Last week, UMW Toyota Motor announced the availability of the updated Toyota Vios for 2018, which the company claims gives customers even better value for money. The changes are mostly cosmetic, with styling tweaks made inside out.

This particular unit is the Vios GX, which retails for RM 90,980 on-the-road without insurance. Changes include the new shark fin antenna, illuminated scuff plates and front parking sensors (available only on the G, GX and TRD Sportivo variants).


The most notable change on the outside can be found in the front apron design. The black plastic is now stretched to shroud the fog lamps, and the lower lip features a more prominent flexure that’s contrasted with black highlights. The GX soldiers on with the same 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, first seen on the major update in October 2016. Rounding off the exterior is a revised rear lip, now with a honeycomb insert and diffuser fins.

Inside, the perforation on the leather seats is now contrasted in red as opposed to brown from before, and a new DVD-AVX entertainment system with enhanced features is also available. Linked to this is a reverse camera that’s fitted to all variants except the Vios J MT and AT. These come in addition to the running changes announced in May 2017.


Mechanically, the Vios remains unchanged. Under the bonnet is the same 2NR-FE 1.5 litre Dual VVT-i unit, with variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust valves. It has an aluminium block, producing 107 PS at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm at 4,200 rpm. Drive is channeled to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission with a seven-speed Sport Sequential Shiftmatic manual mode.

Safety-wise, the airbag count stays at two, but active safety features such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and traction control are standard on all variants, in addition to ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and Isofix rear child seat anchors.


The Vios can be had in six exterior colours, from Silver Metallic, Medium Silver Metalic, Attitude Black Mica, Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Super White II and White Pearl CS (the last one is only for the TRD Sportivo).

As before, there are six variants of the Vios on sale in Malaysia, with prices starting from RM 74,980 for the 1.5J manual, rising to RM 77,980 for the 1.5J auto, RM 81,980 for the 1.5E auto, RM 87,980 for the 1.5G auto, RM 90,980 for the 1.5GX auto and RM 93,980 for the 1.5 TRD Sportivo auto. All prices are on-the-road without insurance, and as usual for UMWT cars, the Vios comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.