Toyota Etios Liva - Simplicity gets a touch of style

The Japanese car maker Toyota joined the hatch party recently with the launch of their Etios Liva. To begin with, the company has rolled out only the petrol version of the car and the diesel variant is expected shortly. With Etios sedan Toyota created quite a stir in the automotive market and with the new entrant the company can well become a predominant player in the country. The market experts expect the new Etios Liva to be a performer in a market where size, space, fuel efficiency and competitive price are of top priority while buying a hatch. Let us see where the Liva stands...

Looks (exterior and the interiors)
One look at the Etios Liva will remind you of its sedan sibling in many ways except for the boot. But that is not to say old wine in the new bottle! Etios Liva airs its distinct charm that is inescapable. Etios Liva is a perfect blend of contemporary and conventional design; it has loads of features to stay in the race along with its contemporaries yet has kept the Toyota mark intact. The front grille bears sharp curves; these with creases on the bonnet signify the fact that the car is a Toyota product. The bumper is adorned with small fog lights and even the headlights are not very big. The sides of the car is the unique part with crease lower half of the doors and the big tyre size is the major stand out feature of the Liva. The upper grille and the lower one are merged with headlights getting its due place. The upper grille gets the chrome finish while the lower one is black.



The Etios Liva is a result of extensive research of Indian market and the customers as well. The interiors of the Liva are refreshingly new and are greatly superior in comparison to the contemporary hatches. The luxurious space and comfort are the main highlights of the car. The dual tone seats and the perfect rear seats with ample cushioning are ideal for long drive. The interiors is feature rich with power windows, front cabin lights, tilt steering, round shaped AC vents, bottle and mobile holder etc makes driving convenient and pleasurable. The front seats require special mention; the padding makes them superior and gives a sedan feel, which surely is the main attraction inside the car. The Etios Liva is a tough competitor of Swift and with its superior features it certainly holds an upper hand in the market.

Engine, mileage and performance
The Toyota Etios Liva is braced with an 1197 cc engine that generates 80 bhp power and torque of 104 Nm, which is pretty decent for a hatch. The 5-speed manual transmission offers a great control while driving. The acceleration and pick up are the striking points of Liva. With a good power and weight ratio Liva seems to be the best in the hatch segment; kerb weight of 890 kg ensures a good drive rather an easy vehicle to maneuver and suits best for city road. The electric power steering supports excellent handling and the tilt steering ensures comfortable driving and the 173mm ground clearance ensures protection to underbody components of the car and gives it unmatched performance on Indian roads. The average fuel economy of the Toyota Etios Liva is around 18 kmpl.

Colors, variants and price
The Etios Liva is available in, white, harmony beige, serene bluish silver, symphony silver, vermilion red, celestial black and ultramarine blue. The following are the Liva variants with price:

- Toyota Etios Liva J - Rs 3,99,000
The trim comes powered by 1.2liter petrol engine. It comes loaded with basic features including AC (with heater), digital trip meter, cool glove box, front seat headrest, front cabin lights, rear headrests, electrically adjustable ORVMs, remote operated fuel tank lid and boot. The safety features include immobilizer, door Ajar warning lamp, etc.

- Toyota Etios Liva G - Rs 4,59,000
This trim comes loaded with additional features including body-colored door handles and the ORVMs, power windows, tilt and EPS (Electronic Power Steering) and central locking, intermittent wiper, keyless entry, speakers.

- Toyota Etios Liva G Plus - Rs 5,05,900
All features that come in G trim with additional safety features such as dual SRS airbags (front), ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), and driver seat belt warning.

- Toyota Etios Liva V - Rs 5,49,950
It's a G plus with some more features including alloy wheels, roof-mounted antenna, fog lamps, rear window with defogger, tachometer with audio system and USB Port and a remote, double-toned upholstery and chrome-finish AC vents.

- Toyota Etios Liva VX - Rs 5,99,000
It is top end trim with all bells and whistles including steering wheel mounted audio controls, gear shift knob in chrome finish and steering in leather wrap.

Last word:
Etios Liva is a new hatch that offers great comfort and also is a fuel efficient car. For people who are bored of other brands in this segment and need a refreshing change then Liva will offer you oodles of refreshing looks you may have wanted in a car. Good ground clearance, sedan like space and interiors makes it good buy.

No diesel is surely a let down and buyers will have to settle for the petrol variant as of now; the company might launch the diesel version in early 2012. The base variant doesn't even come with some standard features like power steering and power windows and central locking which surely disappoints any buyer.