The joint venture between Toyota and Suzuki has offered yet another Made-in-India product in the South African market.
Made-in-India Maruti Suzuki Celerio has been launched in South Africa as Toyota Vitz replacing the Agya. This is a part of joint venture between the two Japanese carmakers. India has seen its fair share of badge-engineered products from these two auto giants, and South African customers are experiencing it now. Toyota Vitz presents a value proposition for price-conscious customers with low running costs and high fuel efficiency. Here are the details.
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Maruti Celerio Becomes Toyota Vitz in SA
At the front, the Vitz has the familiar almost rounded headlamps, with a sleek grille holding the Toyota badge in the centre where the Suzuki badge was present. The bumper is also quite sporty with fog lamps positioned on either side. While the design is quite modern, there are no flashy elements to attract the attention of the buyers. On the sides, there are no curves but the 15-inch alloy wheels elevate the side profile a little. At the rear, the taillamps are compact and the reflector lights are positioned horizontally on the bumper.
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Interior and Features
Inside is a 4-speaker Toyota Display Audio System, Powered Side Mirrors, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB Port, Digital Tachometer, Electric Windows for all four doors, contoured dashboard design, round AC vents and a few storage spaces. Being an entry-level product, one clearly recognizes the cost-cutting measures by offering just the absolute essentials.
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Specs
In terms of specifications, there is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that develops a decent 49 kW and 89 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual or an AMT automatic gearbox powering the front wheels. The fuel economy is an impressive 4.4 l/100 km for the manual and 4.2 l/100 km for the AMT. The prices range from R189,900 to R239,900, making it a great value for money. There is a standard 3-year/100,000 km factory warranty and a two-service/30,000 km service plan for peace of mind.
