For most people, buying a car is a big deal and something not to be taken lightly especially if it’s your first. There are a lot of boxes to tick and Toyota’s little Wigo has five of those down pat, whether it’s your first car, a car for your kid going to university or a “coding” car for days when your daily driver is not allowed on the roads.
It’s got enough space
The Wigo is a mini-hatchback, much smaller than the Yaris. It can fit four comfortably, but can still fit five average Pinoys in a pinch. There’s enough room up front for the driver and front passenger without the need to move their seats set all the way forward to make it comfortable for passengers in the back.
It’s easy to drive
If you’re fresh out driving school, this car is big enough to carry your stuff and small enough for you to build your confidence on the road with. Parking is tougher with more cars on the road now and a small car is easier to park in tight spaces. If you’re creative, you can fit it into places you normally wouldn’t consider with a bigger car.
It’s full featured
It has all you need when you’re on the road: air-conditioning, power windows, and an entertainment system with USB and Aux. The top-of-the-line variant has a touchscreen infotainment system. It has projector headlamps and LED rear combination lights. Safety is key with driver and front passenger airbags and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS).
It’s economical
Anyway you flip it, turn it upside down and inside out, the Wigo’s 1.0L three-cylinder engine will always be more economical than a small displacement four cylinder engine. You can easily get around 10km/liter in the city and roughly 15-18km/liter on the highway.
It’s affordable
Even with the Train Law in effect, the Wigo is still within reach, with the base model at P542,000; the top variant G M/T is P581,000; the top-of-the-line G A/T is priced at P616,000; and the TRD variant is P681,000.
This car will get the job done using less fuel, with a smaller carbon footprint and take up less space. Even if you’re not an environmentalist, it makes its own case, for hour long traffic jams over short or long distances with fluctuating fuel prices. The Wigo is a sensible choice.
Text and photos by Neil Pagulayan