Toyota’s new Yaris Ativ may not be brilliant, but it’s the aging competition that makes the country’s latest Ecocar look good.
It was quite a no-brainer that Toyota would eventually make its Vios B-segment budget car as an Ecocar saloon – at least when the current generation expires which, in marketing practice, is supposed to be no later than next year. In fact, that is what has happened with the Yaris five-door hatchback three years ago.
But what pundits didn’t see coming was Toyota’s decision in prematurely forwarding the Vios replacement to this year which was probably due to its passenger car market share falling caused by an unattractive model lineup.
But rather than calling it what it used to be, the new car is conveniently known as the Yaris Ativ because it’s actually just a saloon derivative of today’s Yaris hatchback.
So yes, the Ativ and Vios continue to share the same space in Thai showrooms. And although Toyota hasn’t mentioned the fate of the Vios, it’s most likely to be phased out when the company thinks the time is ripe to do so.
You won’t be wrong to label the Ativ as the indirect replacement for the Vios because both cars share the same platform and wheelbase length. Which is quite a good thing because the Ativ needs to have a reasonably spacious cabin to cope the exaggerated space offered by the Nissan Almera and Suzuki Ciaz.
No, the Ativ probably won’t beat those two for outright rear legroom, but it still has respectable levels of comfort for adults seated behind. And combined that with a decent boot, the Ativ crucifies the Honda Brio Amaze and Mazda 2 for overall accommodation.
The exterior looks quite OK for a Toyota but not really eye-catching enough in general. Maybe that’s because the Ativ’s face looks too much like that of the Vios, explaining why there was hardly any interest generated by passers-by during our time with the car.
The interior design understandably leans more toward the Yaris rather than the Vios. The materials used inside may not be of top-drawer quality, but levels of overall finish and solidity feel much higher than in rivals.
Four-pot engine isn’t that punchy.
The appearance of the fascia looks to be made very easy to use, which it actually is. But in spite of being easy to use, the dash is located quite high (like in the bigger Corolla, Revo pickup, Fortuner SUV and 86 coupe) in the Ativ taking away some desired degree of airiness.
Our test car came in range-topping S form priced at 619,000 baht. Some bespoke features include sporty seats, nice red stitching inside and a few of that shade on the exterior. It’s a pity that bigger wheels aren’t being offered in the S because the 15-inchers look too ordinary in a 600,000 baht-plus Ecocar.
If the S trim doesn’t attract you, there are three more grades to choose from with competitive prices to match: G at 599,000 baht, E at 549,000 baht and J at 519,000 baht. And the good news is that seven airbags are standard across the range – a first for this class of budget cars. So, take your pick depending on what other features you might think as either frivolous or necessary for your daily life.
As the Ativ is built to Ecocar rules, it gets the 86hp 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine and CVT automatic transmission from the Yaris. Sure, Toyota has turbo tech for such an engine in other markets. But Toyota is focusing on the Ecocar I rules, which stipulate a 120g/km maximum of CO2 and 20kpl minimum of fuel economy. So yes, the Ativ’s drivetrain isn’t that new, if not as old as the Almera’s.
Chassis deals quite well with Thai roads.
Because of this, the Ativ can’t match the Vios (coming with a 109hp 1.5-litre unit and CVT ’box with seven-speed manual override) for driving performance. But the 100,000-150,000 baht price advantage the Ativ holds over the Vios can be quite significant for potential buyers to ignore the differences in engine power and overall drivability.
Sure, the Ativ is slower and lazier than the Vios, but its lethargy can somehow be compensated by the gearbox’s Sport mode which allows for more revs and sharper response under more spirited driving. Crucially, as well, the Ativ is more economical on fuel than the Vios with a 20kpl rating that’s only credible in the right conditions.
If you compare the Ativ with its competition, it’s not the best yet. The drivetrain doesn’t feel as lively as in the Amaze or 2 but better than in the Almera, Ciaz and Mitsubishi Attrage. Factor in the Ativ’s handling and ride factors, it also stands in a similar position with those aforementioned opposition.
Like in several other Toyotas currently on sale, the chassis has been set up to cope with the inconsistent road surfaces in this country by having a reasonably compliant ride quality that doesn’t necessarily trade off when it comes to high-speed stability.
Actually, the Ativ offers quite a secure drive in most conditions just that a dose of directness is welcome for the steering, which can feel aloof at times. So while the Ativ is a much better car to steer than the (hopeless) Attrage, it still lacks the driving incisiveness of the 2.
Ativ is first car in-class to get seven airbags.
Which, in the end, doesn’t make the Ativ a spectacular car. But because nearly all of its rivals have passed mid-life already, the Ativ then starts to look quite enticing by having a reasonably sized package, acceptable driving manners and good safety kit, all backed up by strong brand credentials (high residuals, wide service network, etc).
So while the Ativ won’t shoot to the top of the class, it’s actually a fine all-rounder with attributes placed above most of its competition. So even its arrival onto the Thai mass-market scene may seem a little too early, it’s a timely one to win back market share Toyota desperately wants.
