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Despite starting off with the same ingredients, the Echo and the Vios are two different bananas. The former represents the mold, if you will, for the new generation of Toyotas that are as fun to drive as they are reliable. The latter, is in simplest terms, the fruit of Toyota’s efforts to bring this new philosophy to the ASEAN market. The Vios is the start of the new age of sub-compact sedans—where styling, practicality and driving dynamics are closely associated with the Toyota badge. However, this is not to be confused with ‘radical’, unlike its head-to-head competitor, the new Honda City. In fact, it is a safe bet in any aspect—whether it be in its design, concept or even its mechanicals. The most obvious proof of which is the Vios’ styling cues. Looking like a Corolla Altis in 80-percent scale, the Vios borrows its bigger brother’s curvaceous front end, dominant mesh-type radiator grille, high beltline, pull-type door handles and tall-boy looks. More so is the treatment of the front lamp clusters—something that can make one easily mistake the Vios for an Altis when viewed from a distance. Now, don’t get us wrong. There’s nothing really to hate about the Vios’ looks. In fact, it easily grows on you faster than does the Honda City's. Unfortunately, the Toyota just doesn’t stand out—and perhaps that could be as important for some as quoting acceleration or mileage figures. Stepping inside the Vios’ cabin brings a bit of nostalgia with its center-mounted instrumentation and dominating center-console. Yup, it feels so much like the Echo in here. Fortunately, Toyota has taken the same formula to greater heights by fitting the Vios with much better fabrics and materials. However, the Vios’ budget-conscious execution is still very much evident. Overall, hard plastic is still abundant, the tackiest of which is shiny one that surrounds the center-mounted instrumentation binnacle. |
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