Toyota Etios Liva launched with (review, test drive)


 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the Etios Liva, their first hatchback in India.  Powered by a 1.2-litre 79bhp petrol motor and available at an attractive starting price of 3.99 lakh, the Liva is tantalizing prospect for small car buyers that compete with the likes of Maruti Swift, Ford Figo and Nissan Micra. But what exactly do you get for your money?
All variants get manual air-conditioning. The Liva’s base J variant comes equipped with an A/C, a Digital trip meter, body coloured bumpers, full wheelcaps, a cooled glovebox and an engine immobilizer. But this variant is not as well equipped compared to the base Maruti Swift LXI (Rs 4.09 lakh), which comes equipped with power steering that is not offered on the base variant of the Liva.
The next in line variant is the G fares better. It adds electric power steering with tilt function, four speakers (but no audio system), power windows, central locking, intermittent wipers, a 12v power outlet in the front, body coloured door handles and mirrors as well as keyless entry/exit. The G is priced at Rs 4.59 lakh, which is Rs 3000 less than the equivalent Maruti Swift VXi.
Like the Swift VXi you can opt for ABS on the Liva G, but Toyota also adds EBD and Dual front airbags for Rs 5.05 lakh and naturally costs a lot more than the Swift VXi ABS. 
Next up is the Liva V, priced at Rs 5.49 lakh. It adds a tachometer, 2DIN Single CD/MP3 and AM/FM audio system with USB/AUX, a roof mounted antenna, driver seatbelt warning, fabric inserts for the door trims, rear wiper and washer, rear window defogger, front fog lamps and 12-spoke alloy wheels. It is more expensive than the comparable Swift ZXi (Rs 5.38 lakh).
The top-of-the-line Liva VX is priced at Rs 5.99 lakh and comes equipped with goodies like a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, chrome-inserts on door handles, a chrome accented shift knob and dual tone (Black and red) interiors.
The battle has well and truly begun.


REVIEW AND TEST DRIVE

The made-for-India Etios Liva marks Toyota’s much-awaited foray into the hotly contested Indian small car segment where price and affordability are crucial. The cheapest Toyota yet will be up against some very capable rivals and hot sellers like the Ford Figo, Hyundai i20 and the reigning king of the segment — the Maruti Swift.
The Liva is already a familiar face before it hits the road sometime later this month. It looks identical to its Etios saloon sibling till just after the B-pillar and this means no radical lines and conservative styling. Though the Liva’s design lacks the dynamism of a modern Honda or Hyundai, there are lots of nice touches which add a bit of flair.  The top-of-the-line VX variant comes with a chin spoiler, side skirts and a roof spoiler. We liked the upswept crease on the lower portion of the doors and the way the waistline broadens as it approaches the stylish wraparound tail-lights. Other interesting details include the slight kink in the small headlights at the point they meet the large smiling grille and a ‘power’ bulge on the bonnet which is a sporty touch.
There’s no doubt that the Liva looks best when seen from the rear three-quarter angle where the wel- defined shoulders and chunky C-pillars add considerable muscle to the design.
Viewed from the side, the Liva looks a whole lot better than the Etios saloon. The massive boot of the saloon is replaced by a short rear overhang that gives the Liva a nice, well-proportioned silhouette. The large 15-inch wheels on the higher V and VX variants (lower J and G versions get 14-inchers) add to the car’s balanced stance. Roving eyes will also lock on to the ribbed roof which, like on the Etios, is one of the Liva’s many rigidity-enhancing and weight-saving measures.
As with all Toyotas, fit and finish is good and the paint quality is pretty good roo. However, you can’t escape the feeling of being in a car that is very light and built to strict cost targets, the hollow sound of the door-shut making this most apparent. However, with a kerb weight of only 920kg, the Liva is the lightest hatch in its class - a good thing.
Get into the Liva and you are greeted by midsize car-rivalling interior space. Getting in and out is easy, thanks to the large and wide-opening doors, and there is genuine space for five adults in the cabin. The front seats, which are identical to those in the saloon, have decent cushioning and superb lower back support. But again, they are only mildly contoured so lateral support isn’t all that great.  The rear seat itself is generous with decent under-thigh support and a near-perfect backrest angle but the flat design, the tiny, fixed headrests and lack of generous contours make you feel like you are sitting on a bench.
Open the hatch and you get a decent 251 litres of space. You do have the option to fold down the rear bench but there is no split.
The Liva’s dashboard is carried over from the saloon, so it gets centrally mounted instruments that are easy to read despite their unconventional placement. Along with seven bottle and cupholders, there is the cavernous 13-litre glovebox that also comes with air-conditioning to keep those drinks cool. The ergonomics inside the cabin are good and everything has been well thought out. The quality of plastics is the same as in the Etios, which means they don’t look or feel great, except for the brushed finish on the top of the dash. The chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel has a good grip and comes with controls for the CD player in VX trim.
Liva’s light kerb weight plays its part in the performance department. Its 920kg kerb weight and 79bhp of power equate to a power-to-weight ratio of 85.8bhp per tonne, which is actually the best among the 1.2-litre hatchback brigade. Performance is at par with the competition but the Liva doesn’t feel as quick as the acceleration figures suggest. That’s because Toyota has tuned the Liva’s twin-cam, 1197cc engine for fuel economy rather than pep. The hatch is slow off the line and it’s only after 2000rpm that progress quickens. The engine gets more vocal at this point but don’t expect fireworks thereafter either. Power builds decently till 4000rpm and then tapers off once again into a meek top end. The low-end grunt isn’t that impressive either.
Built from the same block as the Etios’ 1.5-litre motor, the Liva’s smaller 1.2 engine shares the same 72.5mm bore and hence the reduction in capacity is achieved by considerably shortening the stroke (which is also 72.5mm).  The Liva’s part-throttle response is pretty good and with small throttle inputs, the hatch feels lively. Adding to the Liva’s user-friendly appeal are the smooth-shifting gearbox, light clutch and effortless steering. There is some whine from the transmission and a fair amount of road noise that filters through the cabin as well.
The ride quality in general is good and it’s on the broken patch that the Liva feels impressive. It simply coasts over potholes though you can hear the suspension working hard, especially at the rear. The Liva is sprung on the firm side, so it does get a bit jiggly at low speeds on an uneven stretch. However, the stiff suspension and generous ground clearance (170mm) allow you to confidently tackle speedbreakers or drop two wheels off the road.
The Liva is a city car first which is why buyers will really take to its light electrically assisted steering. As on the Etios sibling, there are more turns lock-to-lock than usual but this doesn’t take much time getting used to. It is only when cornering hard that you really wish the steering was faster.
Overall, the road behaviour of the Liva, though not exciting, is safe and predictable. Save for the base J variant, ABS with EBD can be had on the G version and comes standard on the higher V and VX variants.
The Liva is a very competent city runabout which offers everything a typical small car buyer wants - superb space inside, light controls, good ride quality and decent equipment levels. But where the lightweight Liva will certainly shine is in fuel economy which, perhaps, will be among its biggest strengths. The ARAI-tested mileage of 18.3kpl is the best in class.
The car will be officially launched later this month and we expect the prices to be in the range of Rs 4-5 lakh, which places it in the heart of the small car segment.

