The Liva too plain Jane for you?
Here’s a rugged-looking pseudo crossover with a slightly better interior
The plastic surgery phenomenon isn’t new to
India. It’s quite common to stumble upon modern-day examples of reconstructive
surgery, especially Bollywood celebrities who desire to augment their beauty
quotient. But it seems the Indian auto industry too has caught the fever. First
up in the league of hatchbacks undergoing plastic surgery was the Skoda Fabia
Scout, followed by the Volkswagen Cross polo and now, here’s Toyota with its
own spruced-up Etios Liva.
The
Toyota Etios Cross V looks a bit better – inside and out – than the regular
Liva
The Scout didn’t find many takers, and the
Cross polo too hasn’t exactly set sales charts on fire, but that hasn’t stopped
the Japanese giant from coming up with the Etios Cross – the humble hatch that
looks to be on steroids. Luckily for Toyota, the plastic surgery on the Liva
has turned out just fine. We aren’t saying it has transformed the tiny Toyota
into a looker, but the new clothing does add some panache to its otherwise
staid styling.
But compared to the Etios Liva, is there
more to the Cross than just beefed-up looks? the answer to this question is a
painful no. the Cross will do a fine job of making everyone believe it’s
prepared for the worst of Indian roads with all that extra plastic cladding,
Cross badges, a bolder face, SUV-ish skid plates, roof rails and a new rear
spoiler. But in reality, they do nothing exceptional in terms of added
functionality and are purely aesthetic add-ons. Plus, the Cross is based on the
Liva’s underpinnings, which means ground clearance doesn’t increase
substantially, and there’s no 4x4 hardware either.
Blackened-out
cabin trim has a lively feel to it
The Cross also gets identical powerplant
options, with two petrol engines – 1.2- and 1.5-litre – and a 1.4-litre diesel
unit. We drove the more powerful petrol variant, and were quite impressed with
its peppy nature. At 89bhp and 132Nm, the 1,496cc motor doesn’t sound
exhilarating on paper, but it isn’t all that bad. With a smooth-shifting,
five-speed gearbox in tow, the 1.5-litre unit has adequate power for city
conditions, and with the motor pulling nicely from 1,600rpm, it doesn’t require
frequent gearshifts. There’s also a likeable hum from the engine as you push it
to its 6,000rpm redline.
There
are 3 engines on offer, ranging from the 1.4-litre 67bhp diesel, 1.5-litre
89bhp petrol and a 1.2-litre 79bhp petrol
Yet, the Cross doesn’t come across as a car
that enjoys being pushed to the limit. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is
direct, but feels light and lacks feedback. What you would admire, however, is
the Cross’ cabin and ride comfort. The Liva’s dull grey cabin is livened-up by
the use of darker materials and piano black inserts. Another set of positives
is the interior space. Toyota hasn’t bothered tinkering with what was a winning
formula, and the Cross promises to impress you with its roomy cabin and
absorbent ride.
With all the added plastic, along with new
15-inch alloy wheels, ABS and dual airbags, the Etios Cross V will set you back
by $12,305 (ex-showroom, Delhi). That’s toeing Liva TRD Sportivo territory. For
your money, we say the Etios Cross, with its rugged looks and smarter
interiors, makes for a better buy.
