20101204

Toyota Etios Liva spotted testing

Close on the heels of the launch of Etios sedan, the hatchback version of Toyota’s new flagship, the Etios Liva is spotted testing on Chennai roads. Now that the sedan is on sale and the launch date for the hatchback announced as March-2011, the car is barely hidden with only the logo and badges going under the tape.

The Etios sedan’s biggest drawback in styling is its rear end which looks very similar to Logan, which is not a complement in any way. Going by the looks of it, the Liva seems to be better looking from the rear, but only just. The huge taillights and chrome strip just tries to spruce up an ordinary looking rear while the C-Pillar bears more than a passing resemblance to the Nissan Micra. When seen with competing cars like Fiat Grande Punto, Hyundai i20 and Honda Jazz, the Etios will not garner a second look, for sure.

But it seems that interior passenger space is available in spades as the Etios Liva looks almost as big as the i20, which is a tad bigger than cars like Maruti-Suzuki Swift. All the media reviews of the sedan too seem to highlight this point along with the supremely comfortable seats. Couple this to Toyota’s legendary reliability and the sedan’s shock pricing and what you have is a runaway hit in the offing.

The flaws like average fit and finish, cost-cutting in several key areas including light sheet-metal and a single windshield wiper and built-to-a-cost outdated looks would not stop Indians from queuing up for this car thanks to the extremely high brand-image that Toyota has managed to attract over the years.

12 comments:

  1. Hi,

    Yesterday i took a test drive of Etios Sedan, and found the driving of the car amazing, amazing pick-up, amazingly silent engine etc etc but the above things mentioned for cost cutting is also right, fit and finish is not upto the mark, even the gear box is not good....but Toyota is Toyota.

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  2. Hi, Tks for your comment.
    As you said, many of us Indians would overlook most cost-cutting measures in the Etios as its a "Toyota". But Toyota has also played smart by cutting only most of the unnecessary luxury features and providing things which customers need.

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  3. Excellent review and its a superb car.This is the first time that Toyota Motors announced a low ranged model named Etios Liva which already created benchmark for affordability in India.Toyota trimmed the cost of this hatchback without leaving a single dent on the company's formidable reputation.

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    Replies
    1. Manoj Singh, you are right. The Etios is the first time Toyota has developed a low-cost model below its Yaris hatchback. But, unlike your statement, the company's cost-cutting efforts are clearly evident in the Etios twins.

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  4. Excellent review and its a superb car.This is the first time that Toyota Motors announced a low ranged model named Etios Liva which already created benchmark for affordability in India.Toyota trimmed the cost of this hatchback without leaving a single dent on the company's formidable reputation.

    ReplyDelete