FACTFILE>>>>>>>>>>>>


liva commercial


Overview of Toyota Etios Liva

Toyota India unveiled its all new small car Etios Hatchback and sedan at the Auto Expo 2010. In addition to India, the Toyota Etios Liva will also be sold in Russia, South America and perhaps other emerging markets. With Honda also set to unveil its new small hatchback (Bio) for the Indian market, the two Japanese biggies will be facing off in a big way and for the first time, the two will be up against each other in the small car market. The top-end variant of Toyota Etios will compete head-on with the Volkswagen Polo, Fiat Grande Punto and Hyundai i20.
Toyota India has launched the Etios Liva with price of 3.99 lakhs for the base model to attract the customers of Maruti Swift, Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10, Maruti Ritz and Tata Indica Vista. Toyota has sold around 20000 Etios sedans till date (20th June) and it is expected that with the launch of Etios Liva the cumulative sales of Etios models will further increase to around 6-8 thousand vehicles per month. Toyota India has also reduced the wating period of Etios from eight months to only one month because many customers started canceling the booking to non-availability and long waiting period.

Fast Facts of Toyota Etios Liva

- Price of base variant is Rs. 3.99 lakhs
- Booking amount is Rs. 50000.00
- Tag line is LIV TMRRW 2DAY
- Is available in 4 variants - J, G, V and VX
- Diesel variants are expected to be launched after 3-4 months
- Interiors are more or less same like the sedan variant of Etios
- Toyota India is trying to keep the waiting period less than 30 days
- Is powered by a 1197cc petrol engine
- Maximum power is around 79 Bhp
- Maximum torque is around 104 Nm
- ARAI certified mileage is 18.31 kmpl
- Is available seven attractive shades
- The wheelbase is 90mm shorter than the sedan version
- Lots of genuine accessories on offer
- 3 years 100,000 kilometers conditional warranty
- Best in class head, knee and leg room
- Audio system with Aux-in and USB jacks
- Rust protection, anti-chip paint and protection under the belly
- 2 SRS airbags and ABS+EBD available in the G (SP), V and VX
- Cooled 13 litre glove box, can hold upto 9 500 ml water bottle


Price of Toyota Etios Liva

Toyota India has officially announced the prices of Toyota Etios Liva. Here are the prices:
- Toyota Etios Liva J - Rs. 3,99,000.00
- Toyota Etios Liva G - Rs. 4,59,000.00
- Toyota Etios Liva G (SP) - Rs. 5,05,000.00
- Toyota Etios Liva V - Rs. 5,49,000.00
- Toyota Etios Liva VX - Rs. 5,99,000.00

Above mentioned prices are ex-showroom New Delhi.

Press Release - Toyota Etios Liva

Tomorrow is a new thrill.
Tomorrow is daring and edgy.
Tomorrow is stunningly good-looking.
Tomorrow is delight, pleasure and never-ending luxury.
Tomorrow is all the things you want today-but have to wait for. Not anymore.

