Toyota Veloz

The Veloz's interior is intended for comfort, convenience, and practicality. The sleek appearance, spacious cabin, and extensive storage make it an excellent choice for families and individuals seeking a comfortable and versatile all-round vehicle. The Veloz seats seven persons in a 2-3-2 layout. The base variant sports fabric-upholstered seats, while higher trims use a blend of fabric and synthetic leather for an added touch of luxury. The second-row seats split 60:40, while the third-row seats split 50:50, extending the Veloz's somewhat limited cargo space. Its excellent legroom and headroom for all passengers, including those in the third row, guarantee maximum comfort even for prolonged travel.

The dashboard has a modernist look with a layered layout that creates a feeling of spaciousness. The combination of soft-touch fabrics and silver accents adds just the right touch of luxury. A large 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominates the dashboard, and comes fully compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing for easy smartphone connectivity. 

Depending on the trim level, the Veloz also comes with either a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display or a 7-inch TFT display. Added ergonomics are found in its leather-wrapped steering wheel with built-in cruise control and analog buttons for audio, phone, and climate control. Higher trim levels like the V and G variants also offer additional aesthetic perks like ambient lighting and a push-start button, while all trims come with an assortment of storage compartments, multiple USB ports, and a 12-volt power outlet.

The Veloz's appearance appears distinctly ultra-modern with its prominent grille, sharp headlamps, and sculpted lines. The black over-fenders and roof rails lend a rugged touch, while the alloy wheels and chrome highlights enhance the SUV's upscale appearance. The Veloz's design combines visual appeal with utilitarian functionality, making it a versatile vehicle.

A wide hexagonal grille dominates the front, with a powerful chrome accent that extends to the split-type LED headlamps. The sculpted front bumper has integrated fog lamps and black accents, creating a lovely rugged contrast to its overall 'refined' appearance. The Veloz's profile is defined by sleek lines and a gently sloping roofline that ends in a rear spoiler. Black over-fenders - exclusive to the Philippine market - highlight the SUV's wheel arches. 

Depending on the model, the Veloz comes with either 16-inch or 17-inch alloy wheels with a multi-spoke design. The addition of functional roof rails enhances its practical applications by allowing roof racks to be attached for increased cargo capacity. Horizontally-oriented rear LED taillights are joined by a narrow light bar, giving it a very distinctive look. The rear bumper is designed similarly to the front bumper, with black accents and integrated reflectors. The liftgate is embellished with touches of chrome and the Veloz symbol emblazoned front and center.

The Veloz is designed for comfort and reliability, with a specially-tuned suspension system, well-cushioned seats, and a well-insulated cabin. Its responsive steering makes it ideal for both novice and experienced drivers, although its high center of gravity might make it suffer from some body roll during sharp or sudden cornering. Overall, it’s a well-balanced ride that prioritizes comfort over performance. 

The Veloz is powered by a 1.5-liter 2NR-VE 4-cylinder, 16-valve, Dual VVT-I (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engine with a maximum output of 105 hp at 6,000 rpm, with 138 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm.

The Veloz comes equipped with Toyota’s in-house Toyota Safety Sense – an extensive suite of safety features that come with a pre-collision system (PCS), lane departure assistance (LDA), lane tracking assistance (LTA), driver assistance controls, automatic high beam controls (AHB) and the default passive safety features that come with all modern vehicles. 

If you’re looking for a decent all-around SUV that accommodates quite several passengers (and have the funds to spare) the Toyota Veloz might just be a good fit for you.