The opening round of the Vios Challenge 2025 concluded last weekend, showcasing intense competition between young drivers and veteran racers.
This year’s race featured 36 participants, including entries from Thailand and Singapore, competing across three main classes: Super Sporting, Sporting, and Rookie.
Among the highlights of the Vios Challenge 2025 was the debut of four-time GR GT Cup champion Taj Izrin in the Sporting class.
Representing Saksama Motorsports, Taj Izrin delivered an outstanding performance, securing two podium finishes — third place in Race 1 and second place in Race 2.
Meanwhile, in the Rookie Class, simulator driver Ian James claimed the top spot, leaving kart racer Aydan Khaliq more than 13 seconds behind.
Genevieve Ooi, the only female driver in the Rookie Class, achieved third place in the second day of racing.
Aydan was the only Rookie driver to maintain a podium position on both race days.
It is noteworthy that the Rookie racing class is designated for young drivers under the Young Talent Development Program by Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia.
Below is the list of winners for both races that took place over the weekend:
Buyers in Malaysia seeking a B-segment sedan are quite fortunate, as we are presented with several attractive models including the Honda City, MG5, Nissan Almera, Proton Persona, and not to forget the Toyota Vios.
This segment is precisely suitable for those looking to upgrade to a larger daily vehicle after enjoying the experience of using a budget hatchback.
It offers a comfortable cabin for the whole family, ample cargo space, and a variety of modern technologies in line with current developments.
Most importantly, the annual road tax costs remain within the financial reach of most buyers.
The Toyota Vios was officially launched in 2023, but at that time, many may not have been fully receptive to its somewhat aggressive design.
However, the Vios has certainly found a place in the hearts of netizens, as it became one of the 10 most popular models in Malaysia for 2024, trailing the Honda City by just 1,900 units.
After two years have passed, is the Vios still worth owning in 2025? If you ask us, the answer is: Yes!
Here are five reasons why we believe the Vios should be considered by young people.
1. More Premium Appearance
In the past, the Vios had a rather ordinary sedan appearance. In fact, one generation of the Vios was likened to a dugong due to its round design.
However, this new generation of the Vios presents a bolder look, reminiscent of larger Toyota sedans like the Corolla and Camry.
Have you noticed that the front design of the Vios notably features elements inspired by the hammerhead shark, even before Toyota popularized it through models like the Prius and Crown?
The fastback sedan design, 17-inch wheels, diffuser, aerodynamic elements, and body kit contribute to the aggressive aesthetic of this sedan.
More importantly, the Vios can now proudly stand alongside the two sedans mentioned earlier.
2. More Fun to Drive
The Vios is not just a new exterior; it now boasts a foundation built on a brand-new platform developed in collaboration with Daihatsu.
The Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA-B) platform, shared with models like the Perodua Alza/Toyota Veloz, provides significant benefits in terms of handling and comfort.
In short, the Vios is now more enjoyable to drive compared to its predecessors!
The author personally tested the harmonious tuning of steering, suspension, and chassis recently on a trip back to their hometown.
The improved driving dynamics are attributed to the more precise steering response, offering more feedback in any situation.
It is very easy to anticipate the sedan’s body movements, particularly when driven a bit aggressively, aided by well-tuned suspension that ensures stability on winding roads.
At times, the author found it exhilarating to tackle every curve before being reminded by the lane departure warning system (LDW) present in the Vios.
What about the engine performance?
As you may know, the Vios is equipped with a 1.5-liter engine producing 104 hp and 138 Nm of torque — on paper, this seems less powerful compared to competing models.
Yes, we admit there is still some engine noise that enters the cabin when the engine is pushed, but this occurs only occasionally. However, if you have a heavy right foot, that’s a different story.
Most of the time, the Vios has no trouble reaching the desired speed, and tackling mountainous areas is also not a significant issue.
This is because the Vios has been tuned for more economical fuel consumption, with Toyota claiming it can achieve a fuel efficiency rate of 5.2 liters/100 km.
One aspect that clearly sets the Vios a step above a competing local brand.
My experience returning to my hometown, which is located at the midpoint of Peninsular Malaysia, did not require frequent fuel refills.
