RM 20k more than Alza, Toyota Veloz is too expensive? 5,200 Malaysians don't think so

The Toyota Veloz, the successor to the trusted Avanza nameplate, risks being overshadowed by its overachieving, fantastically good value-for-money twin the Perodua Alza. Making the sales pitch even harder is the fact that the Veloz is built in the same plant as the Alza.

Being a Toyota, the Veloz will of course have a bit more features than the Alza – wireless Apple CarPlay for seamless smartphone connectivity, LED ambient lighting so the cabin looks classier at night, 17-inch wheels, and two-tone exterior paint.

Everything that the Alza has – including six airbags, full suite Toyota Safety Sense advance driving assistance package including adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking – will also be available in the Veloz.

The Veloz also rides 30 mm taller than the Alza, with a 190 mm ground clearance versus the Alza's 160 mm. Some buyers with toddlers and elderly family members will prefer a lower ground clearance for easy entry / exit, others prefer to sit higher.

Also read: Estimated to be RM 20k more, MY-spec 2022 Toyota Veloz is also 30 mm taller than D27A Alza

But the fact that the Veloz wears a Toyota badge also means that the Veloz costs RM 20k more than its Perodua twin. Prices have yet to be confirmed but Toyota dealers are accepting bookings for the car, quoting an estimated price of RM 95,000.

Sounds like the Veloz is going to be a slow mover at showrooms?

UMW Toyota Motor has just announced that it has collected 5,200 bookings for the Veloz. It’s nearly 10 times less than the Alza’s 51,000 bookings and that’s to be expected, because the Alza starts at a much lower RM 62,500 price, but 5,200 is not a small sum to be ignored.

Of course, we can’t read too much into booking numbers, because bookings don’t mean anything until a customer takes delivery of the vehicle, and this applies to Perodua’s 12-month waiting list for the Alza too.

The most important question left to ask is the one UMW Toyota Motor still cannot answer – when will the Toyota Veloz be launched? It’s been nearly two and a half months since bookings were opened for the Veloz.

UMW Toyota Motor’s President Ravindran K said, “The team at UMW Toyota Motor is extremely
grateful for the strong support and we are working around the clock to intensify production to
ensure delivery to new car owners.

“The introduction of the Toyota Veloz will be a significant moment for us and we are confident it
will be popular among Malaysians with its value for money premium offerings, advanced features
and of course, the renowned Toyota quality and reliability”.

“We are working very hard to provide the right packages for our customers. It is our way of going
the ‘Extra Mile’ by giving high priority and attention to our customers’ needs through our sales
and after-sales offerings,” he added.