Toyota Philippines launches a new Vios variant, the Vios 1.3 XLE 2020

Updated Jan 26, 2024 | Same topic: Automotive Industry Updates

In a bit to make the popular Toyota Vios more affordable, Toyota introduces the Vios 1.3 XLE. Check out the Toyota Vios' latest variant right here!

If it isn’t obvious to you yet, the Toyota Vios is Toyota Philippine’s top seller. It can even be said as the most popular sedan in the country.

When they switched over to the new, facelifted and updated Vios currently sold now, many were apprehensive. For one thing, the design was quite a departure from the look of 2013 to 2018 and another is heftier prices due to new excise taxes.

As a result, the sales for the popular model has slowed down a bit. It’s still a best seller, but It looks like the older version did better when it first came out. So, what’s Toyota Philippines to do? Well, come up with a new affordable variant of course!

Toyota Vios 2020

For us though, the new Toyota Vios looks alright

1. Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE 2020

Called the Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE, this new variant of Toyota Vios Philippines is placed between the Vios 1.3 E and the 1.3 XE. It shares a lot of features with 1.3 E with a few exceptions.

On the outside, the Vios 1.3 XLE like the Vios 1.3 E has 15 inches allow wheels, LED daytime running lights, bulb type rear combination lamps, 4-beam halogens for the front and front fog-lamps. So when it comes to looks, the features, these two are just about the same.

toyota vios 1.3 XLE 2020

Ladies and gents, meet the 2020 Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE

>>> Check out and find more Toyota Vios for sale at the cheapest price.

Under the hood, the 1.3 XLE shares the same engine with all 1.3-liter variants; the 1NR-FE. A DOHC inline-4 with dual VVT-I gasoline engine that can make around 98 horsepower and 123 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels with a CVT or a 5-speed manual. Note that the only other variant that offers either of those two tranny options is the Vios 1.5 G.

Inside, the Vios 1.3 XLE is as well equipped as the 1.3 E with a seven-inch touchscreen. This head unit has many connectivity options including Weblink for iOS and Android. Like the Toyota Vios 1.3 E MT, the Vios 1.3 XLE only has 4-speakers.

2020 toyota vios 1.3 E's interior

The interior of the 1.3 XLE might look like this one which is from the 1.3 E's

>>> Click here to know what Philkotse's experts think about Toyota Vios 2020.

In terms of safety, the Toyota Vios XLE 2020 retains some key safety features like an anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, stability control, and hill-start assist. Though its number of airbags has been reduced on three; a knee airbag, and dual front airbags.

Note also that the variants below the Vios XLE will now also get three airbags. They did this to make the car more affordable. Like the XLE though, some safety features like the HSA, VSC, brake assist and the ABS will be retained.

2. Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE 2020 Pricelist

For your reference, here are the prices of the 2020 Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE.

Variants
Prices
Php 841,000
Php 791,000

For more automotive news, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.

Know more about Toyota Vios 2024

Toyota Vios

Competing in the subcompact sedan segment, the Toyota Vios 2024 is the top sales contributor for the Japanese automaker. The price for the Toyota Vios in the Philippines ranges from PHP 732,000 to PHP 1,054,000. A total of 7 Toyota Vios variants are offered, with the top-of-the-line Vios G CVT variant coming with a tag of PHP 1,039,000. Two engine options are available in the range, which can be connected to either a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Dimensions-wise, the subcompact sedan spans 4,425 mm in length, 1,730 mm in width, and 1,475 mm in height. The main rivals of the Toyota vehicle include the Honda City, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, and Nissan Almera.

The Toyota Vios is not only the best-selling model in the Japanese automaker's lineup, but the entire Philippine market. It serves as a reliable subcompact sedan for those who are looking for a daily driver. Also, the Vios is proudly Philippine-assembled which supports Filipino automotive workers. Now, the vehicle is competing in its respective class head high using the refreshed body released by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) in the country in 2020.

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

Toyota Vios Launch

In 2002, Toyota introduced the first-generation Vios in the Philippines. A few years later in 2007, the second-generation sedan was launched. This version gained the "Batman" nickname due to the shape of its grille. 

Several years onwards In 2013, Toyota brought in the third-gen Toyota Vios. It has grown in size, and it also came with a larger engine. The Toyota-made sedan was given a major update in 2018. It bore a new exterior design, and it also gained the upmarket Prime variants as well.

More recently in 2020, Toyota Motor Philippines launched another refresh of the Toyota Vios model. It's fitted with sportier fascia, a new grille, a new pair of headlamps, a revised foglamp housing, and a new lower grille, among others. 

In March of 2021, TMP then introduced the Toyota Vios GR-S.