Toyota Etios Liva is here. In a class of its own, Class, it comes loaded with all the beauty and excitement of tomorrow, today. Toyota Etios Liva isn't just a new hatch - it's the Q Class hatch. Born of the legendary Toyota quality. Packed with adventure and excitement. Loaded with sharp design features and stunning looks. It's a class above any hatchback you've experienced before. It is the luxury hatch of tomorrow - and it just drove into town today.

Dimensions of Toyota Etios Liva

- Length - 3775mm
- Width - 1695mm
- Height - 1510mm
- Wheelbase - 2460mm
- Ground clearance - 173mm
- Boot space - 251 litres


Toyota Etios Liva has an overall length of 3775mm, 1695mm of width, 1510mm of height and 173mm of ground clearance. Etios Liva carries the USP of typical toyota cars - space, comfort and reliability. The boot space of Toyota Etios Liva is 251 litres and wheelbase is 2460mm which is 90mm shorter than the saloon variant of Etios

Design and Styling of Etios Liva

- It looks more proportionate and attractive in comparison to Etios sedan
- The top model comes with sporty body kit
- Top model features alloy wheels, fog lights and rear spoiler

On the outside, the Etios Liva has sharp styling cues with a big smiling grille that has been high-mounted especially for India. The car has a strong shoulder line with an upward cut along the bottom of the door. The sporty body kit installed on the Etios Liva will be available as a standard feature in only top-end variants and will be optional in other variants. Etios Liva looks much more proportioned and well balanced in comparison to bland looking sedan variant. It is expected that the customers who want to own Toyota product and want to spend around five lakh rupees, will buy the top model of Etios Liva  instead of the base variant of Etios sedan.

Interiors of Toyota Etios Liva

- More or less same like the sedan variant of Etios
- Centrally mounted instrument panel with offset AC vents
- 3 spoke steering wheel will be in dual tone shades

Interiors on the Etios Liva are quite contemporary and the Etios Liva sports a centrally mounted instrument panel with offset AC vents. Etios Liva offers more space on the inside with roomy interiors as compared to its direct competition, the Swift. The instrument cluster including the speedometer and tripmeter, is placed at the middle of the dashboard while the AC vents are in round shape. The three spoke steering wheel comes in dual tone along with the rest of the interior. Toyota Etios Liva has modern interiors which look attractive and decent. 

Comfort & Safety Features of Etios Liva

- 2 DIN music system
- Steering mounted audio controls
- Rear defogger and washer/wiper
- Power steering
- Power windows
- Air conditioner
- 2 SRS airbags
- ABS with EBD


The top model of Toyota Etios Liva offers all the features like we have seen in other C segemnt cars which includes Power steering, Power windows, Remote central locking, Dash integrated music system, Steeing mounted audio controls, Rear defogger, Rear wiper/washer, Steering adjustment and various other features offering maximum comfort to the passengers. Etios Liva also features a 2 DIN music system which will be a MP3, DVD and FM system with factory fitted 4 speakers. The high end models of Etios also features ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and Dual SRS Airbags.
Engine & Fuel Efficiency of Toyota Etios Liva
- 1197cc, 16 valve, DOHC, Petrol Engine
- Maximum Power of 78.9 Bhp
- Maximum torque of 106 Nm


The Etios Liva is powered by a 1197cc 16 valve DOHCpetrol engine which generates maximum power of 78.9 Bhp with maximum torque of 106 Nm. Plans for diesel motor are on hold and the buyers will only have the choice of petrol engine initially. The diesel variants are expected to be launched after 3-4 months. Under ARAI standard conditions, Toyota Etios Liva returns a mileage of 18.3 kmpl. The Diesel engine will generate maximum power of 87 Bhp with maximum torque of 205 Nm.

Variants of Toyota Etios Liva

Toyota Etios Liva is available in 5 variants:
- Toyota Etios Liva J
- Toyota Etios Liva G
- Toyota Etios Liva G (SP) - With additional safety package
- Toyota Etios Liva V
- Toyota Etios Liva VX

Shades Available in Toyota Etios Liva
Toyota Etios Liva is available in following seven attractive shades:
- Celestial Black
- Harmony Beige
- Serene Bluish
- Symphony Silver
- Ultramarine Blue
- Vermillion Red
- White

Accessories Available - Toyota Etios Liva

Toyota India is providing lots of genuine accessories for Etios Liva. Here is the list:

- Body graphics (dark)
- Body graphics (light)
- Side protective moulding
- Fabric seat cover
- Floor mat (rubber)
- Mudguard
- Car cover (silver or Tyvek)
- Bumper corner protector
- Trunk mat
- Steering wheel cover
- Luggage tray
- Music system (CD player or DVD)
- Gear shift khob (grey or red)
- Roof ornament
- Radiator chrome grille
- Rear door garnish
- Shift boot chrome bezel
- Artificial leather seat covers
- Leg room lamp
- Fog lamp with fitting kit
- Reverse parking sensor
- Door side visor
- Security system


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that's it for now.............Drive safe make sure you wear your seat belts and please do not use high beams........

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