Toyota Etios and Liva facelift launched

Toyota India launched the facelift of Etios and Liva today. Prices start at Rs 5.24 lakh for the New Liva while the Platinum Etios (yes, that’s the new name) range starts at Rs 6.43 lakh (prices ex-showroom Mumbai). Both the cars have not received any major mechanical changes, but the upgrades are expected to make the Toyotas even better, as an overall package.

The Platinum Etios gets hydraulic engine mounts but retains its powertrains and comes with the option of a 1.5-litre DOHC petrol that churns out 88bhp of power and 132Nm of torque and a 1.4-litre SOHC diesel, making 67bhp and 170NM. The same diesel engine does duty on the Liva, but the petrol here is a downsized 1.2-litre unit, that develops 79bhp and 104Nm. All the engines are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Toyota claims that the clutch on both the cars is lighter than the earlier variants. The suspension also has been retuned to offer better ride and handling setup for our roads and the NVH levels are improved by 7 per cent.

On the cosmetic front, the cars get a V-shaped grille, giving it a sporty look, along with a rehashed bumper, to allow bigger air dams. The side profile remains as it was, with the exception of side skirts. The rear also gets a redesigned bumper with minor changes to the tail lights along with a spoiler. The insides get an all new instrument cluster, which is still centrally located, along with dual-tone interiors, finished in a black and beige theme. The headrests are now adjustable on both, rear and front seats. Rear armrest and ISOFIX baby seat mounts also have been incorporated in the new cars. Toyota knows the pros of the Etios range, which is space and reliability, so they have added a foldable rear seat, adding to the practicality. The rear seats get better cushioning along with slightly more space, to add to the comfort. Also, the ORVMs are now electrically foldable.

On the safety front, the Etios has already received a rating of 4 stars in the Global NCAP crash tests and Toyota now has made ABS+EBD standard on all the variants. The rear seats also have been restructured and built using a tubular structure instead of the regular wire mesh pattern. The frontal crumple zones have been worked upon for improved structural ability. And all this has led to a weight gain of about 20kg, but Toyota should be applauded for not compromising on the safety front, unlike some other major carmakers.

The Etios has received over 50 updates in its life-span of six years. With the facelift, Toyota has made the package even more desirable for a buyer looking for a practical and reliable car.

Prices:

Platinum Etios:

STD (Petrol): Rs 6.43 lakh

DLX (Petrol): Rs 6.83 lakh

HIGH (Petrol): Rs 7.17 lakh

PREM (Petrol): Rs 7.74 lakh

STD (Diesel): Rs 7.56 lakh

DLX (Diesel): Rs 7.96 lakh

HIGH (Diesel): Rs 8.30 lakh

PREM (Diesel): Rs 8.87 lakh

New Liva:

STD (Petrol): Rs 5.24 lakh