Toyota Vios Exterior

Up front, the Toyota Vios for the Philippines comes with a front end that mirrors the current designs of high-end models like the Corolla Altis and the Camry. The said design features a wide-slatted grille, flanked by the angular fog lamp housing. For the high-trim GR-S and G, the headlamps are three-tier LEDs with integrated LED daytime running lamps. The rest of the variants get a pair of four-bulb halogen headlights.

For the side and the rear, not much has changed since the previous version. The GR-S stands out from the rest of the variants with its black-colored exterior pieces, rear spoiler, and rear lower bumper with an integrated diffuser.

Toyota Vios Philippines angular front

The Toyota Vios G 

Apart from those, the Toyota Vios GR-S for the Philippine market also has different-looking side skirts and a set of GR-S 16-inch alloy wheels. The G variant on the other hand still has a piano black grille, but it gets chrome-plated door handles instead of the black-colored ones found on the GR-S.

A picture of the 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S

The all-new 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S

>>> Related: 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S review by Philkotse

Toyota Vios Interior

The Toyota Vios for the Philippine market can offer seating for up to five occupants including the driver. For the top-spec GR-S and G variants, they both come equipped with automatic air-conditioning. For the most part, the Toyota Vios' dashboard are made out of sturdy plastic, combined with silver-colored accents. 

Soft touch points for the Vios are also abundant. The Toyota-made sedan's door cards are made out of a combination of plastic, and a soft, fabric-covered material. There's also the presence of a center elbow-rest.

Toyota Vios Philippines interior

The Interior Of The Toyota Vios G

As for the seats, most variants except the GR-S come with fabric seats. The GR-S instead has synthetic leather with red contrast stitching, combined with suede pieces. 

Toyota Vios Philippines cabin

The rear seats of the Toyota Vios

To keep occupants comfortable, both the GR-S and G Vios variants are equipped with automatic air-conditioning systems. The rest of the trim levels on the other hand come with a manual air-conditioning system.

Inside the 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S

Inside the Toyota Vios GR-S

>>> Related: Toyota Vios for sale at good prices on Philkotse.com

Features & Technology

For entertainment, the Toyota Vios GR-S, and the Vios G variants for the Philippine market come standard with a 6.75-inch touchscreen headunit. The said headunit is also capable of connecting via Bluetooth, USB, and Aux jack.

The Vios G's touchscreen headunit

The Vios G's touchscreen headunit

The mid-tier XLE and XE trims also have the aforementioned headunit, but these come with a four-piece speaker set instead. The Vios J on the other hand comes standard with a 2-DIN audio unit linked to two speakers.

Besides the aforementioned touchscreen, the GR-S is also equipped with the Gazoo Racing 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display. Other variants do get an Optitron gauge cluster, as well as a multi-information display. The GR-S and the G also come with a push-to-start button, a leather-clad shift lever, and a drive-mode selector. All Vios variants also come standard with a tilt-adjustable steering wheel column.

Toyota Vios Philippines

The tech and convenience features will vary depending on the variant of the Toyota Vios

For safety, the GR-S and G variants are equipped with dual-front airbags, side airbags, curtain shield airbags, and driver's knee airbags. The rest of the trim levels have dual-front airbags, and the airbag for the driver's knee.

Anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, traction control, and hill-start assist are available on all Vios trims. Only the GR-S and G come with a rear-view camera, and only the former has a clearance sonar. 

>>> See more: New and used Toyota Vios for sale in the Philippines at the best price

Platform & Chassis

The refreshed Toyota Vios for the Philippine market still uses the same platform as the previous model. As before, higher trim levels have disc brakes all around. 

For suspensions, the Vios uses a MacPherson Strut type for the front and a torsion beam-type suspension for the rear. Moreover, the engine is still positioned transversely, with the power sent to the front wheels.

Engine & Drivetrain

The Toyota Vios for the Philippine market has two engine options. The larger one is a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine capable of making up to 106 hp and 140 Nm of torque. This said engine is available on the GR-S and the G Trim. For the former, it is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) only. The Vios G can either come with a CVT or a five-speed manual transmission.

There Toyota Vios G's 1.5-liter mill

The Toyota Vios G's 1.5-liter mill

The other engine option for the Vios is a 1.3-liter inline-4 engine. At most, this mill can produce up to 98 hp, and 123 Nm of torque. For the XLE, the said engine can be paired with a CVT or a five-speed transmission. The 1.3 XE's sole transmission is a CVT, while the J comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission only. 

A picture of the Toyota Vios GR-S

The gear shift lever of the Vios GR-S

>>> Also check out:

Toyota Vios 2024 Price List

 Variants Price
Toyota Vios 1.3 J MT ₱732,000
Toyota Vios 1.3 XE CVT ₱774,000
Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE MT ₱862,000
Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE CVT ₱902,000
Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT ₱979,000
Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT (White Pearl) ₱994,000
Toyota Vios 1.5 G CVT ₱1,039,000

₱ 732,000 - ₱ 1,055,000

Explore
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

View more