Brazil - Toyota Etios nearing end of lifecycle, replacement planned

The current Etios' platform will be carried over.

AutoPolis was told by an unnamed Toyota official that the Toyota Etios is nearing the end of its lifecycle, and will soon be discontinued in the Brazilian market. The same official said that the Etios' successor will be an all-new model, and not a redesign of the car.

The publication states that the Etios failed to take the market by storm due to its dull design, and tacky fit-and-finish of the interior. The cost cutting in the car, like the single wiper blade and the central instrument cluster, has not helped the Etios win any customers.

According to data published on BestSellingCars, the Etios' competitors Hyundai HB20 and Chevrolet Onix, launched in 2012, had each sold a little more than 122k units in 2013. In comparison, the Etios, introduced in hatchback and sedan variants around the same time, took 20 months to reach sales of 100,000 units.

Consumer criticism for the Etios twins in India is identical to Brazil, as the car's design and finesse levels leave a lot to be desired compared to the Maruti Swift and Hyundai i20. Though the Etios sedan and Liva hatchback sell decent volumes, they aren't near the company's internal expectations, a Toyota official had recently told Indian Autos Blog.

Also read: Review - Toyota Etios Cross

However, Toyota is indeed working on replacing the Etios with a new generation model, which according to reports will debut at the 2016 Auto Expo.

Sources say that the platform of the Etios will be carried over, but the body and interior would be revamped. One company official had told Indian Autos Blog that even the 'Etios' name could be replaced with something new for a fresh start.

[Source - AutoPolis]