The Toyota Aqua car model that was recently made very popular within the local market through the donations to various people by Wicknell Chivayo is actually a front-wheel-drive five-door hybrid hatchback that was launched by Toyota Japan in December of 2011.
This Aqua was brought in as the direct competition of Honda Fit Hybrid.
As a result of the heightened interest on this model l want to breakdown the details about it to empower you with the right knowledge on its features, performance and the pros and cons.
The Aqua comes in three packages namely the L, S and the G grade.
Among these packages the G is top of the line version that has cruise control and leather interior along with a couple of other features that are missing in other two variants.
Toyota Aqua became the most successful car in Japan after its launch in the last 20 years.
After Toyota Prius, the Aqua is the second most sold hybrid vehicle by the Japanese automaker.
There are several colour options to choose from including super white II, deep amethyst mica metallic, grey metallic, yellow, cool soda metallic, silver metallic, super red v, blue metallic, green metallic, orange metallic, purple, red metallic, metallic light blue and black.
- Review of 2015 Toyota Aqua
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These colours indeed make it a perfect gift option because you can pick the right colour for the right occasion.
I certainly know that the hybrid technology may not be as popular in Zimbabwe and Africa in general, but the car buyers are slowly adapting to it motivated by the fuel economy and lower emissions.
The hybrid engine technology combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor to power the vehicle.
At higher speeds the engine powers the vehicle and the battery is recharged.
On the other hand, the electric motor can power the vehicle, especially at low speeds and during acceleration.
But one thing unusual to drivers but peculiar with hybrid cars is that when the hybrid car is being powered by the electric motor there is no engine sound at all that the driver can hear.
Actually many drivers get confused about this whether the car is still running or not — but this is surely normal and you shouldn’t panic at all.
Performance of Toyota Aqua
Well, this is one place where the Aqua really takes the lead. The car loves to go.
There is no other way to put it. The car comes with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder DOHC internal combustion 1NZ-FXE engine mated to Toyota’s CVT transmission.
The internal combustion engine makes 74 horsepower, and 111 Nm of torque and the electric motor makes around 61 HP (combined power according to Toyota is 100 HP).
Bear in mind that the engine in Aqua is an updated version of the previous 1NZ-FXE that was used in the second generation Toyota Prius.
Since the car weighs around 1080 KG, that engine along with the electric motor has enough power to put a wide smile on your face when you push the accelerator pedal hard.
Actually when you push the throttle, and the car takes a couple of moments to think what to do, and suddenly you feel a surge of power coming.
So you will feel a slight delay in the accelerator input and engine output.
And that is typical CVT behaviour, and you will find it in most cars with continuously variable transmission gearboxes.
Fuel consumption of Toyota Aqua
If you are cruising between 80 km/h and 140 km/h plus, the Aqua gives you an average of 15.5 km/l to 17.9 km/l with A/C on all the time and two people in the car.
Although some opinions suggest that one can get up to 20km/l but even 17 or 18 km/l is pretty impressive in my opinion.
The 36 litre of the fuel tank is going to last you a long time. You will find ECO and EV button under the handbrake.
When you press the ECO button, the Aqua favours fuel economy over everything.
Your race pedal response is turned down, the A/C also slows down, and the car management system optimises it for the best fuel economy.
Simply put, the car will automatically manage fuel inputs and optimise the air conditioning system for maximum fuel efficiency.
And when you press the EV button, at low speeds the car will switch the internal combustion engine completely off and the car only drives on the electric motor.
The car turns into a ghost on EV mode, and there is absolutely no sound to make you feel like there is something running under the hood.
The EV mode can help you take your Aqua out late at night without letting your parents know.
Safety of Toyota Aqua
Japanese cars are usually always equipped with all the latest safety gadgets. Toyota Aqua has the same case.
You get two airbags in the front, and all seats have seatbelts with them.
The features that make up the star safety system are traction control (TRAC), anti-lock brake system (ABS), brake assist (BA), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), smart stop technology (SST) and vehicle stability control (VSC).
But not all of these things are available in the S or L package Aquas.
You do however get anti-lock brake system with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.
Also, there is a crumple zone on both the front and the rear of the Aqua as well.
Conclusion about the Toyota Aqua
The Toyota Aqua is idle as a pool car for companies or as a family city run around car or for a single adult looking for good runaround car or for a high school/university student car.
It’s relatively small so easy to maintain and drive in the city.
It’s cheap to run as well considering it’s a hybrid with low fuel consumption.
But if you have a family, and want to run this car as your one and only car of the house, I don’t think it’s a suitable choice.
Like in the case of the football players who got donations, it is certainly advisable for those with families to consider upgrading and avoid driving it to your long trip football matches — it’s just not the right car for that.
The legroom is not good for the footballers’ height. l certainly know that they are struggling because if they have a body size like Didier Drogba or Yaya Toure the space inside is not so idle.
The 2015 model is the oldest model that you can import and If you like to buy this car, please budget between US$$7 500 and US$$9 500 for total landing costs with taxes.
*Stanley Makombe has 25 years’ experience in the motor industry, currently handling vehicle imports from Japan, Thailand, UK and South Africa into African Countries. He is writing in his own capacity and can be contacted on +254 743 900 590, on X @Stan_Carsales, email: stanley@stanleymakombe.com, www.stanleymakombe.com
