hard to read while driving and the dials look rather like a sticker than actual physical gauges.
The boot is incredibly large with 595 litres of space this is 155 litres more than the Dzire!! Heck, it's even larger than the Corolla's boot! But it could have been utilized in a better manner with a more uniform design. What we sorely missed inside were basic features like electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors, height adjustable seats and speakers (only front speakers are provided).
Powertrain
The Etios is powered by a 90PS 1.5 litre petrol engine. This much power is sufficient enough for the car, as it weighs merely 930 kgs. It's almost 80kgs less than the Dzire, which not very heavy itself. But what compliments its low weight is the plenty of torque this engine has. Pulling in higher gears from low speeds is a breeze, and it's these in-gear acceleration times where it blows away the competition. Thus it has great drivability in traffic conditions and highway cruising too. But despite this, the engine doesn't seem to be built for the red-line crazy enthusiasts. It has a pretty low 6000 rpm rev limit, and gets pretty vocal at high revs. Cost savings in the sound-proofing materials maybe? The engineers at Toyota have done a good job in tuning the engine towards efficiency as it easily returns 12-17 kmpl in city traffic and highway cruising.
The Etios is aimed at the family man, who goes from point A to B. But if you are a family man who loves to attack the corners with the ferocity of a bulldog in heat, this car will disappoint you. There is a large amount of body roll which doesn't inspire confidence in the corners at all, and the electric power steering accentuates the disability of taking corners enthusiastically. But to be fair, this was expected. By sacrificing sporty handling Toyota has gained where for the average consumer it matters most, ride comfort. And frankly speaking at the end of a tiring day, one doesn't want a bone jarring sharp handler but a comfortable cruiser that feels as if it's floating. The Japanese suspension takes all the rough patches pretty well and also manages to sustain its composure at high speeds. Though the sportiness has been compromised, it is a very satisfying suspension setup overall.
Running Cost
The ownership cost any Toyota product is one such point on which it has stolen the market from its competitors. An Etios would give a mileage of around 12-13 kmpl and the average running cost runs around Rs 6-7 per km (based on our calculations) depending the way one drives. All in all a godd buy if you are a city commuter.
Final Word
The Etios is car that has been tailor made for India. It encompasses all the values and attributes a class leading Indian sedan should have. It scores high on space, efficiency and comfort. It has been priced very aggressively and also has the Toyota brand backing it. It is quite clear how Toyota have managed to give such incredible value for money; there are obvious cost-cuttings. But the corners have been cut at places where frankly, it doesn't matter much. There are small issues, but none are grave enough for you to regret spending your hard earned 7 lakhs. It is when you take a step back and look at the Etios intently; you realize how sensible, well thought out and practical this car is. So if you are looking for a no-nonsense entry level sedan, look no further the new Logan, oops I mean the Toyota Etios is built for you!
TGM TIP:
If you are going for the top of the line VX version, we would recommend you to go for the V version instead. The only difference in V and VX is that you get red inserts and seat covers, side skirts and the audio control mounted steering wheel, and a price difference of nearly Rs 50,000. But if you too have fallen in love with the steering wheel, you can get a similar aftermarket wheel without spending half a lakh, and can avoid the garish red!
Written by- Gaurav Singh
Editing & Inputs- The Grease Monkey Blog Team
Photography – Tejas Kudtarkar
The boot is incredibly large with 595 litres of space this is 155 litres more than the Dzire!! Heck, it's even larger than the Corolla's boot! But it could have been utilized in a better manner with a more uniform design. What we sorely missed inside were basic features like electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors, height adjustable seats and speakers (only front speakers are provided). 
If you are going for the top of the line VX version, we would recommend you to go for the V version instead. The only difference in V and VX is that you get red inserts and seat covers, side skirts and the audio control mounted steering wheel, and a price difference of nearly Rs 50,000. But if you too have fallen in love with the steering wheel, you can get a similar aftermarket wheel without spending half a lakh, and can avoid the garish red! 
