Toyota Veloz 2022 Review

In the Malaysian market, seven-seater B-segment models have always been a popular choice for family users—offering both the flexibility for daily commuting and practicality for group outings, all at an affordable price. The 2022 Toyota Veloz 1.5 AT enters this niche market as a new contender, bringing Toyota's brand reliability, superior safety features, and 7-seat layout. In this test drive, we focus on whether it can strike a balance between being "sufficient" and "practical".

First, looking at the exterior, the Veloz adopts a youthful design approach with overall sharp lines that appear bold but not overly rugged. The front features a large trapezoidal grille with a black honeycomb pattern inside, surrounded by a chrome trim that enhances its refined look. On either side, the sharp LED headlights connect to the grille, broadening the visual width, while the daytime running lights are strip-shaped, offering high visibility when lit. The side profile showcases the typical MPV silhouette, but the waistline runs continuously from the front to the rear, complemented by 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, ensuring it doesn’t look too bulky. The rear design is relatively simple, with LED taillights in a horizontal layout connected by a chrome strip in the middle. A silver skid plate is integrated into the lower part of the rear bumper, adding a touch of crossover style. Overall, the exterior design isn't overly flashy, but the details are well-executed, catering to the aesthetics of most family users.

Inside, the interior layout focuses on practicality, with a black and beige color combination that creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. Most of the material used for the dashboard is hard plastic, but the textured surface treatment ensures it doesn’t feel cheap. The 9-inch central touchscreen is the visual focal point, positioned slightly higher, so interaction requires minimal head movement. The screen responds quickly and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making smartphone connectivity effortless. The instrument cluster features a 7-inch color TFT screen that displays information like fuel consumption, speed, and safety system statuses in a clear and readable manner. In terms of features, the Veloz is well-equipped: the HUD (head-up display) projects speed and navigation information, reducing distractions; front seats are manually adjustable and have two storage pockets on the backrests of the seat; the rear seats come with independent air vents and USB ports, and even the third row has air vents; the multifunctional steering wheel includes buttons for volume control, calls, and cruise control, providing convenient operation. The rear seats can be folded in a 6:4 split and can slide backward and forward, expanding the trunk space after being folded flat. This is practical for carrying strollers or large suitcases in daily use.

Space is a significant highlight of the Veloz, with a 2750mm wheelbase, making it one of the longest in its class. When the front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position, a 175cm passenger has about a fist and a half of headroom and ample legroom. The second-row seats have a large sliding range, and when moved to the backmost position, there's about two fists of legroom and a fist of headroom. The flat floor in the middle ensures that seating three people in the second row doesn’t feel cramped. The third-row space is relatively compact, suitable for children or short trips with adults. When the second-row seats are pushed forward, there is about a fist of legroom and four fingers of headroom in the third row. The trunk offers a regular capacity of 498L, which can easily fit three carry-on suitcases. Folding down the third-row seats expands the space to nearly flat, making it very practical for transporting larger items. As for storage spaces, the front door panels have cup holders and storage slots, there’s a wireless charging pad (not listed in the specifications, but discovered during the test drive) under the dashboard, and the armrest box has a decent capacity, offering ample spots for daily small items.

In terms of performance, the Veloz is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, with a maximum horsepower of 106PS and a maximum torque of 138N·m (not specified in the configuration table but accurate in practice), paired with a CVT transmission. The power output during startup is smooth and without jerks, making daily commuting in the city easy for starting and following traffic. However, when accelerating beyond 80 km/h, the power feels somewhat weak, and overtaking requires stepping on the accelerator in advance. The transmission simulates gear shifts and raises the RPMs to provide power. There are two driving modes, Eco and Normal. In Eco mode, the throttle response is slightly slower, suitable for highway cruising and fuel efficiency; in Normal mode, the power response is more proactive, suitable for city driving. The chassis features a front MacPherson strut and a rear torsion beam setup (the configuration table incorrectly lists the rear as MacPherson, but in reality, it is a torsion beam). The suspension is tuned for comfort, effectively absorbing most bumps when driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, ensuring it doesn't feel too bumpy. During cornering, noticeable body roll is present but within acceptable range; after all, it’s a family car with a focus on comfort. The steering is light and effortless, making it easy for women to drive. At higher speeds, the steering becomes heavier to enhance stability.

In terms of handling and comfort, the Veloz's steering wheel has minimal play and is relatively precise, making city turns and parking quite agile. The chassis performs well in filtering out small bumps, so when driving on cement roads or gravel roads, the cabin doesn’t experience excessive vibration. The brake pedal feels linear, with evenly distributed braking power, and the vehicle remains stable during emergency braking. Fuel economy is average, with a city fuel consumption of about 6.5L/100km and a highway fuel consumption of approximately 5.5L/100km. A full tank of 43L offers a range of roughly 600km, which meets the fuel-saving needs of family users. In terms of noise control, engine and tire noise are minimal at city speeds, while wind noise becomes noticeable at highway speeds. However, among vehicles in the same class, its noise control stands out and doesn’t hinder conversations inside the cabin.

Safety features are a highlight of the Veloz, with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) standard across all variants. This includes features such as the Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic High Beam, and Adaptive Cruise Control. These features are rarely seen in this vehicle class, especially Adaptive Cruise Control, which is very convenient and reduces fatigue during highway driving. Additionally, six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, automatic parking, and hill-start assist are also standard, leaving no safety gaps and providing sufficient peace of mind for family users.

After the test drive, the Veloz provides a well-balanced overall performance. Compared to its competitors in the same class, such as the Honda BR-V or Perodua Alza, the Veloz stands out with higher safety features, a longer wheelbase, and more flexible space. Priced at RM95,000, it is within a reasonable range and offers outstanding value for money. It is suitable for families that prioritize space, safety, and practicality, especially those with two kids who occasionally need to transport elderly family members. It caters well to daily commuting and weekend road trips; it is also ideal for budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable, well-equipped seven-seater vehicle.

Overall, the 2022 Toyota Veloz 1.5 AT has no obvious shortcomings. It boasts an appealing exterior, practical interior, spacious cabin, rich features, outstanding safety performance, and sufficient power for daily use. If you are in need of a dependable family seven-seater car, the Veloz is worth considering.