The Powerful Workhorse

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[<p>Worldwide, especially in the developed countries, the Toyota moniker stands for affordable cars, with models such as Corolla being hot favourites with customers. In India, though, its positioning has been more in the premium arena, partly because the Indian market was one that looked for far cheaper cars than even Toyota was making. With the Etios sedan, Toyota aims to change that positioning, ever so slightly, even as it gears up to increase its share in one of the world's fastest-growing automobile markets.<br><br>The first time you see the Etios, the feeling is one of slight disappointment. Even though the front grille is signature Toyota, the car's build and design look average rather than stunning, though the body contours are evenly balanced. Clearly, Toyota is not out to win any design awards with this car. The small headlights, which don't have the sharp angular character of the Altis's or Camry's headlights, add to the disappointment. And the rear end bears an uncanny resemblance with the Logan. What the outer body does have, however, is perhaps what Toyota would be most interested in: the perception of size. Etios looks a seriously big car, though it is actually smaller than Tata's Manza and marginally bigger than Hyundai's Accent, though it certainly is much bigger than Maruti's Dzire. Where Etios falters a bit is in the fact that the body metal appears cheap and has a tinny feel, especially the boot which rings quite strongly when you close it shut.<br><br></p> <table style="width: 250px;" border="1" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="/businessworld/sites/default/files/Toyota-Etios3_TS_250x171.jpg" width="250" height="171" style="margin: 3px;"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>(BW Pic By Tribhuwan Sharma)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The interiors certainly look better, particularly in the top-end VX version that the company provided us for the test drive. The dashes of red on the doors, seats and the gear knob bring a spark of brightness inside, while the seating space is definitely among the best in its class. The front windshield does feel a tad low, and if you're a tall driver, you almost feel you're about to touch the glass with your head; the steering wheel, too, is low, and could inconvenience tall drivers. The top-end version also has a couple of airbags, so it adds to the feeling of safety. While the inside looks bright, it cannot disguise the fact that the company has had to cut corners to bring the car's price down to an affordable range for Indian customers. The plastics look decidedly cheap, and the stereo system looks too plain vanilla for a model (VX) that ultimately costs slightly less than Rs 7 lakh.<br><br>Looks, though, are one thing, and performance is quite another. The proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. And accordingly, as part of our test drive, we filled up the car with eight people — two families, and many of them rather generously built — and lots of shopping bags, but Etios's 1.5-litre engine was more than up to the strain, and moved as effortlessly as it would if there were only the driver present. With 132nm torque (at 3,000 rpm) and 90 ps power, Etios has enough muscle in its body to take a heavy load. The fact that it is actually lighter than the Dzire, despite being much bigger and with a larger engine, gives it a much greater power-to-weight ratio, improving its performance. At the same time, pickup from a standstill position is also great, thanks to its engine size. However, the brakes, though efficient, did not feel as powerful as 'power brakes' on competing cars such as Dzire or Accent do. A fair amount of leg pressure was needed to bring the Etios to a stop.<br><br>The boot, a humongous 595 litres, is big enough to pack all you need for a long weekend drive to the nearby bird sanctuary with your family. Considering that even the Manza, a bigger car than Etios, has a boot space of 460 litres, Accent has 380 litres, and Dzire has 440 litres, Etios is certainly your first choice if you are looking for a weekend touring machine that takes you a long way. The only problem is that unlike even much cheaper hatchbacks, Etios's back seats don't have a 60:40 split, wherein you can push down one seat to increase the boot space. Now, the question is, with 595 litres of boot space, do you really need more? And what is more commendable is the fact that despite have such a massive boot, the seating space for both front seats and back seat passengers are not compromised.<br><br>So, if you're the type that drives with a fair bit of load — think lots of family members, lots of gear — on a fairly regular basis, and wants a workhorse of a sedan that can take the pressure without the need to look cool and snazzy, Toyota's Etios is the perfect car. It has a powerful engine, lots of seating space, even more space for bags and baggage, and delivers great mileage as well. Now, the only thing that's needed: a diesel Etios! Now, do we smell a winner there?<br><br></p>