There’s good news in the entry-level car market and first-time car buyers or those seeking an affordable transport option now have the opportunity to consider the all-new Toyota Etios which was launched in South Africa this week.
It has been a long time coming and it was just a matter of time before Toyota released a car that would take the fight to the VW Polo Vivo and the Ford Figo in the sub-B-Segment after the success of the Toyota Tazz. Although somewhat conservative in its styling, the Toyota Etios offers car buyers a sound value proposition in terms of price and car quality. Offered in two trim levels, namely Xi or XS, the Toyota Etios is a practical and well rounded offering and is available as a sedan or hatchback. The entry-level Toyota Xi offers air conditioning, power steering, dual airbags and ABS brakes while the XS offers central locking, electric windows, chrome finishing and colour coded mirrors and grille.
Under the hood is home to the Etios’ 1.5 litre four cylinder petrol engine that produces 66kW at 5600rpm. The transmission comes in the form of a five-speed manual gearbox. Fuel consumption for the hatchback version stands at 6 litres/100km while the sedan is slightly less with 5.9 litres/100km.
The interior is well laid out and can comfortably accommodate five passengers and with ample luggage space for those family trips, the Etios becomes a pleasing proposition. Reports seem to indicate that the drivability of the Toyota Etios exceeds expectations and proves to handle the road smoothly with minimal road noise.
How much can you expect to pay for the Toyota Etios? Well, thankfully, not much. If you are looking for a whole lot of car for a fair price, the Etios is well worth a look. Here are the prices. Each Toyota Etios comes with a 2-year / 30 000km service plan and a 100 000km warranty.
Etios 1.5 Hatch Xi - R115 800
Etios 1.5 Hatch Xs - R120 900
Etios 1.5 Sedan Xi - R121 800
Etios 1.5 Sedan Xs - R126 600
Do you like the Toyota Etios?
