Toyota Etios [2013-2014] User Reviews

 

Exterior Front is like honda city-side like fiesta-rear is little like logan but much better/ a mixture  really/ not a trademark look/endurimg and durable  appearance which is sober, rather than jazzy or fanciful.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Space is excellent be it for passenger or cargo/interior texture is ordinary/head rests are narrower for the better for looking backwards when going  reverse/wide and tall head rests are a nuisance otherwise/dash board moved to centre for better road visibility for driver-this is unique/visibility is good but not as good as maruti 800 or qualis/driver seat adjuster(up) by 3 inches will be a good feature/comfort-- good  for all including luggages.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox All good/fuel economy without ac on highway is very good at sub 80 kmph-may be 20kpl i have observed during 600 km of my driving.

 

Ride Quality & Handling All fine.

space-passenger and cargointerior aesthetics probably

 

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

 

Exterior Exterior is good amd value for money.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Looks to cheap, seat not at all comfortable, good space available.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Its not that a great car as hyped. You can hear engine sound while driving and more importantly the drive is not comfortble. The space looks all are good. But what will a person do when the drive is not comfortable. Even the seats are not comfortable. You can easily make out the engine noise difference in etios (which was not expected). even the smaller cars have less or approx no noise . I m disappointed after taking the test drive today at noida. I was one of the likely customer. but its not worth.

 

Ride Quality & Handling Thats the worst. you do not get a feel that u r driving a car from toyota. You do not feel the comfort.

 

Final Words It was much hyped but inspite of great hype and good marketing toyota etios will be a faliure as it does not give driving satisfaction. Toyota guys take a drive in any hyundai/maruti car of this segment that feel is required which is completly missing  from etios.

 

Areas of improvement Engine noise reduction is primary. You cannot expect that from a toyota. You should not hear the noise inside while u drive. seats should be more comfortable. The base model should have power steering. That would be the right value for it.

 

Looks, average, spaceengine noise, not at all comfortable,

 

Exterior The car in black looks big and awesome, the front grill is a beauty. Beauty in the back side might improve if the name plate is shifted to the centre of the boot. Otherwise it is fantastic.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Variant 'G' comes with black seat covers, i have put beige and red seat covers on the same which has enhanced the beauty of this car 3 folds. Also, I have added beige floor mat which gives a fantastic appearance when u enter inside the car.

I have read lot of review regarding the quality of plastics used but i don't agree entirely with this since we are looking for VFM.

I have read lot of reviews regarding cabin noise, please note these are rubbish and no where near truth. Some detractors strategically are writing reviews in all websites which is no way near truth. You have to own the car to believe it. It is a fantastic car to drive with minimum 5 people in it. The space it provides at the back side is no way comparable even to higher end sedans in the market.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox This is where Etios scores 150 upon 100. Excellent engine, very peppy, you will be running number one in the highway. Excellent responsive engine. Fuel economy i am getting about 12-13 in city driving with a/c. I am getting 18-19 in highways. Might have been better for a middle class sedan but the pleasure the car gives, i can forego 1 or 2 kms on fuel economy.

Ride Quality & Handling Excellent ride quality and handling, steering is a beauty. I used to struggle to park M800 but Etios is a cake walk. The steering while driving will give u a fantastic feel you will not feel the tiredness even if you drive 200-300 kms in a stretch. Very stable in high speeds like 120-130, actually you will not feel you have touched this speed until you see the speedo.

Final Words Every day i drive my car in Chennai traffic to my office or when i take my family on a weekend, i have started loving the car more and more. I am not a sales man for Toyota, this is my ownership experience and on hand experience.

Final word A car every middle class family should own. You will never be disappointed. Now a days in Chennai, even high class families have started using this car. Great breakthrough, thanks to toyota for giving this excellent product.

Areas of improvement Mileage has to be a bit more than what it is giving but not at the cost of current engine performance.

Space ,Comfort, Mileage, Engine, VFMNothing

 

Exterior As I walked into the dealer showroom in Guwahati, I saw the Etios for the first time and felt excited. It looked quite good in Silver with the familiar Toyota front looks. The dimensions also looked just right for a city sedan, not too long like a Linea, but very balanced length both forward and aft. The R 15 on the V model gave it a solid look and the ground clearance also adequate to get over some nasty hurriedly made rumble strips.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) The interiors shook me out of my excitement by their frugality and barren looks. The dash board and the instrument panel is dull, the door inside panels very uninspiring. The most horrifying thing are the single moulded front seats upto the pyramidal head rest which makes the NANO head rest look and feel more comfy. The head rests are so thin at the top that my head was looking to roll off to either side at the slightest pretext. Spondy patients beware!! U will need to buy a neck support the day you buy the Etios. The seats are definitely not what you would expect in a Toyota and are very basic. The next worst thing are the narrow back seats which look like school benches with about four  inches sawn off to make way for very good leg space which is one of strongest points in the Sales pitch. But I would not look forward to a long ride in that back seat with such meagre thigh support. Hugely disappointing for a car of 6.65 lakh. The door handles are clanky and the doors feel very light and cheap when closed and couple of years of usage should make for a very clanky ride in the Etios. This is probably where they saved most of that 100-200 kgs in kerb weight over the Dzire and the Manza.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The engine felt the best in class and the good torque available at low revs could be felt when I let the car come to 30kph with the aircon on in the fifth gear, yes fifth gear, and then the car pulled away effortlessly wiithout a single yelp from the engine. Too good. The pickup upto 100 kph was very smooth and fast and left a smile on my face. This is definitely a car to be driven and not to be perched on the back seat. The steering felt very light and accurate and the car respondedly very well to subtle manouvers. The gear shift feel is also good and precise, although the shift into the fifth gear gave some feedback to the hand.

