Bigger isn't always better
Posted Fri, 27 Oct 2006
While "bigger is better" may be the slogan for some, Toyota's new models are at the opposite end of the scale — including the Aygo runabout and a seven-seater for the B-segment.
Measuring 4070mm high, 1630mm wide and 1685mm high, the five-door Avanza may fit squarely in the B-segment. But it features seven seats, the first on the local market to do so.
Arriving soon, the car features either a 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre engine, priced at between R99 900 and R139 900.
Somewhat smaller is the Aygo, developed in conjunction with the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107. Whether it will actually get to South Africa is another question — Toyota is first testing public response to the baby hatch at Auto Africa — but we reckon it could be here by as soon as March or April 2007.
Pronounced "I-go", the mini Toyota features daring styling by the company’s standards but safety hasn’t been compromised. The four-star EuroNCAP rating is partly thanks to the "Minimal Intrusion Cabin" structure as well as the dual front airbags, and ABS brakes with EBD fitted as standard.
Local versions will likely be powered by the same 51kW 1.0-litre VVT-i engine that recently debuted in the Yaris T1. A 1.4-litre turbodiesel model could also make an appearance.