3. Comfort is Paramount
In addition to driving factors, what makes the Vios feel more premium is the remarkably quiet cabin environment throughout the journey.
The standard suspension tuning provided in the Vios not only enhances driving pleasure but also minimizes any harshness and vibrations resulting from tire and road surface interactions.
As a result, the cabin remains comfortable and quiet, even the sound of the wind is difficult to hear at normal highway speeds.
One notable drawback of the Vios is the manual seat adjustment for both the driver and front passenger.
However, we believe this shortcoming can be overlooked due to the very supportive cushion dimensions, especially in the thigh area.
For those who enjoy long journeys, this feature is crucial for ensuring comfort throughout the drive, preventing excessive fatigue.
The cabin design of the Vios represents a significant upgrade introduced by Toyota to differentiate it from the previous Vios model.
The use of higher-quality materials and finishes, along with a more streamlined dashboard layout, successfully gives the Vios a more premium appearance, even though it shares many components with Daihatsu models.
One thing the author noticed is that although there are panel gaps on the dashboard, it is difficult to detect vibrations when the sedan traverses uneven surfaces, indicating a good level of factory assembly quality.
However, I hope the air conditioning control knobs can be improved in appearance to align better with the premium image that the dashboard aims to convey.
The quality of the air conditioning system in the Vios is not to be taken lightly; it is highly effective in keeping the cabin comfortable in Malaysia’s hot daytime temperatures.
4. Modern Features in the Vios
In line with current developments, the Vios also showcases several advanced features compared to competing models.
One of them is the digital cluster screen with various graphic display options that can be changed. If you prefer not to have an analog display, you can opt for the GR Corolla meter display.
The Vios is also equipped with a 360-degree camera system, enhancing its premium feel over competing models.
The resulting display image is quite clear, aiding owners in ensuring that the Vios’ beautiful body remains free from scratches, especially in tight areas.
Finally, the Vios includes an electronic parking brake (EPB) complete with an Auto Hold function, which is particularly helpful when caught in traffic congestion.
The Vios’s safety features are noteworthy as well; it includes a pre-collision system (PCS) that effectively prevents unintended collisions, adaptive cruise control (ACC), and forward motion alerts (FDA) to warn drivers who might lose focus at traffic signals.
The lane departure warning (LDW) feature also functions well, and I particularly enjoyed the notification sound reminiscent of warnings that pilots hear in an aircraft cockpit.
Additionally, the blind spot monitoring system (BSM) and rear cross traffic alert (RCTA) ensure day-to-day driving remains safe at all times.
5. Forgivable Weaknesses
As you may know, the Vios does have a few shortcomings, such as the absence of a spare tire and non-folding rear seats.
According to Toyota, most users do not utilize either of these functions, so they are not offered in the new Vios.
The absence of a spare tire allows for more hidden storage space in the rear.
What about the rear seating issue mentioned earlier?
Two years ago, the Chief Development Engineer of the Vios, Kamino Hideyuki, revealed that the lack of a rear seat folding mechanism was replaced with a brace to enhance the rigidity of the new Vios chassis.
Overall, the Vios is 110 kg lighter than its predecessor. As the saying goes: Weight reduction, bro!
In our opinion, these two weaknesses can be overlooked because the benefits of driving experience and handling are significantly improved in this Vios compared to earlier models.
In conclusion, the Toyota Vios is a B-segment sedan that is still worth considering and owning in 2025 if you have a budget of around RM100,000 and wish to upgrade to a larger, more practical vehicle.
More importantly, the Vios is now a car that is more enjoyable to drive!
Whether we realize it or not, the seventh season of the Vios Challenge, organized by Toyota Gazoo Racing, is now nearing its conclusion this weekend.
The seventh season of the Vios Challenge is proving to be more challenging and unpredictable with the introduction of the fourth generation Vios racing vehicle, driven by 34 racers across three different categories: Super Sporting, Sporting, and Rookie.
Starting in August of last year, the seventh season of the Vios Challenge features three rounds and six individual races, offering a total prize pool of RM630,000.
