Toyota Etios vs Mahindra Verito

Indians are all crazy about sedans. That explains the sales proposition of sedans like the Maruti Swift Dzire and also the Toyota Etios. Speaking of the latter, the car buying public have been going bonkers, some even without test driving the car have gone forward and have put their money into it. Not only does the Etios appear a valuable investment, it also makes sense to go in for a Toyota rather than a Tata or even Maruti at almost the same price. In comes the long forgotten Mahindra Logan nee Verito. Mahindra have dropped the Renault motif and also the Logan name, so as to give the car buying public something new to cheer about. It was in the cards that these two boxy contestants lock horns in the Indiandrives battle arena and so here we are with the comparison of the Toyota Etios in India and the Mahindra Verito in India. Both entry level value for money buys (Toyota and Mahindra’s claims , not ours).

Looks

One word would describe both the cars and that is “boxy”. Both look like matchboxes on wheels. However the manufacturers certainly have done a lot to project both these cars in a different vein. While Mahindra now gives side claddings and fog lamps as standard while the Renault logo has been replaced with the Mahindra saber tooth logo. Mahindra have also ensured that this car comes with more features now than what Renault could provide at this price point. Just like the Toyota Etios, the new Mahindra Verito in India now features a chrome strip at the rear which more or less resembles that of the Etios. The tail lamps design is the same as that of the Logan and also features an inbuilt reversing light. A single one at that, pointing to the car’s foreign origins. There are alloys wheels on the top end version. There are also rear fog lamps and Roof rails or ski rack as they call it. The Toyota Etios in the meanwhile has a front chrome detailing as also a rear one. More of chrome follows on the top end version and there are alloy wheels and side skirts on offer too. The Etios has a similar tail lamp design but with reversing lights on both the ends. Traditional Toyota conservationism shows with the tail pipe hidden from view. 15 inch wheels are standard on both the cars. If you ask us to pick up a winner amongst them based on the looks, then it is very difficult. It is because both of them come from the same school of thought.

The Mahindra Verito in India gets a slight edge as far as the newer design is concerned. The Toyota Etios in India has been hugely inspired by the Mahindra Logan (will have to call it that since at the time of the Etios release, this car was still a Logan). Our vote goes for the Mahindra Verito but that is only by a slight margin.

Interiors

The Mahindra Verito in India gets a little bit cheerful interiors than the Etios. This is primarily due to the fact that Mahindra have used the beige theme for the upholstery. Getting into the driver’s seat for taller drivers is a bit of a hassle since the steering wheel still is non adjustable. However the front seat has manual adjustment and so finding a comfortable position isn’t a thing of bother. The instrument panel looks plain however once the lights come in, the panel feels very lively. However one would definitely notice that this car has European roots with the positioning of the indicator stalks and lights. Even the boot release mechanism is placed near the front passenger’s seat. The rear power window switches position is also a bit of an oddball, behind the parking brake lever. Cabin space however at the rear is massive. Not that the front is lacking in it but then rear seat passengers get a flat seat and enough shoulder room. The Logan however feels well put together. Coming to the Etios, ingress is a bit on the lower side however the steering wheel is tilt adjustable and finding a comfortable driving position isn’t a bit of bother. Moreover, the front driver’s seat has more travel to it than that of the Verito and hence adds to the comfort quotient. However the centrally placed instrument console wouldn’t be to everyone’s liking. The speedometer as also the tachometer with their white and strange blue background feel a bit odd and moreover the fonts also feel a bit difficult to read. The Etios has lots of cubby holders and as Toyota puts it, 10 cup holders. The door map pockets are also deep and generous. A perfect seat angle and also wider seat with lower central tunnel intrusion works to make this one of the best entry level sedan for the chauffer driven. The round AC vents are shared between the Mahindra Verito and also the Toyota Etios. However the design on both the cars is different. While the Toyota’s has more folds, the Mahindra’s displays similar trend like that of the Ford Figo. The quality of plastics used on the Etios however seemed a bit doubtful as also the garish red color for the upholstery and the gear lever knob. Boot space is massive by any standards on both the cars and would rival that of some full size SUVs. However both don’t have split seat arrangement. In the boot stakes, it is the Etios with its 595 liters boot space that stands out. The Mahindra Verito follows with its 510 liter boot, nearly a 100 liter deficit from that of the Toyota’s. Both the boots are pretty much easy to load and hence frequent airport trips or rather long outings would be warranted on these cars.

Surprisingly, the Mahindra Verito feels a bit more better built while the Etios claws its way back with the better space proposition. The Toyota Etios steals the edge over the Verito on this one with its better overall packaging and oodles of space.