 

Ride Quality & Handling Ride quality was average with potholes being felt distinctly. The solid feel of a heavy sedan was lackiing and I probably expected much better in a Toyota product.

 

Final Words The engine has won my heart, but the interiors are very heavy on my mind.

 

Areas of improvement Interiors, interiors and interiors. The short bench rear seat and the terrible front seat moulded head rests. The doors need to given further rubber protection atleast to make them sound heavy. This is not a 3 lakh sedan but a good-looking sedan costing 6.6 lakh, so is it unfair to expect some minimum comfort in the seats??

 

Engine, looks,steeringVery poor interiors

Sometimes I think i can cut through the body of my etios with a bread knife. Its so thin, almost soft drink tin can thin. I bought this car only because its a toyota. Ive owned an Innova for four years and wanted a smaller toyota for city use. I know Ive bought a reliable machine but I feel depressed every time I get inside - thats the kind plastics they have used inside. It feels like the toy car I bought for my son. This car is for people without hearts and only heads. Unfortunately I listened only to my head when I purchased this car. My heart hurts now! 

It drives well, gives me decent fuel economy. Engine is surprisingly perky. But Im not happy with the fit and finish especially after the Innova. I wish Toyota had never bought out the Etios - its killing their image.

Dont buy the etios - it just doesnt feel good..

Toyota reliabilitylooks, interiors, seats, plastics,

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Quite a good looking car,comfortable and spacious interior but the dash board plastic and door handles could be better.G-safety model could have had alloy wheels.Rear sets are very comfotable. Colours are pleasing.Front grill is very impressive.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox You can close your eyes about any toyota engine and gear box.Best fuel efficiency in this size of cars.Power to weight and torque to weight ratos are very good .Gear shifts are very sooth.

 

Ride Quality & Handling Really good in models with alloy wheels. On the whole also ride quality is good.

 

Final Words A land mark car in this price range.With little improvements as suggested in this review will make huge difference and sale volume will go up very much.

 

Areas of improvement Dash board could be made more attractive,alloy wheel could be added to G-safety model and that will sweep the market.

 

Simple,spacious,comfortable,efficient and toyota logoplastic,door handle,headrest

 

Exterior Good looking car with excellent finishing. Doors are made of light material but it did not cause any problem so far. Single wiper is design to clean driver side of the windshield completely. Engine exhaust pipe is well designed as it is almost remain hidden under the rear bumper.  

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Good lag space, rear seats lag space is flat, so it is comfortable to seat three person. There is a glove box with AC vent to cool water bottle. Music system is basic, if you like loud music you have to install additional speakers at the rear tray as all four speakers are located at front cabin. Enough space in the dickey, Instrument panel positioning is innovative and scientific as driver can see it very easily while driving. I believe there is scope for improvement interior of the car, but price may rise. One should not compare this car with a 10L car.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Ride quality The car is amazing to drive and easy to handle. Suspension is good enough to take care of small pot holes. The car has excellent pick up and very smooth gear shift. Very good ground clearance and effective breaking system.  I got V variant which is equipped with all safety features ABS, EBD, Airbag etc with alloy wheel.

Final Words Sensible choice.

 

Areas of improvement Interior.

 

Driving comfortInterior

 

Exterior The car looks pretty polished in the silver colour. Nice chrome grills in front. Average looking exterior rear. The quality of the exterior metal of the car is concerning. Seems hollow and flimsy.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) The interiors are especially glaringly ugly. It looks as though not much thought has gone through for the designing of the interiors. The glove compartment is has an awkward lid. The colour and finish of the plastics on dash board are as good or bad as the Nano. Very cheap finish. The stereo system is ok but it really does not integrate with the dash board. It looks as though the entire dashboard has been manually assembled. Absolutely no-sense of a cohesive unit. The fabric used on the seats and arm-rests are really cheap.

However, the space in the rear seats is unparalled. I am about 6 feet tall and even after sitting comfortably in the drivers seat, I had atleast 3-4 inches extra at the rear seat. The boot is really big too. It boasts a 550+ litres space if I am right. Better than Dzire in that area.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox, Ride Quality & Handling The power of the engine is best in its segment. I have driven the i20, Dzire and the Etios. I can tell you this. I have been driving for the last 10 years and I have never enjoyed a better performance than this car from this segment. The steering and the handling is really good. You wont feel tired or frustrated in the city traffic.The gear box was really smooth. I enjoyed shifting the gears and taking the car for a spin.

However the engine noise is a little bit of a concern. It howls like a deisel engine. The test car had hardly run 2000 kms. That was a little worrying. Also the engine is completely uncovered at the bottom which means that it has more exposure to the surface of the road. So in rains the car can give you a bit of trouble. Overall, I feel the drive was good. But I feel the car will require a high maintenance just because of the engine noise. I think the mileage will be good because the overall weight of the car has been minimized by using cheap and lightweight interiors and exteriors.

 

Final Words I booked the Dzire after test driving Etios today. Why? Though I liked Etios, I really disliked the interiors, the overall quality of the exteriors and interiors, and the maintenance part of the car.

 

Areas of improvement Waiting period, safety issues, maintenance, and the cons mentioned above.

 

Superb Engine, Superb pick-up, very good driving comfort, very spacious rear, Huge bootGlaringly ugly interiors, cheap seat fabric , cheap plastics, High engine noise, Flimsy ext