The Super Sporting class will see an intense battle among notable racers such as Naquib Azlan (Axle Sport), defending champion Mitchel Cheah (Prima TD Racing), Freddie Ang (Telagamas), Amer Harris (Laser Motor Racing), and Hayden Haikal (TD Racing).
The overall champion will take home a prize of RM80,000, followed by RM60,000 for second place and RM40,000 for third.
In the Sporting class, several contenders are poised to be crowned champions, including Elson Lew (BAE Racing by ES Young), Kenneth Koh (PCM Group Racing), and Shafiq Samsudin (Race Rally KL).
This category offers cash prizes of RM60,000, RM40,000, and RM20,000 for the champion, runner-up, and third place winner, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Rookie class, featuring young drivers under the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program, has seen fierce competition among Adam Mikail (18 years old), who has recorded three victories, Brandon Ho (22 years old), who has achieved four podium finishes, and Raja Amirul Syauqat (21 years old), who secured second and third place in the last two races.
The final racing event of the seventh season of the Vios Challenge will take place at the PETRONAS Malaysia International Circuit and will be a closed event, but it will be broadcast live across all UMW Toyota Motor’s social media platforms.
In addition to the racing event, Toyota Malaysia will also introduce three high-performance models: the GR Corolla facelift, Corolla GR Sport, and GR Yaris facelift.
THE segment-B sedan category is quite critical in our country as these cars are considered affordable and serve as the main vehicles for many families. Therefore, it is important for manufacturers to be sensitive to users because even a small ‘deviation’ could invite criticism. However, by adding premium or new features to this segment, manufacturers can receive high praise for several weeks after the launch news is still hot.
The 2023 Toyota Vios, launched last March, represents an entirely new generation with a completely new interior and exterior. We will discuss its performance later.
Three major issues
However, if you are looking into or researching cars in this segment, you would know that the new Toyota Vios has two major issues – the rear seats cannot be folded, and there is no spare tire.
Why? Well, regarding the non-folding rear seats, the Toyota Vios development team shared with the media that according to their market research, most users do not use this function. MOST. Are you among this group, or are you a minority who will complain? So, they did not include this function, and as a result, the car is 10kg lighter due to the absence of a folding mechanism.
For the lack of a spare tire, they stated that it is to provide more storage space. If you look under the boot floor, there is Styrofoam storage space for small items. The absence of a spare tire also further reduces the car’s weight.
Overall, this new generation Vios is about 110kg lighter than the previous model. This time, the 1.5 G variant weighs only 1,035kg.
In fact, there is a third issue, which is the lower engine power. Compared to the previous Vios, which had 105hp and 140Nm from the 1.5-liter 2NR-FE engine, the new Vios is powered by the 2NR-VE engine with an output of 104hp and 138Nm of torque.
These figures decreased by 1hp and 2Nm, but in all honesty, you won’t feel the difference. But considering the lighter weight as mentioned earlier, the new Vios actually has a better power-to-weight ratio than before.
So, overall and theoretically, the new Vios is definitely more fuel-efficient. According to Toyota, the Vios has a fuel efficiency of up to 5.2 liters per 100km or 19.2km per liter.
Regarding major issues like non-folding rear seats and the lack of a spare tire, we should look at it this way: Toyota may be in a dilemma choosing between facing criticism from many people for not having a spare tire, or a few people complaining about the non-folding rear seats. We also believe fuel efficiency is more important for cars like this. So, let’s move on to the next topic.
Becoming more upmarket
One crucial aspect for Segmen-B sedan cars is style and appearance. In this regard, the new Toyota Vios does not disappoint. Its overall look can be described as more ‘upmarket.’ The front end now resembles larger Toyota sedans (such as the Toyota Corolla), featuring larger 17-inch rims (in the G variant) and a rear roof design akin to a fastback, which is currently on-trend.
The front appearance with its slanted LED headlights is still challenging for the writer to grasp, but, importantly, it gives a fresh image, markedly different from before. The larger rims not only complement the overall shape but also have a positive impact on handling.
This upmarket feel extends to the interior, where the Vios dashboard now looks modern and not cheap. If it used to be filled with hard gray plastic, the 2023 Vios now boasts softer touches, different color tones, and textures.
