In the Philippines, Toyota Avanza is one of the Toyota vehicles used as a taxicab besided Toyota Vios, at first, it was very popular because of the retail price — low retail price with small discount; can be bought as a color white from the dealership — I want to kill my boss that time because I lost a huge deal over a Hyundai Accent that time; he is pushing this one over the vios which my client wants.
But, that popularity faded because of the terrible fuel-consumption of the vehicle — small Toyota badge daihatsu engine with a big body, not a wise choice; so transport business-owner and taxi-operators return to Toyota Vios or opted to Hyundai Accent which is very reasonable because of the diesel engine that the vehicle offered to the consumer or clients.
Today, Toyota yet again release the 2012 Toyota Avanza/Xenia to asian market. On the appearance, it is impressive because there is a mix of the Toyota Prius and the 2012 Toyota Yaris; the back of the 2012 Toyota Avanza/Xenia has the resemblance of the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. But, if you will observe the upper part of the vehicle it is very apparent of the first-generation Toyota Avanza — looks like a Toyota Avanza facelift again here. Changes made outside of the vehicle where the headlights, tailights, grilles, bumper, and alloy wheel design — guess the J grade version of this will be steel rims maybe; the major make-over on the vehicle is the interior like the dash-inboard, steering wheel design, meter gauge, and more.
Quite dissapointed because they retain its engine; the 1.3 variant still uses the K3-VE and the 1.5 variant uses 3SZ-VE — quite a facelift, just like their 2012 Toyota Fortuner and 2012 Toyota Hilux right? Thought they will offer a new engine on their new Toyota Avanza, or at least they can offer a 1ND-TV diesel engine which is offered in Toyota Etios only in India — how come they cannot install or offer this to the Toyota Avanza/Xenia and compete to other car-manufacturers that offers diesel engines to their small cars, are they lacking analysis here?
I expect that Toyota Motors Philippines will definitely offerring this to the Philippine Market and hope they would not stripped it down and sell the parts by piece.
By the way, if you are going to purchase a Toyota Avanza; I recommend to wait for this model to come out. Don't easily believe to your sales agent that they will offer you the 2012 Toyota Avanza/Xenia unless they hit to their showroom.