Handling and ride quality

The stiff chassis coupled with the generous travel of the suspension shocks ensure that the Mahindra Verito in India possess a good ride quality. The ground clearance is also on the generous side and everything but the deadliest of the speed breakers would upset its composure. People who must have traveled in Meru cabs would definitely remember the Logan’s pliant ride quality. Since the underpinnings haven’t changed, the Verito by virtue of being a reskinned Logan gets the same ride quality. The handling is also pretty decent for a car which sacrifices the aerodynamics part in the interests of better interior space utilization. While the Logan may not exactly be a corner carver like the Swift Dzire, it delights by following the intended path of the driver. The steering wheel is also very direct and delivers a good timely feedback. It isn’t overtly light in the city but doesn’t feel as cumbersome either. The Toyota Etios in India gets a stiff suspension setup which cannot prevent the low speed bumps coming its way from entering the car’s cabin. The Etios has a much lighter steering wheel than that of the Verito however this steering wheel, like those of other Toyotas, is very much useful only in the city limits. It lacks a head on feeling and for most of the part feels lifeless. However the lower kerb weight and the steering lightness ensure that the Etios is a nimble car in the city. Inspite of its lower kerb weight, the Etios is pretty much very stable on the highway. Corner carving is not any Toyota’s forte and the Etios doesn’t look like it would bend any laws of physics anytime soon. It obeys the path or trajectory intended for it however with some pushing around. As far as NVH goes, the Renault motor is a bathroom singer while the Toyota one is an opera singer. Toyota have skimped out on adding enough damping material under the hood and hence the Etios is the more vocal one as far as NVH goes. The Renault motor however is pretty much silent in its operation and even in elevated speeds, it doesn’t feel strained.

The Mahindra Verito wins this round since we rate ride quality higher than the handling stakes. But surprise, the Verito even surprises us with its good show of handling prowess. The Etios is purely to be driven in low speeds given the amount of engine noise filtering into the cabin at higher speeds.

Engine, performance and fuel efficiency

The Mahindra Verito in India is the versatile of the two with a diesel and petrol motor on offer. However for the sake of being fair, we have compared the petrol motor of the Verito with that of the Etios. While the 1390 cc 4 cylinder engine of the Verito makes 75 Bhp of power and 11.21 kgm of power, the 1496 cc engine of the Etios makes 90 Bhp and 13.46 kgm of torque. Both these cars are mated with 5 speed manual transmissions. Both the cars boast of an excellent shift quality with the Mahindra’s having a very refined feel to it. The clutch setup is on the lighter side as well. However put pedal to metal and the capacity disadvantage comes into play. The Etios races from 0-100 kmph in only 11.4 seconds and attains a top speed of 180 kmph, the Verito in the meanwhile achieves the 100 kmph mark in a leisurely 16.2 seconds. The top speed is also way lower at 146 kmph. The Mahindra’s gear ratios are on the taller side and hence more prodding is needed while in the city. With a full complement of passengers and the AC in full swing, the Verito struggles to gain momentum. The Etios in the meanwhile gets better spaced ratios and feels equally at home in both the city and highway speeds. Both the cars are easy to drive, even for beginners due to the view from the bonnet and overall visibility.

As far as brakes are concerned, the Etios has the stronger pedal feel while the Verito’s feels a bit behind. Only on the higher specced variants, Mahindra offers ABS whereas Toyota offers it as an option from the middle variant. Both the cars however managed to accumulate safe braking distances in our books. The Verito still gets only a driver airbag while the Etios offers dual ones. However the Verito has proved its crash worthiness in different parts of the world whereas the Etios is yet to do that. As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, both the cars have similar figures with the Etios returning an overall 15.3 kmpl and the Mahindra coming to a stop in about 15.1 kmpl.

The Toyota Etios has a superior engine and capacity advantage. It is more fun to drive and at the same time is very fuel efficient. The Toyota Etios in India wins this round while the Mahindra Verito lacks behind in safety features.

