This is your first look at the 2023 Toyota Wigo

It’s been nearly a decade since Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) launched the humble Wigo. Serving as the brand’s smallest and most affordable vehicle, the Daihatsu-derived Wigo is for those that want a small and reliable hatchback that’s relatively roomy and easy on the fuel bills.

Since its launch, the 5-door hatchback has gone through several updates and facelifts, with the latest being in 2020. With the first generation already nearly 10 years old, the Wigo is already due for a full model change. Luckily for us, it seems the automaker has been busy of late preparing for its eventual launch.

This is the all-new Perodua Axia, and while it might not be called the Toyota Wigo, it’s essentially the same vehicle and is our first look at the next-generation hatchback. According to our friends over at Paultan, it’s set to be revealed in Malaysia on February 14 and is now underpinned by the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s also the same platform that underpins the all-new Vios, Raize, Avanza, and Veloz.

Starting with its design, the automaker has been busy giving the hatchback a more stylish look. Not only does it get a sleek new set of LED headlights, but it also comes with a larger grille and sportier bumpers that make it stand out more. The rear, on the other hand, gets bigger taillights and what looks like a larger back window for improved visibility.

Official interior images are not yet available. But based on the images Paultan took recently of the next-gen Axia, it appears the Wigo also will share its cabin with the Raize and Vios. High-grade models of the hatchback will come with a digital instrument cluster, 9-inch free-standing touchscreen infotainment, a new gear selector, and a digital air-conditioning system, among others.

On the technology front, the Axia will be available with the Perodua Smart Drive Assist. It’s basically the Malaysian brand’s version of Toyota Safety Sense which means the Wigo will come with intelligent driver aids. No specifics have been revealed yet although it will likely come with a forward collision warning (FCW) as well as autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

Under the hood, the hatchback will continue to be powered by the 1.0-liter KR-VE three-cylinder that puts out 66 PS and 89 Nm of torque. But instead of a 4-speed automatic driving the front wheels, it now gets a D-CVT which stands for Dual-Mode CVT. Perodua claims it’s the first split-gear CVT system which basically means it combines a belt drive with a gear drive for improved fuel consumption, acceleration, and refinement.

In Malaysia, Perodua claims the all-new Axia is capable of achieving 25.3 km/l or up to 27.4 km/l with the Eco Idle auto stop/start system in play. These figures are based on the Malaysian Driving Cycle (MDC). For the first time, the hatchback is now also available with Power Mode (stylized as PWR) which heightens the powertrain to deliver faster acceleration.

With the all-new Axia set to be launched in Malaysia next week, it might not be long before Daihatsu and Toyota launch the next-generation Ayla and Wigo, respectively. With that, we can also expect Toyota Motor Philippines to bring the all-new Wigo to the country sometime in the future.