Toyota Wigo

The interior of the Toyota Wigo is pretty happening, especially if the price point is concerned. At a price of around PHP 600,000, the attractive dashboard is a great thing to have. The dashboard has a touchscreen infotainment system with FM and media. There are manual knobs and dials for the air-conditioning system.

The seats are comfortable and though there is an integrated headrest, they won’t let you complain even after a prolonged drive. There are manual controls for the AC. The fabric upholstery might not be the most elegant in the segment but are good enough for the price.

Toyota leaves behind very little to complain as far as the exterior design is concerned. Keeping the price factor in check, the Wigo hatchback has a very urban design with a tall-ish body and sharp body lines. The car rides on 14-inch alloy wheels for the lower variants, while the top model gets bigger 15-inch units. The wheels are wrapped in 175-section tyres.

There are a lot of elements that give an impression of the Toyota Wigo not being an entry-level hatchback. The door handles are body coloured, and so are the ORVMs with integrated turn signals. The rear gets a roof spoiler as well, along with a combination tail light. The ground clearance stands pretty high at 180 mm.

Little would anyone imagine how amazing the Toyota Wigo is when it comes to riding in the city. One of the biggest advantages that this small hatchback has for itself is its size. Being small and light, it does well to be very compliant to city roads with an apt suspension setup and decently powerful engine.

The steering is surprisingly light on the operation and you don’t need to put extra efforts to work with it, even in tight traffic. The car rides on 14-inch wheels, which do not disappoint when it comes to providing stability at triple-digit speeds. However, the TRD body kit adds 15-inch wheels to the car.

The Toyota Wigo has a very sedated engine under the hood. However, the low displacement of 998 cc does manage to extract the best possible fuel efficiency. It has an in-line, 3-cylinder layout and can churn out a maximum power of 66 PS at 6,000 rpm, besides making a peak torque of 89 Nm, which comes at 4,400 rpm.

The power is channeled to the wheels either via a 5-speed manual or an alternative 4-speed automatic gearbox. The automatic transmission is offered only on the top trim.

Despite being small and affordable, Toyota has not compromised on the safety front, not one bit. The Wigo hatchback gets all the safety features you would expect from a 4-wheeler. The braking duties are handled by 13-inch disc brakes. The brakes are further assisted by the presence of the anti-lock braking system.

The cabin gets two airbags for the driver and front passenger. There is also a vehicle immobiliser and ISOFIX child seat. Hence, the car is pretty safe on the roads, especially when you consider the price tag.

The Toyota Wigo is one of the most affordable entry-level hatchbacks for first-time buyers. It is small, comfortable and extremely frugal for your pockets. The power is decent too and will let you cruise at triple-digits without running breathless. However, what you might not like is the fact that the cabin is extra small for tall occupants, both on the front and rear row.