Toyota Etios Liva announces Toyota's foray into hatchback segment. This car seems to have some association with sedan Etios from the same company, which is reflected in its comfort and convenience features. The name 'Liva' is supposed to reflect car's overall styling, which is very new age and lively. Etios Liva India comes in seven dynamic colours and four variants viz. J, G, V and VX. All variants are powered by a powerful 4 cylinder 16 valve, 1197 cc engine that delivers a mileage of 18.31 kmpl. This car gives a strong competition to Hyundai i20, Chevrolet Beat, Fiat Punto, Nissan Micra and Volkswagen Polo.

Toyota Etios Liva Launch History 

Etios Liva was launched by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on 27th June 2011. Toyota Company describes new Etios Livaas a “Q Class Hatch”. Toyota Etios Liva's sporty design, spacious and comfortable interiors, as well as world class engine makes it a strong competitor of other hatchbacks in the segment. Etios Liva would be produced at TKM manufacturing plant near Bengaluru, Karnataka. The company has tried to capture attention by naming the car on its other successful compact sedan, which is Toyota Etios. With this launch company is expecting to become popular and has plans for increasing production to 2,10,000 units by the second quarter of 2012.

Toyota Etios Liva Variants

All variants of Etios Liva have a five speed manual transmission and are powered by same 1197cc, 3NR- FE, 4-Cylinder 16 Valve, Dynamic Overhead Cam engine. The chassis and suspension remains same, though these variants differ remarkably in the detailing of their interiors and exteriors. Moreover, some important safety and security systems have been compromised in the lowest variants. All the variants of Toyota Etios Liva are discussed below in details: 

Etios Liva- J 

This variant of Toyota Etios Liva comes with body coloured bumpers and tubeless tyres with full wheel caps. A/C with heater and clean air filter is available even in this base variant. Premium quality black coloured fabric upholstery can be seen in the cabin of this car. 

Sporty front headrest, pillow type rear headrest, 7 bottle holders, remote fuel lid and tailgate opener are few important comfort and convenience features that are included in this variant of Etios Liva. Audio system is not included as standard feature in this variant. 

Quite interestingly power windows, power steering and central locking are missing, while cooled glove box has been provided as a standard feature. Airbags, ABS, rear defogger and key less entry have also been kept away from this variant.  

Etios Liva- G

This variant of Etios Liva seems similar to the base variant from its exteriors with a minor change in the form of body coloured outside rear view mirror. Besides, the front radiator grille is also body coloured that is kept matte black in the base variant. 

Interiors remain same as Etios Liva - J though convenience features like power windows, power steering and central locking are included in this variant. Moreover, the driving comfort is improved with tilt steering feature. 

One has to do without an audio system, though 4 speakers have been included as a standard feature in this variant. Airbags, ABS with EBD have been provided as optional feature, while keyless entry has not been forgotten.

Etios Liva - V

Exteriors are quite transformed with use of chrome in the radiator grille, while alloy wheels are another major improvement. Rear wiper and washer have also been included in this variant of Etios Liva. Interiors again are more up class with inclusion of dual tone black and grey upholstery. Another major change appears in the instrument panel, which includes an advanced tachometer. An advanced audio system with audio CD player and AM/FM radio is included, though it doesn't have steering mounted controls. Rear defogger and all other safety and security systems have been included as a standard feature in this variant.

Etios Liva - VX

This highest priced variant of Toyota Etios Liva from its exteriors appears similar to Etios Liva- V; however the body coloured door handle comes with a chrome insert. Dual tone interiors use shades of black and red, while chrome again finds its use in the gear shift knob. Leather wrapped three spoke steering wheel has provision for audio controls in this variant. The music player has been upgraded with DVD playback facility. 

Toyota Etios Liva Pricing 

Etios Liva has been placed in a price bracket of Rs.4.0 lacs to Rs.6.2 lacs, giving strong competition to hatchbacks from companies like Nissan, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Maruti Suzuki and Fiat.

Toyota Etios Liva Review 

Toyota Etios Liva has been on the front covers of automotive magazines like Autocar and Overdrive. The reviews so far have remained positive and no major issues have been recognised with the performance of car. Over drive speculates about the possibility of a major paradigm shift by world’s largest automaker in world’s biggest small car market. Auto car in its June issue states - “...The Liva is a very competent city runabout which offers everything a typical small car buyer wants....” Etios Liva is bound to be a major contender for 'car of the year awards', which will be announced at the end of this year.

