The Etios is one of the best selling cars for Toyota in India.[Prices: 6.98 - 9.02 lacs(ex showroom Bengaluru) ] The entry level sedan is practical, fuel efficient and of course, reliable. That being said, Toyota has a very unique problem to tackle. Most, if not all their offerings in India are used as taxis and Etios is no exception. Keeping that in mind, Toyota has launched the Etios Platinum. Toyota say its the perfect family car. I drove one recently to find out if that's true.
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As far as design is concerned, this is one of the most subtle facelifts ever. The front grille is now 'V' shaped, fog lamps are new and that's about it. There are supposed to be more changes if you look closely. Eg: the tail lamps are actually new! One thing that is very clear is that the Etios does not look striking or attention-grabbing. It a plain looking car. It will neither please nor put off anyone. That being said, it is very well proportioned and not everyone wants to be looked at while waiting for the traffic signal to go green.
As soon as you get into the Etios, one thing that you will notice is that it is not plain at all. With the dual tone dashboard and a centrally mounted instrument cluster, the interior design language of the Etios is actually quite interesting.The top end variants get steering wheel controls as well. While the AC vents are big, the driver gets only one AC vent. The tachometer is now digital and the whole appearance of the instrument cluster has been improved. That being said, a centrally mounted instrument cluster does not make a lot of sense. What's wrong with the normal ones?
One of the best things about the Etios is the sheer legroom that you get in the backseats. Cars which cost twice have lesser leg room. Thanks to the big windows, the whole car feels very airy. On the whole, the backseat of the Etios is a happy place to be in. The boot of the Etios is huge. You can actually fit a small planet in it.
When it comes to the driving experience of the car, the engineers at Toyota have listened to the feedback of the customers and as a result, the clutch is very light and driving the car in the city is extremely easy.Highway performance is very good as well. High speed stability is excellent. You get 2 engine options. A petrol and a diesel. While the petrol returns 16.5 kmpl, the diesel manages an impressive 23.5 kmpl. Since it is a Toyota, it will most likely outlast any other car in it's segment.
In conclusion. though the Toyota Etios is not a head-turner, it is extremely practical and reasonably priced.
The Good Stuff:
1) Toyota's legendary reliability.
2) Loads of legroom for the passengers.
3) Enormous boot capacity
4) Safety
The Bad Stuff:
1) Looks quite boring
2) The engine does not like to be pushed
3) Lack of equipment
Credits:
I would like to thank the people at Palace Toyota, Hootagalli, Mysuru for lending us the car.
Phone: 0821 4248222
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