New  Toyota Etios rear

New 2014 Toyota Etios 1.4 Diesel Review: Evolved Aptitude

 New 2014 Toyota Etios rear (4)

The made-for-India Etios wasn’t the kind of success Toyota is used to tasting with its products worldwide. In a bid to create a car that matched a certain price, they somewhat skimped on attention to detail and features, and the result was a (much) less than desired response to the spacious entry level sedan. Full marks, however need to be given to Toyota for their perseverance with the product and the small but significant changes they have constantly been making to enhance the car’s appeal.

After introducing a much improved version of the car last year, Toyota have introduced another significant update to the Etios with important changes made to the interior and exterior. We took the new 2014 Etiossedan out for a spin, and in the process, realized that in its current form, the entry level sedan from Toyota has come a long way from where it started its journey from.

New 2014 Toyota Etios grille chrome

In its 2014 avatar, the Etios sedan gets a brand new radiator grille. The amount of chrome on the grille has been increased significantly, in line with the preferences of the Indian car buyer. Unlike the previous unit, which had a chrome element only at the top, the new design wraps the entire grille with chrome. The top portion of the grille extends down into a trapezoid connecting the upper and lower ends of the grille. The big Toyota logo now sits in the middle of the central trapezoid. In our opinion, the new grille isn’t just more chrome laden, but somehow manages to give the face of the Etios a more complete look.

New Toyota Etios India (14) New Toyota Etios India (15)

The twelve spoke 15 inch wheels on the car are new, too, and look rather good. Also, the door handles now have a chrome element. Toyota have also introduced a new Pearl White color for the new Etios. For those looking for some extra zing, Toyota is also providing a whole bunch of accessories. There are two accessory packs to choose from – Real Luxury and Decor

The Real Luxury collection for Etios includes

  • Tail lamp chrome garnish
  • Rear Door – Chrome Garnish
  • Wooden Gear Shift Knob
  • Headlamp chrome garnish
  • Side Mirror Chrome Garnish
  • Side wiser Chrome

The Décor Collection for Etios Liva comprises

  • Side door visor
  • Chrome side door moulding
  • Bumper corner protector
  • Roof spoiler
  • Car cushions
  • Steering wheel cover

New 2014 Toyota Etios dashboard

On the inside, the 2014 Etios gets some nice cosmetic and feature related changes. The armrests are now finished in a darker shade of faux wood, and look rather nice. The cabin also gets electrically adjustable ORVMs, and a chrome lining for the base of the gear shifter unit.

New 2014 Toyota Etios instrument console New 2014 Toyota Etios interior (6)

The 2013 Etios Liva release last year incorporated significant changes in the cabin. The color of the dashboard was made lighter for an airier feel, driver side seat got the height adjustment feature, the overall finish and quality of the materials inside the cabin was improved along with a few other nifty additions. All those value-additions are carried over in the 2014 version. These include a new seat fabric, a blue backlit center console with LCD display, digital clock, 2 new rear speakers in addition to the speakers in front, 2 DIN audio with Bluetooth, USB Aux–in and remote, steering mounted audio controls and a cooled glove box. Reverse parking sensors and warning buzzer for seatbelt, door ajar and headlamp are also some features which have been added to the car based on customer feedback.

With the new 2014 Etios, Toyota have also done something which the rest of the industry should emulate. All of us know about the recent zero star rating awarded to the Maruti Suzuki Swift and a variety of other entry level cars by Global NCAP. To ensure the safety of the occupants in its cars, across the range Toyota is proving twin front airbags as standard.

New 2014 Toyota Etios interior (7) New 2014 Toyota Etios backseat (1)

The Etios, as always, excels in terms of cabin space and comfort. The big, wide seats, both up front and at the rear are quite luxurious for the price you pay for them. Improvements in the comfort, support and quality of the seats have also been carried out in the past year to match the customer expectations. While the front headrests, unlike some other cars in the segment are fully adjustable for height, the rear units are not. The rear headrests are high set, though, and should provide some protection against whiplash injuries in case of a rear collision.

New 2014 Toyota Etios interior (24) New 2014 Toyota Etios center console (1)

New 2014 Toyota Etios interior (20) New 2014 Toyota Etios interior (21)

Although we aren’t very fond of the centrally mounted instrument console of the Etios, and think that the layout could be improved for better appeal, the overall quality and finish inside the cabin is satisfactory. Those unique A/C vents, though functional, could have been easier to use. The Audio unit doesn’t gel very well with the rest of the cabin, and though feature laden, doesn’t present itself as a very intuitive unit to use. It takes some time getting used to. The sound output, though is good for the segment.

New 2014 Toyota Etios motion action (5)

Next page for Performance, handling and verdict>>>

3 thoughts on “New 2014 Toyota Etios 1.4 Diesel Review: Evolved Aptitude”

  1. Everything is fine but you forgot to compare it with its true competitor.. Mahindra Verito.. it’s more spacious, better interiors, more value for money and better service network.. so do consider it next time..

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