Toyota PH to raise stakes with entry-level SUV, set for Feb. launch

Quite a while before we got a "confirmation," we at ZIGWHEELS PHILIPPINES called the Toyota Raize one of the most anticipated cars, and had been nagging Toyota Motor Philippines  release it here.

Why not? It offers SUV styling and practical power and amenities, plus the Toyota reliability that very few car companies can offer.

Our prayers may have just been answered, and although Toyota Motor Philippines has not officially announced it just yet, various stories and leaks have popped up over the weekend, revealing details about variants and pricing for the small crossover SUV and from the looks of things, we might be looking at a potential segment buster.

The 2022 Toyota Raize is built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) which is a derivative of Toyota's own TNGA platform that can be found in most of Toyota Motor Philippine's lineup including the Camry, Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, the RAV4 and the Prius, making this a true global car.

According to the unofficial information, the 2022 Toyota Raize will initially come in three flavors, the E, G and Turbo variants and will be available with either a three-cylinder, 1.2-liter naturally aspirated engine that makes 87hp and 113Nm of torque and the all new, much awaited 1,0-liter three-cylinder engine that makes 97hp and up to 149Nm of torque. Weighing as light as 970 kg, those figures mean a great power-to-weight ratio for the small crossover.

Powering the front wheels are either a standard five-speed manual transmission for the entry-level E variant or Toyota’s all-new Dual-model-CVT system. Traditional CVT systems rely on a belt-driven mechanism instead of gears to transfer power to the drive-train. This removes the need for actual gears, but companies would program “simulated gears” to simulate shift shock and improve experience. This helps with power delivery and fuel economy but the downside is that it subjectively reduces driving dynamics and creates an odd droning noise at cruising speeds.

With Dual-mode CVT, a split gear system kicks in at cruising speed to power the Raize, further improving fuel economy and reducing highway noise and the dreaded droning sound CVTs make. 

A reputable source gave us pricing for the Toyota Raize.

It starts at P746,000 for the entry-level E variant with a manual and P816,000 for the CVT. The mid-variant G model comes at P906,000 and is only available with the CVT but comes with additional entertainment and convenience features. The top-of-the-line Turbo model will be available for P1,031,000 with an optional White Pearl colorway for an extra P5,000 and promises loads of fun with the turbocharged three-cylinder engine.  This puts it squarely against rivals such as the Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic, Ford EcoSport, Chery Tiggo 2 Pro and can even be a viable option for larger crossovers like the MG ZS, Geely Coolray, Chery Tiggo 5X, Changan CS35 Plus and even the new Chevrolet Tracker.

There is no information about a potential GR-S variant but once that’s available you’ll see it here first.

Photos from OTO.com

Also read: Why we think Filipinos deserve a Raize