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 We normally associate Toyota with premium cars , but , for the first time , the world’s largest car maker has developed a low-cost car like the Etios. This is probably the most affordable sedan in its entire global line-up , creating a benchmark of sorts in affordability. Obviously , One would not expect a Corolla for Rs 7 lakh. Having said that , the Etios has to live up to Toyota’s standard and also elbow out Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors , who have been masters of cost-effective cars in India. Maruti Suzuki’s DZire and Tata Motors’ Manza are currently the most popular models in this category and so they make for the obvious choice to be pitted against the Toyota , the new challenger.
To be honest , none of these three will bowl you over with its design. The Maruti looks better as a hatchback , but the sedan’s three-box design does not have a natural flow and looks as if the boot has been added as an afterthought. The focus is on practicality rather than on inspiring awe. Meanwhile , the Tata Manza seems to be an improvement over its forebears and carries the sharp bonnet design , which has become a Tata design DNA ,  also seen on the Aria and the Vista. Unlike the Maruti , the boot on the Manza looks naturally incorporated and , overall , the design is decent , but will certainly not woo you in your midsummer night’s dream.
Like most Toyota designs the brand-new Etios has not been designed to take your breath away. The approach is safe and well-balanced with an unmistakably Toyota grille. The headlights and fog lamps are simple and small. The crease on the door looks crisp and rises sharply towards the rear wheel arch , adding some character to the car. The angular boot with large triangular tail-lights is not exciting either. Overall , the Toyota is rather understated like the other two cars in this comparo , but seems more appealing now due to its freshness.
While the Manza and the top-end Etios run on 15-inch wheels , the base versions of the Toyota comes with 14-inch wheels like the Dzire’s. The Manza is also the largest in external proportion , being the tallest , widest and longest , with the Etios coming a close second. However , the Maruti and Toyota offer better ground clearance of 170 mm , which is vital for our road conditions.
 So far as the interior design goes , the Etios remains the most radical. The instrument console is placed in the middle of the dashboard and is tilted towards the driver , making it easy to read. It offers several cup/bottle holders and a large glovebox-cum-chiller. The air-conditioner vents are smartly designed and positioned , which rotate and swivel to position the draught as per your liking. However , there are several signs of cost cutting , which become evident with the missing climate control and electronic outer rear-view mirror (ORVM) adjuster. The seats of the Etios are wide , offer the right backrest angle and are quite comfortable. The fabric looks rugged and built to last. We got to test the top of the line VX variant , which has a sporty red combination for the seats’ fabric and a matching red gear knob. The best aspect about the VX’s interior is probably the flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in leather.
The Dzire interior has a combination of black and grey , which will soon get a much-needed upgrade with the onset of the all-new Swift and Dzire scheduled later this year. The rear seats of the Maruti are comfortable , though a little tight for three adults  compared to the well-cushioned seats of the Etios and the Manza. The Toyota does not have a centre arm-rest in the rear like the other two , the rear seats don’t fold nor are they contoured as in the Manza , which gives the passengers a more snug feel in the Tata. The good build and finish are as expected of Toyota , but the plastic quality of the Etios failed to impress. It lacks the upmarket feel. In comparison , the Manza uses a better combination of quality material , which gives the interior of the Tata an edge over others. The trump card in respect of the Toyota’s interior is its massive 595-litre boot space , which can easily give most cars even a segment above a run for their money. Since Indians are not known to be light travellers , the extra 150 litres of storage space will add a lot of weight to their buying decisions.