Verdict

As far as the points tally rakes up, the Mahindra Verito in India is a winner. Mahindra have ensured that the cost cutting scenario which was quite associated with the Renault Logan is erased from the Indian customers minds. The Verito is now a family sedan and not one for the taxi buyers. It more or less does everything which Toyota’s baby does. However Mahindra have skimped on the safety aspect and instead should have given this car more of safety equipment. Also they could have reconfigured the stalks and indicators to suit Indian styles. Speaking of Indian styles, the Toyota Etios in India is no less configured only for India. The centrally mounted instrument panel shows that this car would eventually be exported. Cost cutting measures are more evident in the Toyota than in the Mahindra. The Toyota lends a solid punch with its much superior engine and safety features. Plus it has a massive boot which can swallow a Tata Nano. The Mahindra Verito however is a better buy since it has a choice of petrol or diesel engines. That is until the 1.4 liter diesel from the Corolla Altis finds its way under the hood the Etios, much later this year. The Mahindra Verito price in India starts from Rs 4.82 lakhs and culminates at Rs 6.48 lakhs. The Toyota Etios price in India starts from Rs 4.96 lakhs and ends at Rs 6.86 lakhs. All these prices are ex-show room, Thane. The Verito is offered with a 2 years / 50000 kms warranty, which can be extended to 2 years more. Toyota however offer only 3 years or 100,000 kms, whichever comes earlier warranty.

Our winner of this comparison is the Mahindra Verito.

26 thoughts on “Toyota Etios vs Mahindra Verito

  1. Etios generates very high vibrations and Engine noise is also irritating.
    The writer has expressed his views as explained to him by the company representative of the respective companies.The comparison seems to be more biased to highlight Etios without driving any of the vehicle, Please drive the vehicle for some timeand some kilometers and you will realise that Etios does not even deserve to qualify to have Toyota along the Etios.
    Etios may be a powerful engine but with very high Noise and Vibration which directly compromises with the driver safety and comfort.
    Etios creates all sorts of rattling noise, engine noise is very high, vibrations are felt in cabin and seats and steering also vibrate.Engine quality is good on papers but experience is very bad.
    Etios has only been promoted extensively because it derives the Toyota brand with its name.
    If anyone can dare to place Etios in the market without the Toyota name, the car maker will not be able to sell even one single piece to the customer.
    Please do take your time before buying your vehicle and merely go with the reviews. Test ride is always available.
    Please judge yourself.
    Test it and believe it.

    1. I have duly mentioned that the Etios has a far more NVH than the Verito. Moreover, the reason why I have mentioned that the Etios’s engine is superior is due to the capacity advantage and the reason that the engine doesn’t have to be killed to extract performance on the highway.

    2. The Engine noise can be reduced to very much after fixing noise & heat packing ( Cost just Rs.100/-) packing under the Bonnet , After that you feel the car ‘s engine is not working during idling .

  2. The Toyota Etios looks like a deformed version of the Renault Logan / Mahindra Verito. Toyota seems to have aped (and rather badly, at that) the clean, albeit plain, lines of the Logan. The odd-looking curves and ridges of the Etios, however, are jarring. Don’t forget, those complex body panels mean that the cost of body repairs will be higher.

    The Toyota name itself will, in combination with the spacious interior and competent engine, ensure that the Etios sells well. In today’s world, car sales are more a function of clever marketing than roadworthiness, like the Hyundai Santro, This car was given only one or two stars out of five by leading international motoring journals because it was less-competent and oddly-designed. In India, it was judged the best car in its class for several years in a row. It was also a bestseller, thanks in part to celebrity endorsements.

    To give credit where it is due, the Etios is a competent car. As a value-for-money proposition, however, the Logan / Verito is a better bet. Now, if only Mahindra would sell the car better, we would see more Veritos on the road.

  3. what would be the maintenace of Mahindra vertio ? parts are very costly like logan renault. ? I have a logan renault. it is very good car but the main thing is that the parts are very costly and eaisly not available everywhre, you can get only in big city ..

    I am happy with my car Logan but ” PARTS AND MAINTENANCE ARE VERY COSTLY “

    1. Mahindra have localised some components of the car but not all however they have ensured that they have enough of spares to meet the customer’s demands.Maintenance costs would be similar to the Logan and to get a better idea, you may check with your Mahindra dealer.

    2. Very true…but the claim from the manufacturer is for every 10,000 kms (or) 6 months,whichever is earlier,the service cost shall be INR 5000/-,whereas dealers pester us to change parts here and there,and the ultimate bill coughs up to INR 12-15K….here we should be very cautious with Mahindra dealers…they are in for a hunt….! Otherwise Mahindra Logan is the best value for money car…!

  4. It is surprising that Mahindra does not even provide for Safety Airbags and ABS even as an Option.

    The colour of the Verito shown above is not available in the listed colours.

  5. I have been highly disappointed by the ways Etios car is made. It has probably the worst finishing for interiors as compared to any car in that segment. Body weight is very little to take leverage of milage but no body from sales team told about manufacturing material of body and safety mechanism. This is not a Toyota…..High disappointing.

