The Toyota Vios is a subcompact sedan that Toyota has sold primarily in Southeast Asia, China, and Taiwan since 2002, slotted below the Corolla. It is not part of Toyota’s United States lineup and has never been sold in North America, so there is no US-spec 2020 Vios. The 2020 car is a third-generation (XP150) model that received a facelift in the Philippines in July 2020, giving it a new front fascia and available LED headlights. Buyers who encounter the Vios name should also know that the same car has been marketed elsewhere as the Toyota Yaris sedan or Yaris Ativ, and that the Vios nameplate itself is not used in every market where the car is sold.
What the 2020 Vios Changed
The third-generation Vios launched in 2013 and was already the region’s best-selling subcompact. The 2020 update, announced by Toyota Motor Philippines on July 25, 2020 and on sale from July 27, replaced the previous “smiling” front bumper with a squarer design that borrowed cues from the Camry and Corolla Altis. The highest grade added high-gloss black exterior accents, and LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights and LED fog lights became available for the first time on the model. Powertrains, dimensions, and the core structure carried over from the 2018 facelift, so the 2020 car is a styling and equipment refresh rather than a mechanical overhaul.
Engines and Transmissions
The 2020 Vios offered a choice of two naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engines in the Philippines, both with Dual VVT-i and either a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) depending on grade. The smaller unit prioritizes fuel economy and lower running costs, while the 1.5-liter engine adds enough power for highway merging and is the only engine offered in the top G grade. Both engines run on regular unleaded gasoline and use Toyota’s Dual VVT-i variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust cams.
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2NR-FE I4 | 1.3 L | 98 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 123 Nm (91 lb-ft) @ 4,200 rpm | 5-speed manual / CVT |
| 2NR-FE I4 | 1.5 L | 106 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) @ 4,200 rpm | 5-speed manual / CVT |
Dimensions and Packaging
The 2020 Vios measures 4,425 mm (174.2 in) long, 1,730 mm (68.1 in) wide, and 1,475 mm (58.1 in) tall, on a 2,550 mm (100.4 in) wheelbase. Its curb weight is roughly 1,045 to 1,145 kg (2,304 to 2,524 lb) depending on engine and equipment. The Vios is a four-door sedan only in this generation in most markets, though a five-door hatchback was sold in China. It seats five and offers a conventional trunk rather than a hatchback opening, which is one reason it is favored as a taxi and ride-hailing vehicle in several countries.
Trim Levels and Philippine Pricing
Toyota Motor Philippines launched the 2020 update with a broad lineup spanning several equipment grades, priced from PHP 671,000 for the base 1.3 manual to PHP 1,056,000 for the 1.5 G CVT:
- 1.3 Base M/T — PHP 671,000
- 1.3 J M/T — PHP 697,000
- 1.3 XE CVT — PHP 747,000
- 1.3 XLE M/T — PHP 791,000; XLE CVT — PHP 841,000
- 1.3 E M/T — PHP 841,000; E CVT — PHP 891,000
- 1.5 G M/T — PHP 997,000; G CVT — PHP 1,056,000
What the Vios Is Not
Several claims commonly attached to the Vios do not hold up. It is not a North American or European model, and the Vios name was never used for Toyota’s Indian sedan: from 2018 to 2021 Toyota India sold essentially the same third-generation car as the Yaris sedan, not as the Vios. It is also not a hybrid in this generation; the Vios Hybrid arrived only with the fourth-generation model that launched in Thailand in 2022. Finally, the 2020 Vios is not related to the larger Camry or the Corolla, sharing instead Toyota’s older B-segment platform.
Safety
Toyota fitted the 2020 Vios with anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability control, and hill-start assist control across the range. SRS airbags were standard, with higher variants offering up to seven airbags, and a reversing camera was available from the G grade. The third-generation Vios has been a strong performer in regional crash testing, though buyers should check the specific variant, because safety equipment in this segment varies widely by grade and market. Later versions of the model earned a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating.
Regional Availability
The Vios nameplate is used in the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan, among others. Toyota sold essentially the same third-generation car in China as the Vios and Vios FS, and in Thailand the smaller-engine variant was badged Yaris Ativ while a 1.5-liter Vios continued alongside it. In Latin America, the Middle East, and Pakistan the car has been marketed as the Yaris sedan. Production for the third generation took place across the region, including plants in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India, and Pakistan, and it was assembled locally in most of its major markets to keep prices low.
Running Costs and Reputation
The Vios built its reputation on low purchase prices, modest fuel consumption, and inexpensive parts and servicing. In many Southeast Asian cities it is a default choice for taxi and ride-hailing fleets, which supports a deep supply of aftermarket parts and trained mechanics. For a private owner, that translates into comparatively low ownership costs, though the cabin uses more hard plastics than Toyota’s larger models and the base grades are sparsely equipped. The Vios has also been campaigned in one-make racing series in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand, which helped establish a performance-oriented image for an otherwise economy-focused sedan.
Market Position
The Vios has long been the best-selling car in the Philippines, and it also serves as Toyota’s volume subcompact in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, where it competes against cars such as the Honda City and the Nissan Almera. In some markets Toyota has used the Yaris sedan name for essentially the same vehicle, and in Thailand the smaller-engined version was sold as the Yaris Ativ alongside the 1.5-liter Vios. Buyers shopping a used 2020 Vios should confirm which engine, transmission, and airbag count a given car has, because the trim spread is wide and equipment differs significantly between the base and G versions.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Vios
- https://www.toyota.com.ph/news/level-up-new-vios
- https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/car-news/2020-toyota-vios-specs-prices-features-a962-20200725
- https://www.carmudi.com.ph/journal/2020-toyota-vios-facelift-the-9-variants-in-detail/
- https://www.carguide.ph/2020/07/the-2020-toyota-vios-gets-serious.html
