Toyota Vios
The Toyota Vios is a nameplate used for subcompact cars produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota, primarily for markets in Southeast Asia, China and Taiwan since 2002. Slotted below the compact Corolla, the Vios serves as the replacement to the Tercel, which filled the subcompact or B-segment sedan class in the region. It is also successor to the entry-level variants of the E110 series Corolla in some markets such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
From 2005, the Vios was also marketed alongside its hatchback complement known as the Yaris in many countries globally. The second-generation Vios was released in 2007, which was marketed as the Belta in Japan and Toyota Yaris sedan in the Americas, the Middle East and Australia. The second-generation model shares its platform with the XP90 series Vitz/Yaris.
The third-generation Vios was released in 2013, which shares the platform with the XP150 series Yaris hatchback. It is marketed in regions outside Southeast Asia, China and Taiwan as the Yaris sedan. Through a major refresh in 2017, the Vios shares the same styling as the refreshed XP150 series Yaris hatchback. The heavily facelifted model also gained more global presence by local production in Brazil, India and Pakistan as the Yaris sedan. A separate, less major refresh was introduced for the Chinese market Vios in 2016 alongside a hatchback model marketed as the Toyota Vios FS.
In Thailand, the 2017 facelifted model was marketed as the Toyota Yaris Ativ, which shares the smaller 1.2-litre engine with the Yaris hatchback. The 1.5-litre Vios continued to be sold alongside the Yaris Ativ until 2022, using the Chinese market facelift styling.
The fourth-generation model was released in 2022 in Thailand as the Yaris Ativ. It was designed and engineered by Daihatsu using its DNGA platform.
The "Vios" name is derived from the Latin word "vio", meaning "go or travel ", while Toyota marketed the car in Indonesia in 2007 with the backronym "Very Intelligent, Outstanding Sedan". In Indonesia, downgraded models of the Vios to cater for taxi fleet was marketed as the Toyota Limo through three generations. Toyota Vios is the best-selling car in the Philippines.
The Vios has been campaigned in One Make Races in Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.
First generation (XP40; 2002)
The first-generation Vios, codenamed XP40, was first previewed as a prototype model called the Toyota T-1, which was showcased in Beijing during Auto China 2002 in June. It is based on the Echo, which was sold in China as the Xiali 2000. Toyota mentioned that the T-1 has a.In October 2002, the XP40 series Vios was started to be assembled in China by Tianjin FAW Toyota. It was also produced at Thailand's Toyota Gateway Plant in Gateway City, Amphoe Plaeng Yao, Chachoengsao Province, as part of a cooperative project between Thai engineers and Toyota's Japanese designers.
The Vios was adapted from the Platz with modified body panels and portions of the car feature design cues from the E120 series Corolla. Like the Vitz and Platz, the Vios features instrument panel mounted on the top center of the dashboard.
In Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan, the Vios is equipped with a 1.5 L 1NZ-FE engine with VVT-i. Both the 1.5 L 1NZ-FE engine and the smaller 1.3 L 2NZ-FE engine is offered in the Philippines. In China, the Vios comes with the 1.3 L 8A-FE and 1.5 L 5A-FE. Trim levels for Southeast Asian markets include J, E, G and S, while the DLX, GL, GLX and GLXi are offered in China.
In September 2005, the Vios received minor cosmetic changes to its exterior and interior for the 2006 model year. Updates included the front bumper, headlights and tail lights, redesigned alloy rims, speedometer dial design, and added a console box in the interior.
The Vios was campaigned in the Touring Car Championships in Indonesia and One Make Races in Thailand.
Taxicab versions marketed in Indonesia have less equipment and is rebadged as the Limo. This is not to be confused with certain taxis with the same name in Thailand, which use Corollas.
Markets
China
In China, the Vios was produced from 2004 to 2008 equipped with the 1.3 L 8A-FE and 1.5 L 5A-FE engines paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The 5A-FE engine was replaced by the 2SZ-FE engine and 3SZ-VE engine in 2006. Trim levels consist of the DLX, GL, GLX and GLXi trims.Indonesia
The Vios for Indonesia was imported from Thailand, and offered in E and G model grades. The E was only available with 5-speed manual transmission and 14-inch alloy wheels. The G could be purchased either with manual or automatic. ABS, 15-inch alloys, and digital speedometer are only for the G.Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Vios was sold in E and G trim levels and comes with 15-inch alloy wheels. The equipment was similar to the Singaporean specs.Philippines
In the Philippines, the Vios was introduced in June 2003 with 2 grades; the E and G. The E variant was powered by a 1.3-litre 2NZ-FE VVT-i engine, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. It came with an analogue gauge cluster and 14-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels. The G variant was powered by a 1.5-litre 1NZ-FE VVT-i engine. Additional features were fog lamps, power side mirrors, Toyota security alarm system and a digital gauge cluster. It was paired to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. The lower variant J came out in June 2004. It had no power features and 13-inch steel wheels. The Vios received a facelift in June 2005 with the same 3 grades. The E and G variants had different design of alloy wheels and all variants have dual SRS airbags. In 2007, an S variant was added to the lineup as the sport version of Vios. It has installed with a sportier body kits and a duck tail spoiler.Singapore
In Singapore, the Vios came in E, G, and S trim levels and powered by a 1.5 L 1NZ-FE engine. The top-of-the-line S trim comes with only a 4-speed automatic transmission. It has a digital speedometer, silver steering wheel trims, foldable wing mirrors, foglamps, chrome door handles and boot lid garnish. The E trim was available in either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and has a conventional speedometer.Released in 2005, the facelift model was offered in E and S trim levels. All models came with all-around disc brakes, ABS with EBD, and dual SRS Airbags.