  6. I agree with Munish , its been over month i been driving my etios, The engine sounds real irritating (sounds like some bolts are loosed )u will after driving atleast 1200 km or above , this is the major draw back though i know the raw material they have used is not of good quality , car i light weight off course for mileage concern.

    1. I dont agrre with manish and rajesh kumar. I think both must be having 900 cc car earlier. Remember in 900 cc car you get less noise but with 1400 cc sedan car definately noise level will increase. I am proud owner of etios and enjoying drive since 3 months. It is much spacious and really value for money.

      1. Dear Anand, It is very good that you are not facing the problem of severe vibration and noise in your car. Before buying Toyota Etios, I was also an ardent supporter of Toyota, but my faulty Toyota Etios has spoiled my mood and respect for Toyota Engineering. I also hope that you have bought your Etios with your hard earned money making sacrifices in terms of giving less time to your family and missing out many family events for your work related issues, even I have also bought my etios from my hard earned money. My Etios is a defective car from Toyota manufacturing process.
        Your reply does not amuse me because you have not seen the vehicle physically and not experienced the discomfort of my etios that myself and my family experience. You can always boast of the good performance of your vehicle but I would request you to respect the problems being faced only by others only.
        Please go through the articles on web on noise vibration and harshness and you will be surprised to know that this vehicle vibration can affect your central nervous system and lead to insomnia, fatigue, headache, etc and also lead to shakiness in the body with regular use.
        Please thank God that you and your family are not subjected to these harmful vibrations.
        Anyone who sees my vehicle with naked eye or hand “touch” can feel the vibrations on the steering, seats, dashboard and even the boot space also.
        I have posted many comments on the web with the name “myetios Munish” and even shown the water bottle test on Youtube to show that “Toyota Etios Engine Vibrates like a Tractor Engine is fitted inside.” and “Toyota Etios NVH water bottle test”. You are also welcome to visit my own website to discuss the same at http://www.myetios.com

  7. to venkatesan, ABS ans safety airbags re there in the top end model of mahindra verito and overall the car is grt value for money in 6 lakhs a very affordable and classy sedan

  8. I took the test drives of Etios today. The noise is terrible. What also catches the eye is the odd placement of the dials in the centre of the car. IMHO, Toyota needs to fix a lot of things before it becomes a volume car in the Indian market.

  9. Dears,
    Surprised with Etios reviewes carring Toyota Q class.
    Recently I travelled by Logan with driver Hyderabad to Nandyal via Karnool. around 4 hrs and speed 110 Kms to 150Kms/ Hrs. Some time we touched to 160 also on Hyd. – B’ lore highway. I have Video clip also of this vibrant speedometer.
    During this 290 Kms journey we experienced all adventures, sudden braking, turns etc. Logan is really proved car. So I decided to go for Verito soon.even its – Orthodox rear window.

    Anand Pitke
    Mech. Design Engr.

  10. i would like to buy toyota etios but now i am confuse by reading coment by people saying that not good to buy suggest me .

  11. Pranab,
    I was also willing to buy Etios fews weeks back.. One fine day I went to my accessories guy and I saw Etios there and got excited to just have a look of it from inside.
    I sat inside saw the features, interiors, speedometer place and many things that I made my mind for not buying that car.
    I got out of the car and said thank God I did not buy this car by just going through the Dealers words. They will tell you anything just to sell it.
    I would suggest you.. PLEASE DO NOT BUY IT.
    May be you can test drive – Verito

  12. after reading all these comment ,its very tough to buy a sedan,now i decide very well ,and going to buy tata indigo ecs (not verito nor etios). thanks

  13. I have made up my mind for buying D-4 varito (diesel) after its test drive.

    But non of my closeones approve of buying it b’cos of poor image of taxi, mahindra car ( renault has broken relation ship ) , No gaurantee of varito to discontinue soon, very poor resale value, poor looks, interiors.etc.

    Etios diesel varient is herd to be launched on 9th september and bookings are already started.

    Should I consider etios diesel or go with varito?

    Abhay
    Ahmedabad, gujarat, India

    1. Hi Abhay.,,, do go in for Verito Diesel…good value for money…the only negative factor is to be cautious about dealers…they will exploit u if u r nt a bit cautious…(do ensure you get in writing for maintenance aspects & cost involved for the next 4 years).for Toyota,it is a strict NO NO…and if you prepared for any recalls in the long run…do go ahead with it….!

    1. Do not go by by advertisement gimmicks…it will be too costly for you in the long run…satisfy yourself based on your specific requirements..then proceed for a purchase….!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.