Toyota Wigo has the same ground clearance as Suzuki S-Presso. Wait, what?

Updated Sep 28, 2020 | Same topic: Automotive FYIs

High ground clearance is great, but it also has tradeoffs.

Ground clearance. It is defined as the shortest distance between a flat surface and the lowest part of a vehicle other than the tires.

And here in the Philippines, it is a critical factor when considering a car model especially with how our roads are in the provinces, and in some select less than savory roads in our cities. This is because a higher ground clearance is important in dealing with uneven terrains, while trading off a bit of handling.

2020 Toyota Wigo: Now officially in the Philippines – First Look

A couple of months ago, Suzuki Philippines introduced the Suzuki S-Presso. It’s a city car that has SUV styling, and 180mm of ground clearance. That’s 20 mm more than the Alto 800 that it replaced, and 35 mm more than the Celerio.

Guess what though; the Toyota Wigo has the same ground clearance as the Suzuki S-Presso. Wait… what?

A picture of the side of the Suzuki S-Presso

It's got the ground clearance to back up its macho looks

>>> Related: 2020 Toyota Wigo debuts in PH with updated looks, P568K starting price

Despite this, do note that the Suzuki S-Presso is a taller vehicle with its 1,565 mm height. The Wigo on the other hand is 1,520 mm tall. This means that while the two city car models will have the same minimum ground clearance, the seating positions are vastly different with the S-Presso having a higher height.

Note also that while we are talking about these two cars having the exact same amount of minimum ground clearance figures, we haven’t yet accounted for how the S-Presso’s suspension is.

We’ve reviewed the Toyota Wigo before and we found that while it was great on straight, paved roads, it does have a bit of body roll, which signifies that its suspension is a bit on the soft side. Also remember that having a higher ground clearance will have tradeoffs like a high center of gravity, resulting in less cornering ability. 

A picture of the side of the Toyota Wigo TRD

The new Wigo, while athletic looking, also has 180 mm of ground clearance

As for the Suzuki S-Presso, we’re predicting that due to its height, it will have some amount of body roll comparable to that of the Wigo. That is, if its suspension is as soft as the Toyota city car. If it’s on the stiffer side, then it might have less.

To find out for sure though, we will be getting our hands on a test unit soon, so for a more in-depth review, stay tuned here on Philkotse.com.

Know more about Toyota Wigo 2024

Toyota Wigo

The 2024 Toyota Wigo is a subcompact hatchback. For the Philippine market, its refreshed model gets three different variants: the Wigo J MT, Wigo E CVT, and Wigo G CVT. Prices for these trims range from Php 609,000 to Php 729,000.

Size-wise, the next-gen Wigo is 3,760mm long, 1,665mm wide, and 1,515mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,525mm.

Under the hood of the Wigo is a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine that can produce up to 66 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque. It uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a 5-speed manual gearbox depending on the trim. 

Locally, the Toyota Wigo competes against the Honda Brio, Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback, Suzuki Celerio, Suzuki Swift, etc. 

>>> New and used Toyota Wigo 2024 for sale in the Philippines

Toyota Wigo Launch

The second-generation A350 Toyota Wigo was initially launched in Indonesia as the Agya in February 2023. It then reached the Philippine market on June 2023 and it is offered in three different variants: the entry-level Wigo J MT, Wigo E CVT, and the top-spec Wigo G CVT.

ALL-NEW TOYOTA WIGO looks a lot more SERIOUS | Philkotse Quick Look

Toyota Wigo Exterior

The 2024 Wigo has grown longer by 100mm and is now wider than 65 mm compared to its predecessor. It also sports a more aggressive-looking front end decorated with sharp angles. 

The second-gen model gets LED headlamps, LED fog lamps, and LED daytime running lamps. Also present for the G trim are power-adjustable side mirrors and a rear spoiler. 

Toyota Wigo Interior

The all-new Wigo sports a cabin that appears similar to the Toyota Raize. Its driver side gets a revised analog instrument cluster, an economy meter, a push-to-start button, and a six-way manually adjustable seat. 

Occupants of this Toyota-made hatch are then kept comfortable by a manual climate control system. It likewise gets a total of four bottle holders, three cup holders, etc. 

Technology & Safety Features

Handling the entertainment needs of this Toyota’s occupants is an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is then paired with a four-piece speaker system. 

For safety, the next-gen hatch gets anti-lock braking, dual front airbags, stability control, engine immobilizer, and hill-start assist. The top-spec G adds to those with a car alarm, a rearview camera, and a digital video recorder. 

Platform & Chassis

The Wigo uses the new Daihatsu New Global Architecture - A platform. It’s still a front-engine, front-wheel-drive vehicle, but it has grown larger compared to its older sibling. 

For suspensions, the hatch gets a MacPherson strut for the front and a torsion beam for the rear. Braking is then handled by a front disc brake and rear drum brakes. It also gets a hand-operated manual parking brake. 

Toyota Wigo Engine & Drivetrain

Under the hood of the 2024 Wigo is a 1.0-liter inline-3 engine that outputs 66 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque. The J gets a five-speed manual gearbox, while the E and G trims use a CVT. 

The 2024 Toyota Wigo gets a total of six color options. This includes Red Mica Metallic 2, Orange Metallic 2, Yellow SE, Silver Metallic 4, Grey Metallic, and White 2. 

The Toyota Wigo sits in the middle of the hatchback totem pole when it comes to making power. It still uses the same engine as its predecessor after all. Arguably though, its improved safety and entertainment features make the Toyota up-to-par with many of its rivals, especially the ones that also received updates in 2023. 

Toyota Wigo 2024 Price List

Let's check out the Toyota Wigo 2024 price in September in the Philippines.

 Variants Price
Toyota Wigo 1.0 J MT ₱609,000
Toyota Wigo 1.0 E CVT ₱684,000
Toyota Wigo 1.0 E CVT (Yellow SE) ₱684,000
Toyota Wigo 1.0 G CVT ₱729,000

Toyota Wigo 2024 Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Attractive styling
  • Second-row seating is surprisingly roomy
  • Decent infotainment system
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Still uses the same inline-3 engine from the previous model. 

Toyota Wigo FAQs

1. Is the Toyota Wigo 2024 a good car?

Yes, it is. The Wigo is a worthy choice for first-time drivers. Because it is a very useful and popular vehicle. According to Visor,  it is third out of the top 3 sales numbers of individual Toyota models in the Philippines in 2021.

2. Which Toyota Wigo Philippines color is best?

It’s difficult to tell which color is best since this depends on each one’s preference. However, Wigo 2024 black seems to be a popular choice. In addition, you can choose from other colors: Silver Metallic, Yellow SE, Gray Metallic, White, and Orange Metallic.

3. Is the Toyota Wigo an SUV?

No, it’s not. The body type of Wigo is Hatchback.

4. What is the ground clearance of the Toyota Wigo 2024?

The ground clearance of the new Hatchback is 180mm.

5. Which is cheaper Wigo or Suzuki S-Presso?

It is Suzuki S-Presso. The price of Toyota Wigo Philippines ranges from 609,000 PHP to 729,000 PHP, while the price of Suzuki S-Presso ranges from 620,000 PHP to 710,000 PHP.

₱ 609,000 - ₱ 729,000

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Cesar G.B. Miguel

Cesar G.B. Miguel

Author

Cesar Guiderone B. Miguel was born and raised in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree from Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology. He previously worked as a freelance writer for various websites, as a member of the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management's training staff, and as a medical sales representative.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goridus.goridus

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