As expected , all the three cars have very different driving dynamic and , as they say , one man’s poison can be another’s medicine. The Dzire has the most familiar driving position and is also very engaging. The 1.2 litre , K-series , Suzuki motor is very peppy , but also the least powerful of the lot with 85 PS and a torque of 113 Nm. The Manza’s 1.4 litre Safire mill , borrowed from Fiat , produces 90 PS and 116 Nm of torque. But what works against the above two cars and in favour of the Etios is the power-to-weight ratio.  The Etios is just 930 kg , making it over 100 kg lighter than the other two. It has a very able , and also the largest , 1.5-litre motor that can churn out 90 PS and a magnificent 132 Nm of torque. The light weight and the torquey nature of the Etios give it amazing driveability; even after driving for hours there is no sign of fatigue. It is also the noisiest , with a distinct murmur and some of it does penetrate into the cabin. Yet it is the fastest to get off the mark thanks to its gearing , which feels a little short. Maybe because the sedan will share the gearbox with its sibling hatchback , the Liva , which will be powered by a smaller 1.2-litre engine. We achieved a top speed of 171 km/h , which is more than adequate in this segment. In 0-100 km/h the Toyota is three seconds faster than the rivals. The gear shift is smooth and due to the linear flow of torque one can speed off even on low revs without having to shift down , making the Etios very agile and great fun to drive around in town. The good roll-on figures further strengthen its City driving and overtaking abilities. You also get a high driving position , which accounts for better outside visibility , though the steering wheel seems to be a mite low (even after being adjusted to the highest position) and might be an issue with taller drivers.
 Aiding the visibility are the lean and inclined A-pillars , which are a bit of a hindrance in the Manza. The Tata also has the heaviest steering and does not offer adequate feedback. The steering on the Etios requires the least effort and has a fabulously tight turning radius.
Coming to the Dzire , it has a more neutral steering feel , which is why it has been so popular , at least until now , among the enthusiasts. Like most Marutis the Dzire has a suspension
set-up that is on the harder side and opens up after every deep ditch with an unpleasant thud. On the other hand , the Manza’s suspension has been tuned to absorb the unforgiving speed-breakers , due to which it sways like a boat at times.
The low weight and linear torque help the Toyota achieve an impressive average fuel economy of over 18 kpl. While the Maruti was a close second with a decent 17 kpl , the Tata lagged far behind at 13.5 kpl. Since the Etios is priced competitively , there are visible cost-cutting measures like the fixed headrest , single front-windscreen wiper and , as mentioned before , a manually adjustable ORVM and the missing automatic climate control. Otherwise , all the three cars have reasonably good equipment levels with ABS ,  dual airbags , keyless entry and central locking. The Toyota also offers EBD.
Which one of these emerges victorious is a good Rs 7-lakh question and the answer to it depends wholly upon what one’s priorities are in a car. The Manza is the best sedan in the entire Tata universe and does shake up competition with its good looking interior , comfortable rear seats and its big car feel. However , it falls behind in fuel efficiency , driving appeal , reliability and does not have the best after-sales record. This is where the Dzire scores. Nothing comes close to the Maruti so far as their sales and service network goes , but the car desperately needs an upgrade to maintain the appeal , as the competition seems better looking. So , we’ll need to have a similar shootout again once the 2011 Swift Dzire is rolled out in India. But for now , we have to admit that the Etios excelled in vital areas like comfort , effortless driving , fuel efficiency and space. The added advantage is Toyota’s brand image and unmatched reliability , making the Etios the easy pick of this lot.
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To be honest , none of these three will bowl you over with its design. The Maruti looks better as a hatchback , but the sedan’s three-box design does not have a natural flow and looks as if the boot has been added as an afterthought. The focus is on practicality rather than on inspiring awe. Meanwhile , the Tata Manza seems to be an improvement over its forebears and carries the sharp bonnet design , which has become a Tata design DNA ,
also seen on the Aria and the Vista. Unlike the Maruti , the boot on the Manza looks naturally incorporated and , overall , the design is decent , but will certainly not woo you in your midsummer night’s dream.
Like most Toyota designs the brand-new Etios has not been designed to take your breath away. The approach is safe and well-balanced with an unmistakably Toyota grille. The headlights and fog lamps are simple and small. The crease on the door looks crisp and rises sharply towards the rear wheel arch , adding some character to the car. The angular boot with large triangular tail-lights is not exciting either. Overall , the Toyota is rather understated like the other two cars in this comparo , but seems more appealing now due to its freshness.
While the Manza and the top-end Etios run on 15-inch wheels , the base versions of the Toyota comes with 14-inch wheels like the Dzire’s. The Manza is also the largest in external proportion , being the tallest , widest and longest , with the Etios coming a close second. However , the Maruti and Toyota offer better ground clearance of 170 mm , which is vital for our road conditions.
