Toyota Veloz launched in Malaysia; priced from RM 95k, telescopic steering, TSS, wireless CarPlay

Months of speculation, sleuthing, and spyshots draw to a close as UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has just launched the Toyota Veloz (W151) in Malaysia. Locally-assembled (CKD Rawang) at Perodua Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. alongside the D27A Perodua Alza, this 7-seater MPV in its sole variant is priced from RM 95,000 inclusive of sales tax exemptions.

Its arrival here means the Toyota Avanza bows out of Malaysia, after 178,000 units sold since it was first introduced here in 2004.

Exterior: Fresh with plenty exclusive touches

The Veloz – a co-developed sibling alongside the Alza and Daihatsu Xenia – keeps the same blocky profile of its siblings, but with its own take to aesthetics.

LED headlights (with sequential turn signals, and LED daytime running lights) flank the large grille up front, one which has Toyota's signature grille pattern.

Point to note about the exterior is that the fenders are bespoke to the Veloz (a little wider compared to the Alza), so take note Alza owners who want that little chrome strip running across the beltline...it's more than just a plug and play job.

Also read: Perodua Alza vs Toyota Veloz - RM 20k extra for a 'T' badge, or is there more to it?

Along the sides there's dual-tone 17-inch wheels wrapped in 205/50 profile Toyo Proxes CR1 tyres, and exclusive to the Veloz also are plastic claddings on the rear door to further accentuate the slightly puffy rear bumper.

Functional roof rails are also unique to the Veloz, and besides looking good they can hold a load of up to 75 kilograms. Window visors are standard too.

Round the back, the Harrier-esque full-length LED light bar above the Veloz nameplate gives the car a distinct look. Okay, okay...premium, if you will.

Also read: 2023 Toyota Harrier (XU80) updated in Malaysia; better TSS, adds new Luxury SE variant, priced from RM 274k

Moving along, there's small cool features like puddle lamps beneath the automatic-folding side mirrors and follow-me home headlights. A full-size spare tyre is also included.

There's five colours ready for the picking, which are:

• White
• Metallic Bluish Black
• Red Metallic
• Silver Metallic (with Black roof, + RM 1,300)
• Blue Metallic (with Black roof, + RM 1,300)

With one eye on the unfortunately-annual floods, it might be comforting to know the Veloz has a ground clearance of 190 mm (up to suspension member, 205 mm if up to centre muffler), matching the Mitsubishi Xpander with 205 mm, but taller than the Alza's 160 mm.

Also read: 900 mm wading depth! Top 5 best cars for driving through floods in Malaysia

Interior: Better connectivity, aesthetics

First obvious variance between the Veloz and Perodua's latest is the two-tone colourway – white on black here as opposed to the brown/black combo in the Alza. The bright colours add a fun touch, though it remains to be seen how it'll age as it sees family duties.

Three rows of soft semi-leather seats accomodate up to 7 passengers, while the second and third rows can be folded together or individually for varying layouts to store oddly-shaped cargo.

Also read: Understanding why 5.2k Malaysians paid RM 19.5k more for a Toyota Veloz when it's just an Alza

Quick check on space yields good first impressions. Zamil is 175 cm, and he fits with enough head- and legroom to spare in the second row. Third row is expectedly tight, but nothing impossible someone for his size to sit in.

Blue LED ambient lighting along the centre console and behind the soft padding on the doors and dash further liven the interior; nice touches. An electronic parking brake (EPB) with auto hold is standard fare.

Now the headunit game in the Veloz feels a touch more upmarket, with rich colours and quick smoothness off the 9-inch infotainment touchscreen. It's also got wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and sound comes courtesy of a 6-speaker setup.

Also read: How to get Android Auto on any car for just RM 20!

The instrument cluster behind the tilt-and-telescopic adjustable, leather-wrapped steering wheel is the same 7-inch display that's in the Ativa, Alza, and in the latest D92A Toyota Vios (at least those sold elsewhere) with just about the same levels of customisation and quality.

Creature comforts in the Veloz includes 3 USB ports, 2 12V accessory outlets, rear air-cond vents, a Qi 2.4 wireless charger just above the centre console box, and single-zone auto air-conditioning for those up front.

The latter is curious – one step forward with the neat and clean controls, one step back with the unidirectional blower setting; there's no foot nor windscreen blower.

Also read: Shopping for a used Proton or Perodua? You probably want to read this first

Storage solution comes in the form of a 498-litre boot with the third-row seats stowed, as well as a total of 15 cupholders, so buyers with youngins in tow, take note.

Safety: Full TSS, 6 airbags

On the passive safety front there's 6 airbags, 4 parking sensors (2 front, 2 rear), and the requisite vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TRC), hill assist control (HAC), and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (ABS + EBD).

In the ASEAN NCAP crash tests, it's got a 5-star rating.

Active safety is aided by Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), encompassing these features:

• Pre-Collision System (PCS)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
• Lane Keeping Control (LKC)
• Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (BSM, RCTA)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC, stereo-cameras)

Other safety inclusions include a panoramic view camera (PVM or 360-cam), adaptive driving beam, front departure alert, and pedal misoperation control.

Also read: Malaysia-bound TSS-equipped Toyota Veloz scores 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP

A front digital video recorder (DVR, or dashcam) is bundled with the car's selling price, though customers can add a rear one for RM 380. Toyota's app-bound Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) is included too and comes with 3-years free subscription.

Powertrain: 1.5L 2NR-VE, D-CVT, FWD

Powering the Veloz is a1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder Dual-VVTi engine (2NR-VE), mated to a a D-CVT automatic transmission with 7 virtual ratios. 106 PS @ 6,000 rpm and 138 Nm @ 4,200 rpm of power and torque are all channeled to the front wheels (FWD).

It also comes with a drive mode selector button on the steering wheel, meaning drivers can switch between Eco, Normal, and Sport depending on use case.

Also read: How long can the City breathe easy? We predict the all-new 2023 Toyota Vios' Malaysian launch date

Sitting on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform with a 2,750 mm wheelbase, it boasts a sharp 5-metre turning radius. Not bad for a car that measures 4,475 mm long, 1,750 mm wide, and 1,700 mm tall.

Kerb weight is 1,185 kg, and there's a 43-litre fuel tank beneath it all.

Warranty and aftersales

UMWT bundles the Toyota Veloz with a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty as standard. Customers can add on a Toyota Service Savers maintenance package on top of that, which costs RM 1,780 for the 3-year/60,000 km package, or RM 2,790 for the 5-year/100,000 km deal.

There you have it, your comprehensive first look into the 2022 Toyota Veloz in Malaysia. What do you make of it? Leave your comments below, and don't forget to check out our following articles as we dig deeper into Toyota's newest MPV.