Taiwan
In Taiwan, the Vios came with a 1.5 L 1NZ-FE engine in J and E trim levels. The first-generation Vios was sold and produced until the first quarter 2014.Vios Turbo
A Turbo variant of the first-generation Vios was made available only in Thailand, which only 600 cars were produced. A turbocharged 1.5 L engine with an air-to-air intercooler produces with light boost at 6,400 rpm with of torque. It can accelerate from 0– in 8.1 seconds. About 600 units were produced. Standard on the Vios Turbo are a functional scoop on its bonnet, wrap-around body kits, stiffer springs, firmer shock-absorbers and 16-inch alloy wheels. Colours available were red, black and silver. The transmission ratio and differential ratios were based on that of a MR-S.Powertrain
Second generation (XP90; 2007)
The second-generation Vios is a renamed Japanese market Belta sedan with varying trim levels and equipment sold in Southeast Asian countries and China between April 2007 and March 2013. It was also sold as the Yaris sedan in North and Latin America, and Australia. The model received a facelift in mid-2010 and the second time in 2012.Third generation (XP150; 2013)
The third-generation Vios for the Asian market was unveiled on 25 March 2013 at the 34th Bangkok International Motor Show in Thailand. Its design was previewed by the Dear Qin sedan concept that was first displayed at the April 2012 Auto China. Toyota aimed to designate the third-generation Vios as a global model, for markets outside of Asia. The car was sold in Thailand shortly after, and from the second quarter in Asia. The exterior was enlarged over the front and rear sections and its styling outline was later followed by the XP150 series Yaris hatchback for the Southeast Asian market. The instrument cluster position is no longer mounted on the centre of the dashboard.In regions such as South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, the XP150 series Vios was sold as the Yaris Sedán. It was sold alongside the Mazda2-based Yaris R till 2020.
In South African regions, only the Yaris hatchback was available for the XP150 model.
The XP150 series Vios/Yaris sedan, is not offered in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Yaris sedans subsequently sold in North America from 2015 are based on the Mazda2 and produced for Toyota by Mazda with a 5-year tenure lasting till 2020.
In 2017, a facelift model was released, which introduced newer sheet metal, interior design, while sharing the same front styling with the Yaris hatchback. The platform was revised with additional weldings for more rigidity and also with additional emphasis on noise, vibration, and harshness. Based on Toyota's internal estimates, it saw an 11 percent improvement in this sector, with the dashboard alone received 40 percent more sound insulation than before. The facelifted model was marketed in Thailand with the 1.2-litre as the Yaris Ativ to be eligible with the Eco Car program, while the Vios continued to be sold with the Chinese facelift styling and a 1.5-litre engine as a more powerful alternative. However, the Yaris Ativ-based styling was used for most markets instead of the facelifted Vios sold exclusively in China and Thailand.
Facelift
The facelifted third-generation Vios was unveiled at the April 2016 Auto China. For the facelift model, there are projector headlamps with integrated LED light guides, a wider T-shaped grille and fog lamps shifted to the lower air-dam with vertical LED DRLs affixed on the bumper, similar to that of the pre-facelift XV70 series Camry. At the rear, the tail lamps feature LED-type units with revised graphics and feature a thinner linking chrome boot lid bar. This facelifted model is exclusively available in Thailand and China.In most Asian countries, the facelifted Vios was sold from 2018 as a major facelift model with all-new body panels and interior. It uses model NSP151 model code for the cars with 1.5-litre engine, or NSP150 for the 1.3-litre models. It is also offered in India, the Middle East and Latin American countries as the Yaris Sedan. It measures an additional in length and in width.
The facelifted Vios is sold in Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. In the first 6 countries, the Vios is offered with the 1.5-litre 2NR-FE engine, while in the last 3 countries, it only powered by the smaller 1.3 L 1NR-FE engine. Both engines are offered in the Philippines. Although powered by the same engine as before the facelift, a different software calibration in the transmission made it more responsive. The platform used are based on the Vios sold in China and Thailand, but additional welds make it more rigid to provide better handling and ride. The Vios has advanced safety system for its class such as Traction Control and 7 SRS airbags. Rear disc brakes are only for the G model, and later the sporty GR-S.
The facelifted Vios received a minor facelift in July 2020 with a redesigned front bumper and grille, with integrated DRL dual lens LED headlamp for the range topping models. It also received added safety suite for the range topping variants.
The facelifted Vios received another minor facelift on 10 May 2023 exclusively for Vietnam.