Toyota Etios Liva Used Car Market 

One cannot gauge the used car market of Toyota Etios Liva in this early stage. The company itself is not running any programme to organise the sales and exchange of pre-owned vehicles and one has to contact local dealers for getting a pre-owned Toyota. Although, Toyota cars usually have a good resale value, one has to wait and watch before any thing could be said about the new Etios Liva in India.

Toyota Etios Liva Specifications 

New Etios Liva cars are one of the finest examples of the amalgamation of exquisite designing and cutting edge technology. These cars perform well in long term and justify company claims about the reliability and quality of vehicle. Given below are some important engine specifications of Etios Liva that give an idea about the capability of this small hatchback.

Criteria	Remarks
Type	3NR- FE, Gasoline, 4-Cylinder 16 V, DOHC
Size	1197 cc
Max. Power	78.90 hp at 5600 rpm
Torque	104 Nm at 3100 rpm
Fuel Supply System	Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)
Transmission	5 speed manual
Breaks	Ventilated Disc (front), Drum (rear)

 Toyota Etios Liva Exteriors

Etios Liva in India is available in seven vibrant colours and is one of the most attractive hatchbacks on road.

Exterior Appearance

Toyota has managed to distinguish the exteriors of Etios Liva from other hatchbacks in this segment in various aspects. Striking alloy wheels with chrome accents in the radiator grille and door handles give a premium appeal to the vehicle.Toyota Etios Liva in India is characterised by this smiling grille. Body coloured bumpers with rear, front and side skirts cover the exteriors of this hatchback. 

Etios Liva is very unique in the designing of its rear that includes rear spoiler and chrome garnish. Contrary to Wagon R's and other hatchbacks, tail lights of Etios Liva seems to project a little outward from the body that brings a significant change in the contours. A similar treatment has been given to inclusion of fog lamps at the front bumpers. 

Exterior Measurements

Toyota Etios Liva is a hatchback car that can easily accommodate 5 passengers. Some of the dimensions of this car are given below:

Criteria	Dimensions
Overall length	3775 mm
Overall Width	1695 mm
Overall Height	1510 mm
Wheelbase	2460 mm
Ground Clearance	170 mm

 Interiors

There is a marked difference in the interiors of the lowest and highest variants of Etios Liva in India. However, one gets a premium quality appeal even in the base variants.

Interior Appearance

New Etios Liva has got single tone black fabric upholstery in its lower variants, while the upper variants have dual tone upholstery with shades of grey and red. Fabric door trim also add to the class of vehicle. Chrome has been used in the gear shift knob and highest variant has got leather wrapped steering wheel. Centrally mounted instrument panel beautifully incorporates the tachometer, speedometer, trip meter and fuel gauge. Circular AC vents with chrome finish have been provided at both sides. The quality of material used in dashboard and other parts looks up class.

Interior Comfort

Etios Liva car's main USP is the interior spacing and comfort. One can include every possible convenience but can't do without comfortable seating position and space which seem to have been taken care of, in this hatchback. Due to this, even the base variant of Toyota Etios Liva seems far more comfortable than high end variants of other hatchbacks. The 5-seater has an effective AC with heater and includes 13 litre cool glove compartment is all its variants. 

Seven cup holders or the bottle holders have been included in the cabin of this car. For added convenience small features like vanity mirrors, mobile holders, grip assist with coat hook, remote fuel lid and tail gate opener are also included.

Interior Dimensions

Company claims about the best in class cabin space, which can be judged even from the exteriors of Toyota Etios Liva. One does not have to worry about bumping into the ceiling or cramming for space in the rear. The legroom is definitely greater at the front seats, though it is also manageable at the rear, even when the front seats are pulled back. One can not ignore the 521 litres of boot space in evaluation of the interiors of Toyota Etios Liva. Undoubtedly, Etios Liva India is one of the most spacious hatchbacks on Indian roads.

Toyota Etios Liva Fuel Economy

As per company claims, New Etios Liva delivers mileage of 18.31 kilometre per litre. The mileage tests are conducted as per Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. The above mileage is without air conditioning. Fuel economy performance may vary as per driving condition and use of A/C.

Toyota Etios Liva On Road Drive

Etios Liva comes with a powerful 1297cc engine that delivers a power of 78.9 hp at 5600 rpm. The light weight car has a best power to weight ratio though it might not reflect easily in its acceleration as the engine has been tuned for mileage and not for pick up. Easy gear shifting and effective power steering improves driving experience. Etios Liva car has a minimum turning radius of 4.8 metres and proves effective in cornering sharp turns on busy Indian roads. 

