• Thailand to launch Avanza successor this month
• Malaysia to follow later
• More upmarket 7-seater MPV than Avanza

Toyota Motor Thailand has opened bookings for the 2022 Toyota Veloz ahead of its official launch there on 24-February 2022, succeeding the long-standing Toyota Avanza.

Specifications for the Thai-spec Veloz are still unclear, but think of it as a slightly more upmarket take on the Avanza's recipe.

Indonesia already has the Veloz, and their range-topping Toyota Veloz Q CVT TSS is very well-equipped, coming with an electric parking brake (EPB), the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite, 360-degree parking camera, and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster that's just like on our Perodua Ativa, among others.

Also read: To stay ahead, the 2022 Toyota Avanza needs FWD and CVT

Unlike its predecessor, the Veloz sits on a unibody platform. The Indonesian-spec car meanwhile is powered by the 1.5-litre 2NR-VE engine, with the naturally-aspirated mill pushing 106 PS and 137 Nm to the front wheels (FWD) via a CVT-type automatic transmission.

2022 Toyota Veloz in Malaysia

Such a move is bound to be replicated in Malaysia, and as such the Veloz has been earmarked for us. It will be built alongside the D27 2022 Perodua Alza at the Perodua Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. plant in Rawang, which has since been upgraded to build DNGA platform models.

Also read: From concept to production: Here’s how the DN Multisix evolved into the Avanza

With its introduction here, Malaysia's B-segment MPV space will be an interesting one, given that we are also expecting the all-new 2022 Honda BR-V and the all-new Alza to further spice things up.

It's still too early to discuss prices, but of course it will be higher than the Alza. That said, it won't be too far away from the outgoing Avanza's price range of RM 77,963 - RM 84,848.

Also read: UMWT confirms 2022 successor to Toyota Avanza, Veloz variant rumoured