EXCELLENT CHOICE AS FAMILY SEDAN

 

Exterior FRONTAL VIEW RESEMBLES INNOVA,WHICH DOESN'T MAKE HEADS TURN(INNOVA IMAGE AS PRIVATE CAB). BUT BODY LINE IS VERY SMOOTH(UNLIKE SWIFT D'ZIRE) AND ONE CANNOT IGNORE THE PRESENCE. TAIL LAMPS CLUSTER IS PLEASING.EXTRA BREAK LIGHT BEHIND REAR SEATS AS STD. FEATURE IS GOOD IDEA. NO. PLATE LOCATION AT THE BOTTOM OF BOOT LOOKS A BIT ODD.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) BOOT SPACE IS THE BEST AMONG ST COMPETING SEDANS(US BOUND TRAVELER CAN COMFORTABLY PUT ALL HIS/HER BAGGAGE & STILL HAVE SOME SPACE LEFT).ONE OF THE REVIEWER HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT LEG ROOM FOR REAR SEATS, PARTICULARLY WHEN FRONT SEAT IS PUSHED BACK TO EXTREME.WHILE THIS MAY LOOK LIKE A REASONABLE REVIEW BUT FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT EVEN 6'ER DOESN'T NEED TO PUSH HIS SEAT BACK THAT MUCH SINCE HE ALREADY HAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE LEG ROOM IN FRONT IT-SELF.REAR SEATS CAN COMFORTABLY SEAT 3 LARGE ADULTS.MIDDLE IS COZY DUE TO  NEAR FLAT BOTTOM.

EXTRA COOLED GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS VERY THOUGHTFUL IDEA AND SO IS THE CONVENIENT LOCATION OF 7 BIG BOTTLE/CUP HOLDERS.

LOCATION OF ALL 4 SPEAKERS IN FRONT IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT. SIMILARLY LOCATION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL @ CENTRE IS NOT CONVENTIONAL. PERHAPS THIS AFFORDS A GOOD ROAD VISION. TILTING STEERING WHEEL IS USEFUL SINCE AT ITS LOWER POSITION IT BECOMES VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THE DRIVER TO GET IN.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox VERY POWERFUL ENGINE.THOUGH I DIDN'T TAKE 0-100 TEST, I COULD EASILY SHIFT TO HIGHER SPEEDS IN BUSY CITY TRAFFIC.GEAR SHIFT IS SMOOTH AND SHIFT TO LOWER GEARS IS ALSO EASY. ENGINE APPEARS NOISY AT HIGHER RPM AND ONE COULD FEEL & HEAR THE NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN.SALES PERSON INFORMED THAT AFTER RUNNING IN THE ENGINE WILL BECOME SMOOTH. IF NOT TOYOTA WILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT INSULATING THE CABIN BETTER. TOO EARLY TO JUDGE FUEL ECONOMY BUT PROMISE OF 17 KM/L FOR A SEDAN IS ASSURING. SINGLE VIPER APPEARS ODD FOR LARGE SEDAN BUT IT WOKS EFFICIENTLY.   

 

Ride Quality & Handling RIDING WAS VERY SMOOTH. COULD NEGOTIATE SPEED BREAKERS WITHOUT DISCOMFORT IN THE CABIN.STEERING IS RESPONSIVE AND COULD EXECUTE SHARP TURNS WITH EASE. WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO DRIVING ON EXPRESS-WAY.

 

Final Words AFTER COMPARING WITH TATA MANZA & SWIFT D'ZIRE, AND TEST DRIVING ETIOS, I HAVE ALREADY BOOKED ETIOS-G. LONG WAIT LIST IS BIT OF DAMPENER THOUGH, BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DRIVING MY OWN ETIOS. VERY GOOD FAMILY SEDAN AND WITH TOYOTA'S INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED QUALITY STANDARD IT IS BEST VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY.

 

Areas of improvement SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO ENGINE NOISE AT HIGHER RPM IN CABIN. INSIDE PLASTIC FINISH & TONE CAN BRIGHTEN UP THE INTERIOR.SHIFTING 2 SPEAKERS TO BACK SPACE WILL IMPROVE AUDIO EXPERIENCE.

 

LOTS OF SPACE, POWERFUL ENGINE, VERY GOOD FUEL EFFICIENCY.BIT NOISY @ HIGHER SPEEDS,PLASTIC FINISH NEEDS IMPROVEMENT