Toyota Vitz 1st Gen (2005-2010) Expert Review

The second-generation Toyota Vitz is a clever little thing. It is small enough to squeeze through Dhaka traffic without feeling like you have brought a refrigerator into a bicycle race, yet tall and wide enough to provide useful interior space.

Compared with the first-generation Vitz, the XP90 looks more mature. The rounded headlights, short bonnet and tall cabin create a friendly shape rather than an aggressive one. It was designed primarily as an urban hatchback, and that purpose is immediately obvious.

For Bangladesh, the dimensions are one of its greatest strengths. At roughly 3.8 metres long and 1.7 metres wide, it is easy to manoeuvre through narrow streets and considerably easier to park than a conventional sedan. Visibility is also good, which becomes rather important when traffic appears to come from every possible direction.

The standard F grade is deliberately understated. It does not have the dramatic body kit and larger wheels associated with the RS, but that is arguably appropriate for an economical everyday car. The five-door layout is practical for family use, while the upright rear gives the Vitz useful cargo flexibility.

There is one obvious weakness: ground clearance. At around 150mm, it is acceptable for normal roads but not generous by Bangladesh standards. Large speed breakers and deep potholes deserve respect.

Overall, the Vitz looks simple rather than spectacular, but its compact proportions make considerable sense for Bangladesh.

The interior is where Toyota's small-car engineering becomes particularly impressive. The Vitz does not have acres of space, because obviously Toyota did not secretly build a minivan and hide it inside a hatchback. Instead, it uses the available space efficiently.

The cabin is upright and airy, with good visibility through the large windows. The front seats provide a comfortable driving position, while the rear bench is surprisingly usable for a compact car. For daily Dhaka driving, that matters considerably more than a fashionable dashboard.

The centre-mounted instrument cluster is one of the Vitz's most distinctive features. It looks unusual today, but the information is easy to read and the layout keeps the driver's sightline relatively uncluttered.

The 1.3 F uses straightforward equipment and fabric upholstery rather than luxury materials. Air conditioning, power windows, central locking, power steering and folding rear seats provide the things that actually matter during daily use.

Of course, age is now unavoidable. A 2005–2010 Vitz can have worn seat fabric, faded plastics, scratched trim and tired switches. Some cars have been heavily modified with aftermarket multimedia systems, reverse cameras and other accessories.

The cabin's biggest achievement is practicality. It feels bigger inside than the exterior suggests, the controls are simple and the rear seating is useful.

It is not luxurious, but it is remarkably functional.

The Toyota Vitz 1.3 F was never intended to compete with modern cars for gadgets. Its equipment was designed around everyday convenience, and that philosophy remains sensible. Air conditioning is essential in Bangladesh, and the Vitz provides it. Power steering makes congested driving easy, power windows simplify daily use and the folding rear seats add useful flexibility when carrying luggage. Depending on the exact production specification, the second-generation Vitz could also offer features such as Smart Entry and Start, automatic climate control, upgraded audio equipment and additional convenience functions. However, these should not be confused with the standard specification of every 1.3 F. The biggest weakness today is connectivity. There is no modern factory Android Auto, Apple CarPlay or wireless charging. Bluetooth availability also depended on the audio system rather than being a universal modern-car feature. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest problems to solve. A good aftermarket touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and a reverse camera can make an older Vitz much more pleasant to use without changing the mechanical character of the vehicle. The useful factory features are therefore the simple ones. Good visibility, air conditioning, power steering, power windows, folding seats and compact dimensions are all valuable in Bangladesh. The Vitz does not overwhelm you with technology. Instead, it gives you the basic tools and gets out of the way. For a daily city car, there is something rather appealing about that.

Safety technology has moved enormously since the second-generation Vitz was introduced, so expectations need to be kept in period. The XP90 was designed with Toyota's GOA crash-safety structure and offered airbags, ABS, EBD and Brake Assist depending on specification. The basic structure was considerably more sophisticated than that of many inexpensive hatchbacks from earlier generations. However, the exact safety equipment varied by grade and production year. The 1.3 F configuration should not be treated as though it had the full safety package of a modern Toyota. There is no Toyota Safety Sense here. You do not get autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition or blind-spot monitoring. There is also no 360-degree camera or modern driver-monitoring system. The absence of these systems does not make the Vitz inherently unsafe, but it does mean that modern driver-assistance expectations simply do not apply. In Bangladesh, the condition of an individual used car matters enormously. Tyres, brake pads, discs, suspension components, steering components and previous accident repairs can influence real-world safety more than a long equipment list. A clean chassis and properly functioning brakes are therefore essential. So are good tyres, particularly during Bangladesh's monsoon season. The Vitz has respectable safety engineering for its generation, but it is now an older car. If you want modern electronic safety assistance, newer Toyota models are in a completely different technological era.

Vitz 1.3 F is not interested in setting lap records. It is interested in getting you through traffic without making your wallet cry.

Its 1,296cc 2SZ-FE four-cylinder produces 87 hp and 116 Nm, which is perfectly adequate for normal urban driving. The CVT automatic transmission keeps the power delivery smooth and makes the car particularly easy to operate in stop-and-go traffic.

In Dhaka, this combination works extremely well. The car is compact, the steering is light and the turning radius is small. Parking in tight spaces is straightforward, and squeezing through narrow urban roads requires considerably less concentration than driving a larger sedan.

Acceleration is modest. Around 12.5 seconds from 0–100 km/h is not going to frighten a Porsche, but it is enough for ordinary city driving. On highways, you need to plan overtaking manoeuvres rather than expecting instant acceleration.

Ride comfort is generally pleasant, although the age of the car makes mechanical condition extremely important. A healthy Vitz with good suspension and tyres can feel composed. A neglected one can turn every pothole into a percussion concert.

Fuel economy is the major reward. Around 11–12 km/L in city traffic and 15–16 km/L on highways is realistic for Bangladesh when the car is healthy and driven sensibly.

The result is not exciting. It is something arguably more useful: predictable, easy and inexpensive transportation.