The suspensions, brakes and tyres of Etios Liva are perfectly matched to deliver smoothly on Indian roads. Even the ground clearance has been kept to a maximum possible 170 mm which proves beneficial in crossing some bigger potholes on road. 

Toyota Etios Liva Power 

Etios Liva is powered by 1.2 litres, 1197cc, 3NR- FE, 4-Cylinder 16 Valve, Dynamic Overhead Cam engine. This engine delivers a maximum power of 78.9 hp at 5600 rpm, while corresponding torque values are 104 Nm at 3100 rpm. The figures seem more dominant when one compares the maximum kerb weight of 920 kg in highest variant VX. Lower variants are even lighter, and provide best in class power to weight ratio to the vehicle. 

Toyota Etios Liva Acceleration and Pick Up 

Toyota Etios Liva takes nearly 14 seconds in reaching 100 kmph mark which speaks a lot about its engine capability. One can easily drive Etios Liva anywhere between 20 and 80 kmph at third gear though at higher revs its noise performance is not that good. Fourth gear performance between 40 to 100 kmph speed mark is acceptable with minimum noise and vibration levels.  

Toyota Etios Liva Safety & Security 

One does not expect any downplay in the safety and security systems in modern hatchbacks like Toyota Etios Liva. In tandem with modern trends and requirements, Toyota Etios Liva cars have been provided with dual SRS airbags, immobiliser, driver seatbelt warning and door ajar warning features. The immobiliser system is an important security system that works via keys of the car that are equipped with a unique code. This code is verified every time by the car's computer which provides initiation signals to the engine.   

Toyota Etios Liva car is also equipped with advanced ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) systems. These systems prevent skidding by intelligently controlling the braking force on each wheel of the vehicle. Rear window defogger and fog lamps also add to safety of the vehicle. 

Toyota Etios Liva Comfort & Convenience 

Toyota Etios Liva hatchback is very elaborate in its comfort and convenience features. A cooled glove compartment is provided as a standard feature in all its variants of Etios Liva that is very useful for storing chocolates, medicines and similar temperature sensitive items. Electric outside rear view mirrors, power windows, central locking and rear wiper and washer also add to the convenience. Seven single litre size bottle holders have been provided for added convenience. Toyota Etios Liva has spacious and convenient interiors are cooled by powerful air conditioner that comes with an air filter. One can adjust the steering wheel according to driving convenience.  

Toyota Etios Liva Wheels & Suspension

Toyota has been a part of Indian automotive industry since 1997 when it started its operations. The company has gained enough experience in designing effective suspensions and selecting correct wheels for Indian roads and driving styles. While driving one does not feel any major discomfort due to the suspension design of Toyota Etios Liva, which keeps the vehicle evenly grounded in all conditions. The higher variants of the Etios Liva come with 15 inch alloy wheels while lower variants have 14 inch wheels.

Criteria	Specifications
Suspension Front	McPherson Strut
Suspension Rear	Torsion Beam
Tyre Size	Tubeless 175 / 65 R-14 ( variants J and G) Tubeless 185 / 60 R-15 ( variants V and VX)

Toyota Etios Liva Stereo & Accessories

An advanced audio system with four speakers is provided in new Etios Liva car. This audio system comes with remote and steering mounted controls. Steering mounted audio controls provide ease in changing radio stations or music tracks while driving. The audio system with FM/AM radio supports MP3, WMA, audio CD and DVD playback facility. Moreover, audio system has a USB port for multimedia connectivity. 

Toyota Etios Liva Dealers 

Toyota currently has 158 dealerships across all major cities in India. Company has planned to expand its sales network to 175 by the end of this year. A list of authorised dealers in four major metropolitan cities of India is given below:

