Toyota Kirloskar Motor is working on comprehensive updates for the Etios and Liva. Meanwhile, the existing sedan is set to receive a minor update to keep it rolling till the replacement is ready.
The B-segment sedan is known for its spacious interior, reliable engines and trademark Toyota ownership experience. However, the bland exterior design and uninteresting interior ensured that the product couldn’t realize its full potential.
In 2018, the Toyota sedan managed to clock around 2,000 units during most months. Considering that the Etios offers better practicality at a similar price range as the sub-4m sedans, the monthly sales performance is abysmal.
Leaked ARAI documents reveal that the entry level petrol (GX) and diesel (GD) variants of the Etios are set to receive two minor updates – A new color for the fabric seats, and a music system which is derived from the upmarket Yaris. No other changes have been detailed in the documents.
The update appears to be an attempt to better differentiate the entry level Platinum Etios variants from the bare-bones taxicab-spec Etios Fleet variant. Customer feedback could also be a factor in the upgrade. The addition of these new features are not expected to have any effect on the prices of the low-end Etios GX and GD variants which currently retail at INR 6.5 lakhs and INR 7.6 lakhs respectively (ex-showroom, New Delhi). As with all Toyotas in India, the Etios comes equipped with dual airbags and ABS as standard features across the variant lineup.
The Toyota Etios GX is powered by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine which is tuned to deliver 90 PS and 132 Nm of torque. The GD variant gets a 1.4-liter diesel unit which puts out a modest 68 PS and 170 Nm of torque. Both motors are mated to a standard 5-speed manual transmission. The petrol variant has an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 16.78 kmpl while the diesel Etios is good for 23.59 kmpl.
The Toyota Etios and its hatchback sibling Liva are expected to receive a significant update towards the end of this year or early next year. We expect fresh design inside out and more powerful powertrain options. The new models would aim to attract more private car buyers than taxi operators.