Simultaneously, the button and switch layout is still neat, easily accessible, and more pleasant to the touch. Additionally, the instrument display is now fully digital, with electronic parking brakes coming standard.
An interesting touch for the writer is the positioning of the window switch surfaces on the left and right door panels. They are glossy black, like most cars, but instead of being plain, they feature a diamond texture and a slightly recessed surface.
This is an easy and cost-effective solution, yet effective in adding a sense of premium and sophistication to the Vios. This is important because many buyers of cars in this category are upgrading from budget cars.
Have you been driving the Myvi since you started working, and now with a family and a promotion, you’re upgrading to the Vios? A common scenario, isn’t it?
Oh, we know that because the Vios is built on the DNGA platform (Daihatsu New Global Architecture), it shares the dashboard with models like the Axia and Alza. So, one way to position the Vios in a higher tier is the inclusion of wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay integration.
Solid look, solid driving?
For driving dynamics, perhaps not many Vios buyers emphasize this aspect, even though UMW Toyota has used this car for the Vios Challenge event for several years.
Nonetheless, the fact is that this all-new Toyota Vios has seen an improvement in terms of driving dynamics, whether you need it or not. The first thing the writer noticed is the more precise and responsive steering with increased feedback.
It doesn’t feel unnecessarily heavy, but just enough for a natural feel. This makes the new Vios more enjoyable to drive, whether cruising slowly in the city or taking corners at triple-digit speeds.
The 205/50 tire profile and 17-inch rims also contribute to a better steering feel; it’s not just for looks. However, it’s worth noting that the cost of replacing tires will increase, so this is something to keep in mind. Approximately RM380 to RM400 for one tire of this size.
For a delightful driving experience, some investment is necessary, right? Most importantly, this ‘delightfulness’ comes from the factory’s R&D, not just a gimmick by the car enthusiasts.
The chassis is now more robust and stable, thanks to the use of DNGA. When taking S corners while descending from Genting Highlands, the suspension and tires work more consistently and clearly, a result of the sturdy chassis.
The writer honestly no longer enjoys ‘testing’ cars in Genting because there are too many wannabe ‘racers’ there now, but happened to have work there, so took the opportunity to drive the Vios.
Sufficient power? 104hp and 138Nm of torque is more than enough even when driving up to the peak of Genting Highlands. The new D-CVT gearbox with a combination of physical gears and a belt assists in efficiently transmitting the overall power to the front wheels. You feel the full force of the 104hp without any power wastage.
The engine noise will enter the cabin when revved beyond 4,000rpm, which is normal. But when the rpm stabilizes and you’re cruising at a constant speed, the Vios is fairly quiet and comfortable to drive for long distances.
Even when pushed, we will begin to reach the limits of the engine, tires, and gearbox. The tires supplied are Continental PremiumContact 7, not performance tires, so they start to struggle when you’re not smooth enough with steering inputs. This doesn’t mean the tires are not good; they are perfect for daily use in the Vios.
The engine and gearbox also work hard to keep up with the writer’s accelerations and climbs, then brake into corners, then accelerate again. The TCU (Transmission Control Unit) tries to provide the best gear ratios according to speed, rpm, and right foot input. But there are no issues with the chassis.
Additional information: Toyota already has a unit for the use of the Vios Challenge based on this new platform. Surely, it uses semi-slick tires and a manual transmission, so maybe next season we will be able to see how the performance of this new generation Vios holds up in actual races.
Not races at the Genting International Circuit, of course. Always drive carefully on public roads!
Safety features are not forgotten; the Vios now comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which includes systems like Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Warning, and Front Departure Alert. The G variant also includes Lane Keeping Control, Auto High Beam, and Adaptive Cruise Control. For the writer, the G variant is the way to go as these three features are highly useful for everyday driving. Additionally, the price difference in monthly installments isn’t significant.
In conclusion, the 2023 Toyota Vios is indeed a significant shift in all aspects compared to the car it replaces. It is now more modern and dynamic to drive, and most importantly, it makes you feel it offers better value for money.
