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The Toyota Raize: A Sign of the Times

Toyota rose to the challenge with the Raize, and a few years down the line, it’s still topping the charts.

Earl Lee
Car of the Week Toyota Raize

The Toyota Raize is a relatively new nameplate in the market. It’s no Corolla, it’s not Vios, heck, it’s no Wigo when it comes to its tenure in the market. A shared platform between Toyota and Daihatsu, the subcompact crossover made headlines not just because it was a Toyota, but because it was something different that was needed. 

An entry-level crossover, the Raize presents a decent package for a decent price, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Now, the market in the Philippines has crossed over, pun intended. High ground clearance, SUV-like looks, and a little more emphasis on comfort, are all features that people are looking for. The Raize was the third most popular car on AutoDeal in 2023, finishing behind the Ford Ranger and Ford Territory. Toyota still had the most entries in our top 20 most inquired-for cars last year, but the Raize was the most requested car from the Toyota stable in the country which is impressive given that the Yaris Cross is in the picture now. 

Toyota Raize

Prior to the Raize, Toyota’s subcompact volume sellers included the likes of the Vios and the Wigo. Other manufacturers had subcompact crossovers, and Toyota had no answer to the affordable crossovers that were popping up left and right until the Raize was announced. 

The model came at a time when people were looking for a practical car that they wouldn’t have to worry about. A practical car that would fit a good number of people comfortably, and a practical car that didn’t cost an arm and a leg to own. Given the price point of the Raize, given that it has a Toyota badge, and given that it has at least one engine option that is rather capable given its size, people went for it. The price was just about right for the segment at the time as well. 

Toyota Raize Front

The Raize starts at over P1,063,000 at the time of writing. That makes it one of the pricier options out there given the price, and yet people are still very willing to buy it. It’s a combination of things, really. The Toyota badge is one thing, but you should also count the peppy engine, the advanced safety technology, the digital screen, and the modern infotainment system. The package is decent, though the price is a bit on the steep side. 

Then again, it is a Toyota, it is in demand until now, and it does have that reliability factor that a lot of Toyota loyalists hark about. However, it’s not a hundred percent a Toyota per se because it is a Daihatsu, but that hasn’t stopped it from selling well. Again, the third most popular car overall last year, and that’s even after a good number of years in the market, and no facelift (at least at the time of writing). You’d sort of expect the Raize to suffer a little bit in terms of interest after a good amount of time without an update, but the numbers state otherwise. 

Toyota Raize Interior

There is only one trim level to worry about and no spec check between models that you have to worry about. For that price, you will get a 1.0 turbo engine. It’s a three-cylinder turbo, so it’s not the smoothest thing out there, but it offers 96 hp and 140 Nm of torque mated to a CVT. As per our testing, power, and torque figures match up to our expectations, and it’s a pretty good city slicker and a decent out-of-town machine. It's no Yaris Cross in terms of its specifications and features, but it will definitely get you to your destination. The infotainment system does come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is one of the first things that we look for whenever we check the head unit of a vehicle. Apart from that, a reverse camera is present, a set of LED headlights that are quite bright and a nice changeover from halogen, and finally a ground clearance figure of 200mm, which is about as tall as an SUV. 

Toyota Raize

Is the Toyota badge what makes this car so successful? Take that away and put on a the Daihatsu “D,” and one has to wonder: Will it have the same appeal? 

Covering the badge up and just driving it, there are a few things of note. The first is the engine. While it is small, it gets up to city driving speeds relatively quickly which is the push that most people need anyway on the daily. Overtaking speed, don’t expect too much, but it’s enough. The turbo pushes just enough horsepower and torque from the three-cylinder to help it overtake. You won’t win any races, however. 

At the end of the day, it’s also perfect if you are also conscious about your fuel consumption because we were able to get 10 km/L in the city and a staggering 25 km/L on the highway which is up there and one of the best results we have from a non-hybrid variant. 

Toyota Raize

We feel that there are three things going for the Raize on its own aside from the fact that it is being sold by Toyota. 

The first is that it is a practical car. Crossovers are in vogue at the moment because they offer versatility and practicality. The seating is adaptable to any situation, and owners will find the added vertical height of the cargo hold to be quite useful. 

Next is the fuel economy, which met our expectations in most areas but exceeded them when at a more consistent and fast pace. 

Lastly, it’s the fact that crossovers are what people are looking for. Sedans are falling out of favor with a majority of the car buyers out there, not just in the Philippines but also in the rest of the world. The challenge that most brands are facing, at least as far as we’ve noticed is with regard to how much value they can cram into an automobile given a certain affordable price point. 

A sign of the times, indeed it is. People want crossovers, but even more people want crossovers that they can afford. The Raize offers just enough compromise and a not too out-of-reach price tag. Perhaps that’s why the Vios fell down in ranking. If you were given the choice today to buy a car, wouldn’t you go for the one that will avoid all the bumps and potholes on the road and give you great fuel efficiency and practicality to boot? It seems like a no-brainer if you ask us. 

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