Getting the best out of a better Toyota Etios

Toyota’s robust workhorse in India, with tank-like bodily proportions, the Etios, has seen a lot success in India. The Toyota Etios series has seen quite a long period on Indian roads. Though Toyota cars are famous for their excellently-built SUVs, the Etios has been lost in the hub of various small cars in India. To prove the capability of two series of Etios cars, the company had organized the ‘Toyota Etios Safety Experimental Drive’ recently in Bengaluru.

There was a specially designed track consisting of a wet patch, a sand patch, a rumbler and a speed bump section to test the newly added safety features in the Etios car series.

The Toyota Platinum Etios sedan and the Toyota Etios Liva hatchback were launched in India last year with few external changes. The main and notable change in the new model cars was the upgradation of their safety features. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), dual front SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags, 3-point seat belts, and head-rest for rear seat passengers, impact-absorbing body construction and ISOFIX child-seat locking system are some of the important and much desired safety features that ensure safety in the event of an accident.

The programme was divided into various zones, where the first three steps were vehicle display, briefing for the driver, a safety workshop to demonstrate the materials used in carmaking that mentally prepares us for the drive zone. The fourth zone was on the track.

We drove the car at an event on a specially designed track with the guidance from the instructor. Firstly, the driver demonstrated the basic model of the Etios car without any safety features to prove the difference with the car that is built in with the safety features.

We at the wheels rushed the Toyota Platinum Etios first towards the wet patch to test its ABS system. There was a remarkable difference in the response, braking and road grip, when compared to the basic model.

After successfully clearing the first hurdle, we rushed the same machine towards the second hurdle, where we encountered the sand patch. The EBD also got the thumbs up from us, as it proved the capability of the fully feature-loaded car. We were also able to test the car with the increased weight. Sand bags were added beside the track to test the braking system, where we got the remarkable difference compared to the basic model of the Liva.

This was tested on the speed bump and rumbler section, where the safety feature added to the ‘baby on board’ was shown. At the same section with the basic model of Liva, the model doll was throwned up and down with sudden braking. However, the Toyota Platinum Etios performed effectively on this obstacle too. To prove the efficiency of safety devices and the dual SRS airbags in the Platinum Etios, the company had a virtual reality setup. We were showed the difference between the safety features, braking system, response time and road grip. Though it was not a real crash, we could judge the car has a tendency to avoid any mishaps and ensure the safety of the passengers. This proves that the Etios twins are the safest cars in their respective segments. Ironically, these two are lost between their own best-seller UV siblings and other cars in the segment.