The Dzire interior has a combination of black and grey , which will soon get a much-needed upgrade with the onset of the all-new Swift and Dzire scheduled later this year. The rear seats of the Maruti are comfortable , though a little tight for three adults
compared to the well-cushioned seats of the Etios and the Manza. The Toyota does not have a centre arm-rest in the rear like the other two , the rear seats don’t fold nor are they contoured as in the Manza , which gives the passengers a more snug feel in the Tata. The good build and finish are as expected of Toyota , but the plastic quality of the Etios failed to impress. It lacks the upmarket feel. In comparison , the Manza uses a better combination of quality material , which gives the interior of the Tata an edge over others. The trump card in respect of the Toyota’s interior is its massive 595-litre boot space , which can easily give most cars even a segment above a run for their money. Since Indians are not known to be light travellers , the extra 150 litres of storage space will add a lot of weight to their buying decisions.
As expected , all the three cars have very different driving dynamic and , as they say , one man’s poison can be another’s medicine. The Dzire has the most familiar driving position and is also very engaging. The 1.2 litre , K-series , Suzuki motor is very peppy , but also the least powerful of the lot with 85 PS and a torque of 113 Nm. The Manza’s 1.4 litre Safire mill , borrowed from Fiat , produces 90 PS and 116 Nm of torque. But what works against the above two cars and in favour of the Etios is the power-to-weight ratio.
The Etios is just 930 kg , making it over 100 kg lighter than the other two. It has a very able , and also the largest , 1.5-litre motor that can churn out 90 PS and a magnificent 132 Nm of torque. The light weight and the torquey nature of the Etios give it amazing driveability; even after driving for hours there is no sign of fatigue. It is also the noisiest , with a distinct murmur and some of it does penetrate into the cabin. Yet it is the fastest to get off the mark thanks to its gearing , which feels a little short. Maybe because the sedan will share the gearbox with its sibling hatchback , the Liva , which will be powered by a smaller 1.2-litre engine. We achieved a top speed of 171 km/h , which is more than adequate in this segment. In 0-100 km/h the Toyota is three seconds faster than the rivals. The gear shift is smooth and due to the linear flow of torque one can speed off even on low revs without having to shift down , making the Etios very agile and great fun to drive around in town. The good roll-on figures further strengthen its City driving and overtaking abilities. You also get a high driving position , which accounts for better outside visibility , though the steering wheel seems to be a mite low (even after being adjusted to the highest position) and might be an issue with taller drivers.
Coming to the Dzire , it has a more neutral steering feel , which is why it has been so popular , at least until now , among the enthusiasts. Like most Marutis the Dzire has a suspension
set-up that is on the harder side and opens up after every deep ditch with an unpleasant thud. On the other hand , the Manza’s suspension has been tuned to absorb the unforgiving speed-breakers , due to which it sways like a boat at times.
The low weight and linear torque help the Toyota achieve an impressive average fuel economy of over 18 kpl. While the Maruti was a close second with a decent 17 kpl , the Tata lagged far behind at 13.5 kpl. Since the Etios is priced competitively , there are visible cost-cutting measures like the fixed headrest , single front-windscreen wiper and , as mentioned before , a manually adjustable ORVM and the missing automatic climate control. Otherwise , all the three cars have reasonably good equipment levels with ABS ,
dual airbags , keyless entry and central locking. The Toyota also offers EBD.
Which one of these emerges victorious is a good Rs 7-lakh question and the answer to it depends wholly upon what one’s priorities are in a car. The Manza is the best sedan in the entire Tata universe and does shake up competition with its good looking interior , comfortable rear seats and its big car feel. However , it falls behind in fuel efficiency , driving appeal , reliability and does not have the best after-sales record. This is where the Dzire scores. Nothing comes close to the Maruti so far as their sales and service network goes , but the car desperately needs an upgrade to maintain the appeal , as the competition seems better looking. So , we’ll need to have a similar shootout again once the 2011 Swift Dzire is rolled out in India. But for now , we have to admit that the Etios excelled in vital areas like comfort , effortless driving , fuel efficiency and space. The added advantage is Toyota’s brand image and unmatched reliability , making the Etios the easy pick of this lot.
