It’s still early in 2022, but we’re calling it: this could be the most important vehicle launching this year. Meet the Raize—Toyota’s first-ever sub-compact SUV.
Given a choice, Filipinos love SUVs. They offer things buyers want—additional ground clearance, a more flexible interior, and great bang for the buck value. Toyota may have taken their sweet time with the Raize, but now that it’s here, it offers everything the Filipino car buyer’s looking for and then some.
The Raize is an urban SUV designed for those who desire to drive a vehicle with high ground clearance (200 mm), while still maintain proportions that are compact (4,030 mm overall length and 1,710 mm overall width).
Its compact size has also resulted in a very dense exterior filled with all sorts of eye-catching details. The angled bumper corners and trapezoidal lower grille create a powerful appearance, while the use of thin LED headlights and sequential turn signal lights hint at the advanced technologies lurking beneath.
True enough, the Raize is underpinned by a next-generation global platform that use lightweight high-tensile steel plates and suspension components that have been optimized for performance and weight. All in all, the curb weight ranges from as little as 970 kilograms and tops out at just 1,040 kilograms.
Two engines are available. The first is a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder with 88 PS and 113 Nm of torque, while the other is a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder with 98 PS and 140 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual is available on the base variant, but the rest uses a D-CVT. This system is unique to the Raize and adds split gears to existing CVT belt drives. This is done for improved efficiency and responsiveness.
Being an SUV for the urbanite, providing outstanding visibility is important. Thus, the instrument panel layout is designed in a way to provide an outstanding field of view. More importantly, every control can be operated intuitively by simply extending the arms. This results in a more comfortable, confident feel for the driver.
The front seats alone are impressive. The back rest and side pads offer differing levels of firmness, improving the support for occupants—perfect for spending hours in stop-and-go traffic. Meanwhile, the distance between the front and rear seats is a generous 900 millimeters, providing plenty of space for a comfortable rear-seat riding experience.
Convenient storage solutions are located throughout the cabin, but impressively, open the hatch and it reveals a spacious luggage compartment. Fold the rear seats and it creates a long, flat space capable of storing long items of luggage.
The LED digital speedometer and 7-inch TFT color LCD display are seamlessly integrated, appearing to create a single screen for a cutting-edge feel. The Raize is impressively kitted too with a smart keyless entry with push-button start/stop, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In terms of safety, the Raize doesn’t disappoint. Standard are dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD and electronic stability control. Moving up the variant ladder adds 6 SRS airbags, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a rear camera, and back-up sensors.
The 5-seater SUV is designed and developed to be compact, active, and useful both for everyday and leisure on weekends. It comes in four variants: 1.0 Turbo CVT (P 1,031,000); 1.2 G CVT (P 906,000); 1.2 E CVT (P 816,000); and 1.2 E MT (746,000).
There are six colors, the availability of which depends on the variant: Silver Metallic 4 (1.2 E, 1.2 G), Gray Metallic (1.2 E, 1.2 G), Red 2 (1.2 G), Yellow SE/Black (1.0 Turbo), Turquoise Mica Metallic/Black (1.0 Turbo), White Pearl SE/Black (1.0 Turbo). As usual, the White Pearl commands a small premium, albeit here, it is just P 5,000).
Check out the full brochure below.
Photos by Chira dela Cruz
I think 'selling like hotcakes' will soon happen w the Raize.
ReplyDelete- Mark J.
I fear for the Vios (and local Toyota manufacturing's) future if so many imported cars from Toyota not only gets "sold like hotcakes" but it (continuous low sales of locally-manufactured cars) will give Toyota the reason to close their Santa Rosa plant.
ReplyDeleteYes, the possible effects on the Vios, local assembly, and job security are worrisome ☹️
Delete- Mark J.
It doesn't mean that the sales of Filipino made Toyota Innova and Vios will go down because of the imported new global architecture-based models. I think it not gonna be happen since Toyota included Philippines for the potential assembly of DNGA-based vehicles and some of the future TNGA-based vehicles. It won't be surprised that also the bz3x or maybe the bz4x might be assembled here in our country by the future.
Deletemaybe five months from now and this will be everywhere on the road, and if its really good just like on paper then its almost surely on top cars of 2022
ReplyDeleteYes you are right...
DeleteIndeed. Higher ground clearance, larger, more fuel efficient, and more affordable than the Vios.
ReplyDeleteI think Toyota Motor Philippines will export the next DNGA-based Vios and Yaris to Middle Eastern Countries Particularly in Saudi Arabia and UAE by 2023 or 2024.
Delete⬆️ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA what the heck is this guy's thinking? I am yet curious where did he get this info.
DeleteSource: trust me bro
Napansin ko dito madaming nagmamagaling. Gusto mag mukhang matalino.
Delete@anonymous 1:50 PM dont forget social media literacy on the country is low, dont let it get into you, might ruin your day
DeleteVios is exported from Indonesia to Gulf countries and some ASEAN countries. Corolla Altis and Corolla Cross is exported from Taiwan (Kuozui) to Gulf countries.
DeleteNothing to fear. If Raize becomes best seller, Toyota probably will assemble this Daihatsu Subcompact Crossover in Sta.rosa plant alongside Vios.
ReplyDeleteI am not willing to bet on it fully, but hope what you have said is true. If the rumored switch to Daihatsu platform for Vios is true, then either Toyota Japan would have to invest another billion pesos to upgrade the Santa Rosa plant to build Daihatsu platform vehicles (which, if true, Vios will now be included with Avanza, the future Rush, and this Raize)
DeleteOr, Toyota would not consider building Daihatsu platform vehicles in the Philippines and instead, will also import those vehicles rather than locally manufacturing it (there will be price increase due to insufficient tax breaks and incentives in our country) and/or they'll have a reason to close the only Toyota plant in the Philippines.
DeleteAs of December, I saw a lot of Toyota Raize on the road, mostly the G variant.
ReplyDelete