Sizing Up Specs of the 2022 Toyota Vios: Can it Keep Up with the Competition?

The Vios is an all-time favorite subcompact sedan in the Philippines. Its clientele range from families seeking their first car to companies buying fleets for personnel use or just individuals trying out the TNVS business. With its famed Toyota reliability, ubiquitous cheap parts availability  (as the Vios is assembled locally), good fuel efficiency, and modern looks and features, the Vios is sure to be on the top of the list of best-selling vehicles for the year, just like before.

In recent years, the Vios' competitors, the Geely Emgrand and the Honda City have also provided alternatives by offering more in some departments where the Vios is lacking. Similarly, with the City's and Emgrand's competitive price points, as well as the public's desire to be unique (they say it's hard to park a Vios because you'd get lost in the sea of them in the parking lot), people have been discovering the perks of the competition more and more.

So now, let's compare some basic specifications of the Vios with the Emgrand and the City. Since the Vios has many variants, we matched the variant closest to the competition's specs.

Since aesthetics is an acquired taste, we will not compare how each car looks. We will look into other aspects first, like the engine department. The Vios is run by a 1.3-liter gasoline engine with Dual VVT-i, paired with either a manual transmission or a CVT. In this evaluation, we will use the CVT version, which has a 7-speed simulated manual mode that lets you shift through gears without braking, slowing down, or stepping on a clutch pedal. This engine and transmission pairing produces 99 ps and 123 Nm. Its output is quite "bitin" for some, especially if you're going up steep places like Baguio. But using the simulated gears in manual mode helps you go up inclines easily with the Vios.

The Emgrand, on the other hand, has more engine output at 102 hp and 142 Nm with its 1.5-liter engine paired with an 8-speed CVT which also has a manual mode. However, the City trumps them both with its 1.5-liter engine's efficiency. It has an output of 119 hp and 145 Nm. Now, these numbers would matter when you factor in power to weight ratio, so don't be too late to dismiss the Vios.

Some say the devil is always in the details, so let's look into some parts we often miss out on. The Vios, City, and Emgrand all have power side mirrors. I know this is not something to wow us but to some, this makes or breaks the deal. The Emgrand, however, has another trick up its sleeve as its side mirrors have a defrost option, perfect for misty and foggy weather every time it rains.

Regarding wheels, both the Vios and the City have 15-inch alloys, while the Emgrand has 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The Vios has a 4-bulb halogen headlamp; the City has a projector halogen; the Emgrand has a projector LED lamp.

Inside the cabin, the Vios has four speakers like the City, while the Emgrand has six.  The Emgrand and the City have a single 12-volt socket and 2 USB charging ports, while the Vios has one 12-volt and one USB port socket. The City and the Emgrand have 8-inch infotainment systems compared to the Vios's 6.75-inch one, but only the City and the Vios have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Regarding the safety department, the Vios has a 3- and a 7-airbag option, while the Emgrand has six airbags as standard and the City has 4. They all have ABS and EBD, Stability and Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, and ISOFIX tethers, but only the Emgrand comes with standard parking sensors and backup cameras. The Vios and the City also have them in the higher, if not the top, variant.

To sum up, comparing the three, the most points awarded go to the Geely Emgrand, while the City comes next and the Vios last. This is one particular thing about Toyotas that I would like to point out – they scrimp on their car models, not only on the Vios but almost in any segment model. It would help if you got the top tier to get all the bells and whistles the competition offers in lower variants as standard features.

Perhaps Toyota capitalizes on its brand name and the people's loyalty to it. The name Toyota still does stand for reliability. This is what people who buy the Vios are looking for. They know they'll look common and standard, which gives them comfort. The idea that your copies around you give you the security that spare parts will take decades, if not a century, to run out. Being assembled in the country also shaves a little off its selling price. And the bells and whistles that Vios owners miss by buying a lower-tier variant at a lower price can easily be acquired in the aftermarket arena. Hundreds of individuals and shops online and offline are making a profit by selling aftermarket Vios parts, and Pinoys love to modify their rides. Just look at how colorful and elaborate our tricycles and jeepneys are.

So, the Geely Emgrand and the Honda City are worthy enough opponents of the Vios, and with what they offer, they seem to be the wiser choice. But when it comes to brand loyalty, a Toyota trumps over newbies like a Geely. Furthermore, the cheaper prices and parts and services offered by the Vios are points against the casa-maintained Honda City. So, despite the logic and odds, the Vios still win. Now, it's up to half your brain to choose the next car you will buy.

Also Read: The Real Cost of Maintaining a 2022 Toyota Vios