Toyota Etios Liva launched at a shocking price of Rs 3.99 lakh

The much anticipated Toyota Etios Liva has just been officially launched at an attractive price of Rs 3.99 lakh for the base model and Rs. 5.99 lakh for the top trim. The Etios Liva will be available in seven colors. The booking amount is Rs 50,000 and deliveries start today.

It will be an ideal car for small car buyers who are primarily looking for maximum space at the lowest-possible price. The low starting price pitches it squarely against Ford Figo though it might be more successful at luring Indica Vista buyers.

Price table

Now let’s take a closer look at the Liva and compare it to its key rivals—Ford Figo and Indica Vista—in terms of appearance, space, comfort, power, mileage, price and features.

Looks, space and comfort

The Liva isn’t what you would call a traditionally good looking car that however by no means makes it bad looking either. The Liva’s design is simple and subtle, hence it will likely have its own share of admirers. Its on the insiders where Liva disappoints—plastics are tacky, seats thing. Signs of cost-cutting are too apparent.

In terms of looks alone though, the Ford Figo and Vista have more conventionally accepted designs than the Liva.

Where the Liva will score over many of its rivals is in interior space. At 3755mm (Length) X 1695mm (Width) X 1510mm (height), Liva offers plenty of space. Front seats come with back lining or firm support while the rear seats will have ample space for three. It is more spacious than both the Figo and the Vista. Though both the Figo and Vista too can seat three in the back, the Liva does it with much more ease.

Performance and mileage

The Toyota Liva is powered by a 1,197 cc 4-cylinder, 16 valve engine that develops a healthy 79 bhp of power and 104 NM of torque. Toyota claims that Etios Liva will return a mileage of 18.31 km per liter—from its 45 liter fuel tank. While the real-world numbers might vary, it is likely that Toyota Liva will be amongst the thriftiest cars to run in its class.

The Figo comes with a 1,196 cc engine that churns out 70 Bhp of power while the Vista sports a 1,172 cc, 64 bhp engine. So it’s obvious that the Liva has an edge on this front. However, there is a 1,368 cc, 89 bhp engine option for the Vista as well. The only downer for the Liva is the absence of a diesel variant that company “does not have any plans for now”.

Price and features

All variants get central locking, power outlet and an engine immobilizer, 1.3 liter cooled glove box and clean air filter for the AC are standard across all variants. W

hat’s missing from the Rs 3.99 lakh Liva variant are power steering, power windows and the Safety Package (Airbags, ABS and EBD).

The top-end gets all the goodies mentioned above. While the middle versions G and V get Dual Airbags and ABS/EBD as option. They get power steering and power windows as standard. The base variant of the Vista gets power steering, AC and rear fog lamps. The base variant of the Figo too lacks a cooled glove box and clean air filter but is priced at 3.70 lakh, a healthy Rs. 30,000 cheaper than the base Liva.

However, as you move up the model/feature/price ladder, Figo offers a lot more bang for buck. The top-end Titanium has virtually every goodie on the list and yet costs only Rs. 4.67 lakh. The top-end Liva costs a whopping Rs. 5.99 lakh.

So on price-features front, Liva does lag behind Figo and even Indica.

Conclusion

Overall, without the usual Toyota build quality, Liva might find hard to justify its premium, at least over Ford Figo if not Tata Indica.

Tech specs in a table for all variants