CARS
The compact seven-seater goes down in history as the best-selling MPV in Singapore ever, outdoing all other MPVs combined.
It also offers very good value for money, both on the showroom floor and at the petrol station. Which is why it is also a favourite among taxi companies.
The first-generation car arrived at the authorised Toyota agent Borneo Motors last year - nearly five years after parallel importers started selling it.
Borneo will officially launch the second-generation model next week, barely a year after the parallel importers; and it is as different from its predecessor as it is similar.
Styling-wise, Toyota has moved away from the safe, organic shape loved by so many, to sheet metal with clever creases and folds.
The lights, both front and rear, have gone from prominent statement-makers to low-profile slits with a lot less surface area.
Some people will say the new design is more modern, but I think it is a tad regressive.
The uneasy theme continues inside. The cockpit is characterised by a busy, multi-layered dashboard with strange, elliptical air-conditioning vents and a centre console that is not an improvement over the last - just different.
Occupants will also find far fewer cubby-holes and a single smallish glovebox in place of two spacious ones in the previous Wish.
The flat floor space between the two front seats, which forms a convenient aisle between the rows, is replaced by a half-raised convenience tray.
So, it is arguable if the new car is styled better than the old. What is clearer, though, is that it performs markedly better and is fitted with more safety features.
With a 2-litre dual VVT-i engine, the car is noticeably breezier on the go. (Dual VVT-i is Toyota-speak for an intake and exhaust system that adjusts to driving needs.)
Although the Borneo version has a modest four-speed autobox, it seems to transmit power more willingly, more instantaneously and more smoothly. Changes in manual mode are more deliberate. Hence it is not surprising to find that its 0-100kmh timing is 11.4 seconds, from 13 seconds previously.
Toyota claims a more efficient consumption figure, but this is not evident during the test-drive. In fact, it is found to be about 5 per cent thirstier.
That is not a huge price to pay for the improved driveability. Along with a beefier performance, the car has a more direct steering.
Ride quality, handling and noise insulation remain unchanged and satisfactory. The car has better stopping power, though. It now comes with disc brakes all round, with ventilated ones in front.
It is also fitted with traction control with a stability program, which you can switch off, but why would anyone want to drive an MPV thus?
The model has a slew of passive safety features, too - in the form of airbags galore. Besides the twin airbags in front, it comes with side airbags and curtain-type airbags that you would usually associate with higher-end cars. And you also get adjustable headrests all around.
For a vehicle favoured by families with children, the new Wish scores high on this front. The model has the versatility of its predecessor: easy access to a reasonably roomy third row, 60-40 split second row and seats on both these rows can be folded flat.
Borneo's model comes with a five-year warranty - something not to be sniffed at.
There are two variants, with the Deluxe model tested here costing $3,000 more. Its main difference is an easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment set. The system has sharp radio reception and hi-fi playback and is connected to a ceiling-mounted DVD player.
Even without this, the heightened performance and safety of the new car should make it another hit. If only Toyota had done a better job with the styling.
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