We just drove the new 2024 Toyota Wigo around the metro and while these short drives usually won’t reveal much about a new vehicle, the new Wigo is significantly different from the older model that improvements are already noticeable the moment you bring it out of the dealership. So, what exactly should you know about the new Wigo and is it the perfect first car?
Same Heart, Improved Manners
With the new 2024 Toyota Wigo, it would be simply appropriate to start with the way it drives. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine carries over unchanged, which means it still produces 67 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque. What’s new for this generation is its continuously variable transmission (CVT) that replaces the four-speed automatic. Ditching the four-speed auto box and giving it a more flexible CVT means that, while the engine has been unchanged, it already feels different because the tiny engine isn’t anymore constrained with just those four gears.
The new Wigo is also more responsive when accelerating from a stop, and while the CVT holds the revs when you accelerate, it feels subjectively and objectively faster than the previous Wigo. We would prefer to have a drag race with it just to compare the two, but then again, outright speed isn’t what cars in this class are known for. Fuel efficiency provided by the CVT should also be improved, but this is a short drive and therefore we can’t fully comment yet on that aspect.
The migration to the new Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform has also improved the Wigo’s road manners. The structure feels more solid and rigid, while the longer wheelbase has helped in making the car feel more settled over bumps. There’s also less road and engine noise creeping into the cabin, though the engine’s three cylinders still let in a good amount of vibrations to the cabin.
Ride and handling have also been improved, but don’t go thinking that this is a sporty car. For its intents and purposes, the new Wigo handles better through corners, but I would still prefer the Honda Brio ever so slightly in that aspect. The steering is decently light, but it doesn’t provide any form of road feel.
More Sharply Dressed
The 2024 Toyota Wigo also gets a completely new look inside and out. The design doesn’t break the mold when it comes to small hatchbacks, but there’s enough modernity and sportiness to keep things visually interesting. What’s even more interesting is the fact that full LED headlights and park lights are standard across all models, including the base 1.0 J. 14-inch alloy wheels are then equipped in the mid-spec 1.0 E and the range-topping 1.0 G we’re driving right now, while nifty features like smart entry with push-button start and power-folding mirrors are exclusive to the 1.0 G.
The new Wigo doesn’t just look great on the outside, but on the inside as well. The previous Wigo’s interior looks very generic with no semblance of style, but the new one remedies that with a swoopy dash that’s angled toward the driver. The materials used are all hard plastics, but that’s expected at this price point. An 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is fitted to all but the base 1.0 J, while a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, and a built-in dashcam are fitted to the range-topping 1.0 G–all for P729,000.
It’s Also Affordable
And that’s the thing to note here. At P729,000, the Wigo 1.0 G still costs less than an entry-level Honda Brio 1.2 S MT. Sure, the mechanical refinement provided by the bigger four-cylinder engine will make the Brio the superior car in terms of power and smoothness, but the Wigo doesn’t disappoint either. Mind you, there are more affordable Wigo models namely the 1.0 E for P684,000 and the 1.0 J for P609,000, so if you’re really on a tight budget, these variants of the Wigo could be perfect for you.
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