Toyota Etios

      The Toyota Etios is one of the most important vehicles Toyota has ever launched to date. Toyota has been in our market since 2000 and has given us world-class and highly popular products like the Corolla and Innova. But, the Etios marks the start of a new chapter for Toyota, as it is the first car they have launched that caters to the mass market. Like hatchbacks, the sedans in the price range of 6-8 lakhs have also gained exponential popularity these days and sell in large numbers. This pie was far too large and tempting for Toyota to ignore for long, and Etios seems to be the perfect way to share a piece. As this part of the market and car segment, both were in largely unknown territories for Toyota, they went for the most logical and actually best source for help and knowledge...the customers. As a result, every nook and corner of the car seems to be engineered with customer feedback. Has this strategy worked, or will the Toyota brand be a bit too much for this segment? Let's find out...

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.

Handling and Ride

   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

What Next?

         2011 has arrived; it not only marks the end of a year...but also a decade. And what a decade this was! We witnessed the rise of our very powerful and incredible auto industry. Well yes these 10 years were important, but the foundation was laid in 1991, when our economy opened up and the license-raj ended. Up till then all we had was the Premier Padmini, Hindustan Motor Ambassador and Maruti 800. Mid 90's saw the entry of Hyundai and Fiat and by 2000 Tata was ready with the Indica.

Premier Padmini and HM Ambassador

1986 Maruti 800

         Back in 2000 if someone thought of a Lamborghini showroom in India, it would have been as absurd as a Black American President, but we have Obama and a stable in Delhi. The growth that our market witnessed in this decade was the stuff of legends. As of now, no significant auto manufacturer can ignore our market and everyone somehow or the other wants a piece of this pie. And if this was not enough, Indians now own Jaguar, Land Rover and Ssangyong. We now have immense momentum and I don't see this dying out anytime soon. So now the question arises, what next?


        This current decade will be defined by major alliances between Indian and international players and also among international players to get the perfect product that this market demands. There is no doubt that as always the major share will be of the small car segment, but other segments will also continue to grow into significant numbers.


       Mahindra will be the one to be watched closely as they have new platforms and very interesting models in their near future line-up. The first act will be the sale of the imported Korando, an interesting SUV from their newly bought Ssangyong motors. Testing of an international SUV with exceptional quality is also underway and if they get it right, they will rule the MPV and SUV market for many years to come. The small car market is ready to explode as even the big boys like Toyota and Honda have small cars specially made for India.

Mahindra Korando

    
        Another thing that has gone unnoticed by many is the VW-Suzuki partnership. Let's face it; Suzuki along with Maruti is the world leader in small, efficient and cheap cars. Though some of their philosophies may be not in sync with the German giant, but they have to make compromises to get a decent market share in the segment below the Polo. With Suzuki on their side, don't be shocked to see a re-badged A-star or Estilo as a VW or Skoda. It's a win-win situation for VW, Suzuki and the customers! In turn Suzuki can learn a thing or two on how to get that solid feel in their at times, soulless cars. I don't think such an amazing and powerful alliance has been seen among Germans and Japanese since the Axis powers of World-War II.


       On the local front, Tata will continue to churn out more cars with their ever popular and successful idea- 'More Car Per Car'. Maruti will continue to rule the small car market despite many attempts from various manufacturers to dethrone it. They are trying to enter the big league with the Kizashi, but this move is very debatable.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

    
       Chevrolet has made an alliance with Chinese car manufacturers and has now planned to import many of their cheap and very market relevant models to India. Fiat has an amazing range abroad and the highly accredited new multi-air engine technology. Though after long they have managed to hit the sweet spot with the Linea and Punto, getting the strategy right for the coming years will dictate how its brand image is changed and perceived. Coming to the luxury range, with the current economic growth, this segment is bound to grow many folds. Don't be surprised to even see a Porsche assembly plant in Chakan!!

GM Sail and Wuling

      So will Maruti be able to establish itself in the luxury segment, will Tata and Mahindra be able to reach quality standards of international levels, will Toyota and Honda be able to make significant impacts on the small car market, will Chevys Chinese products be a hit in India, will Fiat finally achieve the status it deserves? These questions will only be answered as time goes by, but one thing is for sure is that we are in one hell of a ride! So lets sit back and enjoy. And wish you all a very happy new year...


- Gaurav Singh 
TGM Blog Team