2013 Toyota Etios, Liva facelift review, test drive

Toyota seeks to revive its fortunes in the budget segment with revisions to the Etios and Liva. We find out how good they are.

Published on Mar 22, 2013 05:41:00 PM

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2013 Toyota Etios, Liva facelift review, test drive

Move to the rear and again, you are greeted by a plushness that was simply not present in the previous car. The rear seats on the Etios gets bigger fixed headrests, while the Liva gets adjustable ones. Toyota had saved costs in the previous Etios by not laminating the seats, but this has been changed in the new models, which helps them retain their shape for longer. Other bits that lift the ambience are plusher door pads and the faux wood trim, which actually looks pretty decent.

Customers complained that the previous Etios was a noisy car, which is something else Toyota took to heart. A special focus was given to lower in-cabin noise and what the new Etios gets is a proper noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) package. This includes a switch from rubber engine mounts to more refined, sound-absorbing hydraulic mounts. The silencer has been modified for better NVH as well, and the damper settings have been fine-tuned to take some of the clunkiness out of the suspension. The net result is that the new Toyotas, especially
the diesel versions, are a lot quieter than before.