With the growing demand of compact sedans under 4-metres in Nepal, every manufacturers is launching their own product in the segment. The Japanese auto giant, Toyota holds high reputation and have cars in almost all segment. But their Etios sedan couldn't catch the fancy of the customers among the local buyers. Toyota now plans to launch the Vios compact sedan that caters the crowd through premium features, reliable engine and Toyota's brand cognition. The Vios is expected to come powered with a 1.4-litre diesel unit that does its duty on the Etios, albeit in a much refined format. The petrol engine can be a 1.3-litre unit with improved power and output.

While the platform is largely carried over, the new Toyota Vios receives a completely redesigned body with a design language shared with its five-door sibling, the Yaris. Up front it gets a split grille flanked by longer swept-back headlights. It receives vertical foglight housings and a larger lower grille. Moving on to the sides, it features more dramatic body creases in place of its predecessor’s single character line. At the back it gets slim vertical taillights reminiscent of those found in other new Toyota models. While not too obvious, its C-pillars now flow smoothly into the rear trunk.

While the Vios’ exterior has gotten flashier, it has gotten more mature inside. Gone is the dashboard’s faux stitching, its general appearance now has the same feel as that of the larger Corolla Altis. Its center stack is now more integrated; it houses the stereo, central aircon vents and climate control. The top and mid-level variants come with a seven-inch touch screen infotainment system. With an identical 2,550 mm wheelbase, interior space remains the same but its new redesigned seats offer better support and improved comfort.

The New Vios retains the tried and tested suspension setup which is comprised of independent MacPherson struts with coil springs up front and a semi-independent torsion beam with coil springs at the rear. The higher variants equipped with the 1.5-liter motor have disc brakes on all corners. Like most new cars nowadays, the Vios comes with standard electric power steering. Like before, the Toyota Vios is available with two DOHC Dual-VVTi gasoline engines options, a 1.3-liter 1NR-FE mill which produces 98hp at 6,000 rpm and 123Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm, and a larger more powerful 1.5-liter 2NR-FE unit which produces 106hp at 6,000 rpm and 140Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm. Both powerplants can be ordered with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a new continuously variable transmission with sequential shift mode.

All variants now come with seven airbags; this includes a driver’s knee airbag. Other standard safety features include the following; Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake Distribution, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, and Rear ISOFIX child seat anchors. The new Toyota Vios will get a diesel engine with 1.4-litre motor producing 80+bhp and a 1.3-litre petrol unit with 75+ bhp output.The Toyota Vios is expected to offer the fuel efficiency between 17-20 kmpl depending upon the engine size. Toyota Vios will compete against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze and Hyundai Xcent.