Toyota Ativ or Vios: Which Toyota subcompact sedan should you go for?
After a couple of years waiting, the new Toyota Ativ is finally entering our market by storm. And while it is the fourth generation of the Toyota Vios, the country’s bestselling car, it slots above instead of replacing it completely, which brings us to this point of comparison. Should you go for the new one, or the old one?
With that, we’ve compiled the different specifications of both subcompact sedans, specifically the entry-level Ativ 1.3 E variant, and the top-spec Vios 1.3 XLE for a little comparison to see which one you might want to get. These two are the closest to each other in terms of market positioning and pricing, which makes most sense for this little spec comparison.
So what do you get from these two and which might be better?
Dimensions
Let’s start with their sizes. Given that these two subcompact sedans are basically the same model, their sizes are largely similar, with the Ativ being slightly larger than the Vios, and riding on a longer wheelbase with its new Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform.
The extra size should provide a little bit more room for all occupants. This is especially important given that the Vios is very popular in the transportation sector, used in fleets by taxis and ride-hailing services, rental car companies, and various other company fleets.
| Toyota Ativ 1.3 E | Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE | |
| Wheelbase | 2,620mm | 2,550mm |
| Length | 4,425mm | 4,420mm |
| Width | 1,750mm | 1,740mm |
| Height | 1,480mm | 1,475mm |
| Seating Capacity (including driver) | 5 | 5 |
| Wheels | 16-inch two-tone alloy | 15-inch two-tone alloy |
| Tires | 195/60 | 185/60 |
Exterior and Interior
Design is definitely where these two vehicles will be very well differentiated as they are again two completely different generations. There won’t be any mistaking one for the other.
The Ativ gets a more mature exterior appearance that can be likened to its larger Corolla Altis and Camry siblings, while the Vios is already very familiar to everyone. Inside, the Ativ goes for a more modern and premium appearance with soft-touch materials, and a sleek look. It follows today’s trends with a larger tablet-like touchscreen infotainment system, and layered or stacked design.
Exterior and interior features include the following:
| EXTERIOR | Toyota Ativ 1.3 E | Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE |
| Headlights | Full LED | Halogen |
| Taillights | Halogen | Halogen |
| Fog Lights | – | Front LED |
| Side Mirrors | Power-Adjust | Power-Adjust |
| Roof | Body-Colored | Body-Colored |
| INTERIOR | Toyota Ativ 1.3 E | Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE |
| Interior Color | Black and Brown | Black |
| Seat Material | Fabric | Fabric |
| Seat Adjustment | Manual | Manual |
| Steering Wheel Material | Urethane | Urethane |
| Steering Column Adjustment | Tilt and Telescopic | Tilt only |
Tech and Convenience Features
With a new generation usually comes added tech and convenience and it’s the same story for the Ativ and Vios.
While the Vios already came with a touchscreen infotainment system and USB port, the Ativ ups that with a larger screen, more speakers, as well as convenient features such as rear climate vents, automatic climate control and more USB ports.
| Toyota Ativ 1.3 E | Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE | |
| Instrument Cluster | 7-inch digital | Analog |
| Infotainment | 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Autio | 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Audio System | 6-speakers | 4-speakers |
| USB Ports | Type-A (2 Front, 2 Rear) | Type-A (1 on Infotainment) |
| Climate Control | Automatic Climate Control | Manual |
| Rear Climate Vents | With (CVT only) | – |
| Inside Rear-View Mirror | Day & Night | Day & Night |
| Wireless Phone Charger | – | – |
| Tailgate | Remote Release + Tailgate Button | Remote Release + Tailgate Button |
Powertrain
While properly set apart from each other in other departments, it’s a different story when it comes to what’s under the hood as the Ativ gets carry-over engines from the Vios.
The two share the same 1.3-liter engine, albeit with a small difference in power and torque figures in favor of the Vios. The Ativ does however get the additional options of a larger 1.5-liter engine on the mid-grade G, and a new hybrid option on the top-spec variant.
| Toyota Ativ 1.3 E | Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE | |
| Engine | 1.3-liter 1NR-FE Inline 4-Cylinder with Dual VVT-i | 1.3-liter 1NR-FE Inline 4-Cylinder with Dual VVT-i |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Fuel Rating | 91RON | 91RON |
| Power | 98 horsepower | 99 horsepower |
| Torque | 122Nm | 123Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual transmission or CVT | 5-speed manual transmission or CVT |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Safety
Both are very similar in terms of safety equipment, with each having their own pros and cons.
The Ativ comes with an option for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) on higher variants, however they are not available on the E, while the Vios gets one additional airbag for the driver, and parking sensors, among others.
| Toyota Ativ 1.3 E | Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE | |
| Advanced Driver-Assist Systems (ADAS) | – | – |
| Camera | Reverse Camera | Reverse Camera |
| Parking Sensors | – | Rear |
| Airbags | 2 | 3 (Including Driver’s Knee Airbag) |
| Anti-Lock Braking System | With | With |
| Electronic Brakeforce Distribution | With | With |
| Stability Control | With | With |
| Traction Control | With | – |
| Hill Start Assist | With | With |
| Emergency Stop Signal | With | With |
| ISOFIX | With | With |
| Anti-Theft | Immobilizer and Alarm | Alarm |
Pricing
Given that the Toyota Ativ slots above the Vios in Toyota Motor Philippines’ lineup, pricing is a bit higher. Despite that, the Ativ 1.3 E and Vios 1.3 XLE are still very close to each other.
The former and newer product has a starting price of Php 916,000 with a manual transmission, while the CVT comes at Php 980,000. Meanwhile, the latter comes at Php 868,000 for the manual, and Php 908,000 for the CVT. That will surely add a bit of confusion for would-be buyers as the differences are marginal.
The new Toyota Ativ or the old Vios?
Seeing all the specifications and features, plus pricing, of these two subcompact sedans will surely be a bit confusing. They offer similar features and specifications, and a familiar formula for everyone.
Some buyers will prefer the Toyota Vios because of its familiarity, plus the fact that it is locally manufactured in the Philippines. Obviously, others will prefer the Ativ as it is newer, larger, and just a tad pricier than the former. Regardless, we won’t be surprised to see both fighting each other for the market’s top spot.
While we’ll leave the decision making to you for now, we’ll definitely want to do a proper and real comparison once we get the chance to do so.
Photos by Sam Surla