City	Dealers
New Delhi	Espirit Toyota, Mathura Road Galaxy Toyota, Najafgarh Road Galaxy Toyota, G.T Karnal Road Galaxy Toyota, Vasant Kunj Galaxy Toyota, Dwarka Galaxy Toyota, Okhla Industrial Area Galaxy Toyota, Kotla Mubarakpur Galaxy Toyota, Shalimar District Centre Uttam Toyota, Patparganj Industrial Area
Kolkata	Topsel Toyota, Anandapur Topsel Toyota, Maheshtala
Mumbai	Lakozy Toyota, Andheri (East) Lakozy Toyota, Malad (West) Madhuban Toyota, Khar (West) Madhuban Toyota, Kurla (West) Millennium Toyota, Vile Parle (West ) Shinrai Toyota, Worli Naka Shinrai Toyota, Nariman Point Wasan Toyota, Sanpada (West) Wasan Toyota, Deonar, Chembur
Chennai	Harsha Toyota, Alandur Harsha Toyota, Poonamalle Lanson Toyota, Sidco Industrial Estate Lanson Toyota, Neelankarai Lanson Toyota, Koyambedu Lanson Toyota, Teynampett Lanson Toyota, Pallikaranai

 Toyota Etios Liva Company Quotes

Mr. Hiroji Onishi (President, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, Marketing and Sales) at the launch of the Etios Liva in June 2011 said, “India is an integral part of our global growth strategy. The Etios project is a milestone not only for Toyota in India but for Toyota globally. The Etios Liva has been designed focusing on the Indian customer’s aspirations, tastes and preferences that were gathered, studied and understood through extensive research. We are delighted by the overwhelming response received by the Etios customers. The Etios has been well accepted by our customers. We hope the Etios Liva will further reinforce the Toyota brand in India, making Toyota a household name.” 

Mr. Vikram Kirloskar (Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor) at the launch of the Etios Liva in June 2011, commented “...The Etios project is the first of its kind not for TKM alone, but also for Toyota across the globe. The key to this project, is to make TKM self sufficient by increasing the level of localisation. As announced earlier, we plan to locally produce engines and transmissions at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, in the third quarter of 2012. This will help us increase the local parts content in the Etios and further contribute to the social and economic growth, by enhancing self sufficiency, generating employment and expanding operations in India. Localisation will further help us develop our suppliers and facilitate them to meet global standards of production. It will also generate employment and provide opportunity for expansion and growth, further strengthening our supplier base in India...” 

Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa (MD, Toyota Kirloskar Motor) at the launch of the Etios Liva in June 2011 said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Etios customers. After the good response received by the Etios, we further expanded our production in order to cater to the huge demand. The annual production capacity will be increased to 2,10,000 units by the second quarter of 2012. 

In line with our ‘customer first philosophy’, we wish to keep our customers happy and satisfied by understanding the customer’s preferences and enhancing the product by incorporating their feedback. With the Etios Liva we have now entered the mass volume segment. Toyota vehicles are now available to all aspirational buyers in the middle income group. 

At Toyota, we truly believe in growing with the society. We wish to sell many more vehicles and contribute to the growth of the Indian automobile industry. Entering into the mass volume segment will help us realise this aim...” 

Mr. Yoshinori Noritake (Chief Engineer of Etios and Etios Liva) at the launch of the Etios Liva in June 2011 said, “With the Etios Liva, we aspire to offer the best suited car for the Indian customer at an affordable price, while providing a vehicle that is “one class above”. After interviewing and studying the customer preferences in India, we found, the need for affordably priced, quality cars was constantly growing. We first observed various aspects that were sought after by the customer and then enhanced the features and performance aspects that were truly needed while doing away with the excessive design elements. 

The stylish, sporty and trendy Etios Liva has been designed to appeal to today’s youth. We have also added style by offering aero kits with front, rear and side skirt that is sure to make heads turn. The sporty steering wheel, instrument panel -designed to give a aircraft cockpit image, a premium audio system, audio system with Aux in, USB and a wireless remote adds on to the fun, youthful and sporty image of the car” 

Toyota Etios Liva Pros

Toyota Etios Liva is the trimmed premium hatchback of Etios, which has introduced Toyota in the small car segment. An adequate ground clearance of 170 mm, under body protection to prevent damage to fuel tank and chipping resistant paint on mould are some of the attributes of the B+ hatchback. The car offers excellent fuel economy in city and on highways.

Toyota Etios Liva Cons

Besides several positive features, the premium hatchback has some limitations as well. Absence of automatic climate control and adjustment with footrest are some of the limitations of Toyota Etios Liva.

Toyota Etios Liva Conclusion

Toyota in India has come out of the shell with newly launched Toyota Etios Liva, which is targeted at the mass. The automaker has trimmed the mid-size sedan to a hatchback, which is acknowledged as user friendly, reliable and affordable. Addition of advanced features such as anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution and dual SRS safety airbags at the price tag has made it one of the preferred choices of the customers, who are concerned about road safety.