A few months after the launch of its Malaysian-brand counterpart, UMW Toyota has finally launched the all-new Toyota Veloz. Fetching a price of RM95,000, the Veloz is more expensive than the Alza AV by about RM20,000.
Launched in one variant only, the Veloz is powered by the same 1.5-litre engine (106 hp/138 Nm) and gets the same CVT as the Alza. Powertrain aside, here is how the Veloz and Alza compare against one another.
1. Exterior – Tougher look, two-tone paint job
At the front, the Veloz sports a different set of headlights and a different bumper that both give it more presence compared to the Alza. There is also a chrome garnish that stretches from the headlights all the way to the D-pillar, highlighting the car’s shoulder. The wheel arches also have a prominent indent.
As for the rear, the Veloz’s taillights span the car’s width, with only a small interruption from the Toyota emblem in the middle. The rear bumper design is also different, and a ‘VELOZ’ lettering is perched on the tailgate. Special to the Veloz is a two-tone paint job that is available with the silver and the blue base colour.
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2. Bigger wheels and more ground clearance
The wheels on the Veloz are 17 inches in size, which is one inch bigger than the 16-inch wheels on the Perodua Alza AV. In the Alza range, the base-spec Alza gets an even smaller set of 15-inch wheels. Together with the bigger wheels, the Veloz also has a higher ground clearance at 190 mm compared to the Alza’s 160 mm (AV & H variant) and 150 mm (X variant).
3. Interior – Wireless charging, automatic AC control, and ambient lighting
Inside, the Veloz runs a different colour scheme than the Alza, foregoing all of the Alza’s red elements. In terms of convenience, the centre console of the Veloz adds a Qi 2.4 wireless phone charger. Unfortunately, there is still no storage space in front of the gear lever in the Veloz, although the space is now minimised due to the gear lever being pushed forward to account for the new wireless charging pad.
Sprucing up the interior is a bluish ambient lighting system that can also be seen on the centre console. Above the centre console on the dashboard is a different set of Air Conditioning controls, as the Toyota Veloz comes with automatic climate control.
4. Tilt & Telescopic Steering Adjustment
Enabling you to get the perfect driving position in the Toyota Veloz is the tilt and telescopic steering adjustment. The Alza only offers tilt adjustment, which is a spot of bother for those with long legs but short arms and vice versa. Both the Veloz and Alza have the same set of control buttons on the steering wheel.
5. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Like the Alza, a floating 9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit takes centre stage on the dashboard. However, the unit in the Veloz provides phone connection via wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as opposed to the wired connection in the Perodua Alza. However, the 7-inch multi-info display unit for the driver is mostly similar to the Alza’s.
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6. Vehicle Telematics System
Special to the all-new Veloz is a Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) that allows the owner to keep track of the vehicle’s location via an app. The connectivity is 24 hours, and the owner can check on the status of the vehicle, including the speed it is travelling (if the owner is not in the vehicle). Should the vehicle be stolen, VTS enables a Command Centre to locate it via GPS signals and inform the relevant authorities who can retrieve the vehicle.
At RM20k more, the Toyota Veloz adds a decent amount of features over its Malaysian-brand counterpart. While some may scratch their heads at the RM20k price difference, the Veloz has already received more than 5,200 bookings ahead of its launch. It comes with a comprehensive five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, and additionally, UMW Toyota Motor offers a 24SEVEN Road Assist package to its customers.
