Toyota Etios Liva launched

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the Etios Liva, their first hatchback in India.  Powered by a 1.2-litre 79bhp petrol motor and available at an attractive starting price of 3.99 lakh, the Liva is tantalizing prospect for small car buyers that compete with the likes of Maruti Swift, Ford Figo and Nissan Micra. But what exactly do you get for your money?

All variants get manual air-conditioning. The Liva’s base J variant comes equipped with an A/C, a Digital trip meter, body coloured bumpers, full wheelcaps, a cooled glovebox and an engine immobilizer. But this variant is not as well equipped compared to the base Maruti Swift LXI (Rs 4.09 lakh), which comes equipped with power steering that is not offered on the base variant of the Liva.

The next in line variant is the G fares better. It adds electric power steering with tilt function, four speakers (but no audio system), power windows, central locking, intermittent wipers, a 12v power outlet in the front, body coloured door handles and mirrors as well as keyless entry/exit. The G is priced at Rs 4.59 lakh, which is Rs 3000 less than the equivalent Maruti Swift VXi.

Like the Swift VXi you can opt for ABS on the Liva G, but Toyota also adds EBD and Dual front airbags for Rs 5.05 lakh and naturally costs a lot more than the Swift VXi ABS.  

Next up is the Liva V, priced at Rs 5.49 lakh. It adds a tachometer, 2DIN Single CD/MP3 and AM/FM audio system with USB/AUX, a roof mounted antenna, driver seatbelt warning, fabric inserts for the door trims, rear wiper and washer, rear window defogger, front fog lamps and 12-spoke alloy wheels. It is more expensive than the comparable Swift ZXi (Rs 5.38 lakh).

The top-of-the-line Liva VX is priced at Rs 5.99 lakh and comes equipped with goodies like a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, chrome-inserts on door handles, a chrome accented shift knob and dual tone (Black and red) interiors.

The battle has well and truly begun.