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Etios is best car compare to other cars maruti suzuki...cheap price...and excellent interior with big space
Etios Definitely seems to be a better car with more power to weight ration, bettern mileage, better looks & of course Toyota tag.
Etios is compratively cheap
Etios is compratively cheap, but it severly lacks proper insulation due to which there is lot of noise inside the car, not only from the Vehicle itself rather the outside traffic even. The interiors also give a feel cost cutting if you compare to any half of its priced cars in Maruti.
Interior look is not encouraging, and it is noisy inside, but is reasonably priced.
Indian consumers are into showing off the brand names. Do not waste money on Honda,Toyota and even maruti Dezire,just go for Tata indigo petrol if you are looking for petrol car.
I am afraid the after sales service rendered by the dealers for the branded cars like toyoto squeeze the customer due to the limited options
its verry nice......
Etios is a value for money car. Very Very Spacious. However, the only turn off is that there is too much noise inside the car. Its feels like a Premier Padmini.....
These very first few statements made me turn away from this review "We normally associate Toyota with premium cars , but , for the first time , the world’s largest car maker has developed a low-cost car like the Etios. This is probably the most affordable sedan in its entire global line-up , creating a benchmark of sorts in affordability. Obviously , one would not expect a Corolla for Rs 7 lakh". It certainly shows the ignorance of the reviewer. If Toyota is a premium car manufacturer then what about BMW, Benz, Lexus (Toyota's premium brand), Accura (Honda's premium brand) etc. Corolla is always considered as the affordable, entry level car from Toyota. Just because Toyota sells it for more than 12L OTR in India it does not mean it is a premium car. It's a kind of mean treatment all these car manufacturers render to the Indian community. Sub-standard cars touted to be at a low price. But certainly they are 30% to 40% more than the price they demand. Making a Corolla in India with Indian labour and Indian raw materials would have brought down the price of Corolla to Etios levels. But Toyota chose to do it this way, by positioning Corolla as a premium car, which is a joke.
Etios is a good car if I think of the engine, transmission and suspension.Braking system is very good. Beyond that, the cost cutting measures are very very obvious. The interiors are very poor, the noise level inside is very high.Don't know if single wiper would be as effective as the dual ones! Prospective buyers have better options in Vento (you'll have to shell out a bit more for that- the only turn off in Vento is the indicator and wiper levers are on the opposite sides). Or if you can wait for some more time, you can have Nissan Sunny for approx the same price.
The standard feature doesn't even include the much needed power steering, which is there in the cars half that price, I wonder does Toyota think we are in 70's when power steering was a premium, Toyota is known to squeeze customer for parts, The plastic is not great, actually its worse than swift desire....! Indians are Intelligent enough not to be fooled, E series India is the best option today 25/kms for liter!!!
AWESOME CAR
Guys im really sorry to say that this is just a gimmic created by Toyota in India. This car has been in the market for a very long time. It was earlier called ECHO and was later renamed as the YARIS (in the Middle East). It is still the cheapest car from Toyota (and l really mean the cheapest) for the reasons mentioned by almost everyone here. The car costs aroung 6-6.5L (INR) in the Middle East.
I previously owned Qualis,kept for full 5 years,total satisfactory.waited 18 months got Etios,I am fully satisfied & happy to be a part of Toyato family.
Its too luxarious, spacious,confortable to drive.....and many other things..... I like it too much.... Awesome car...
Guys - I have shortlisted 3 sedan cars - Ford Fiesta, Tata Manza & Logan. My top priorities are fuel economy (hence diesel), Cheaper maintenance, Good boot space & ground clearance. Please suggest.
Etios is very best Car compare to other competator cars like Swift Dzire, Logan, and Tata Manza, very specious & good looking car.
I have been using Etios for the last three months and it is giving a mileage of only 11 km/litre (with AC)in city condition and not 17.53 as claimed by the company.There can not be a huge difference in consumption in standard mileage and city mileage. If this deficiency is improved,this sedan is better than Dzire,city and Manza otherwise not
For this price, Toyota Etios is really best.
etios plastic quality is very poor & body like a texi
friends i am willing to buy a sedan car which will be best among dizire, manza, etios suggest me