Remember the Toyota Avanza Veloz? It was a top-of-the-line model grade of the ubiquitous Avanza that offered a couple of visual upgrades and additional creature comforts to help it stand out from the crowd.
After the recent launch of the third-generation Avanza, people were looking for the Veloz variant of the MPV (which was absent from the trim list on offer). Well, if you looked over at our other sister markets in Southeast Asia, you would’ve discovered that the trim has been spun off into its own model.
If you’re one of those who are looking forward to this model grade, fret not as Toyota Motor Philippines has shown in a very brief teaser video that the Veloz is indeed coming soon to our market. In fact, not too long ago, we were sent a photo of a unit sitting at Toyota’s Batangas storage facility, so the launch could be much closer than expected (as there is still no specific date at the moment).
If you’re curious about what the Veloz offers over the standard Avanza, the visual differences are more than just different bumpers and wheels. There’s a new front grille, redesigned lighting front and back (which is now a light strip), more chrome brightwork (including a chrome strip that runs the length of the vehicle), and sportier 17-inch wheels (or 16-inch for the lower trim).
The interior now comes in a two-tone black-and-white finish, two-tone fabric and leather upholstery, ambient lighting, wireless phone charger, nine-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (eight inches on the lower models), and seven-inch digital instrument binnacle.
It also comes with Toyota Safety Sense for the top-of-the-line model grade, so expect features like pre-collision system, automatic high beam, and lane-departure alert to make it to this model. But across the range, it comes with a blind-spot monitor and rear-cross traffic alert.
TMP is calling this a “Compact SUV,” which is interesting considering other markets sell it as an MPV. Either way, it’s an exciting time to be on the lookout for a people-mover.
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