Reliability and fuel efficiency are two things that Indians desire from their car. And when it comes to reliability, Toyota doesn’t get any better. But what about fuel efficiency? Don’t worry, the upcoming Toyota has all these things. Here is all you need to know about the recently spotted Toyota.
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New Affordable Toyota Spotted
Toyota has the SUV and MPV segments covered with the Hyryder, Fortuner, and Innova. The Japanese manufacturer is now returning to the hatchback segment to test the waters. The Toyota Glanza has been a decent success, but it still cannot match the sales numbers of the Maruti hatchbacks like the Baleno, WagonR and Swift. Toyota will hope that this new hatchback helps draw some Maruti customers away.
The hatchback that we are talking about is the Toyota Aqua. It is currently on sale exclusively in Japan. The badging has been concealed with black tape on the test mule, but thanks to its distinct design language, it takes barely two seconds to spot that it is a Toyota. The overall look of the Aqua is clean and simple, and with its golden colour scheme, it looks chic and appealing.
But what’s interesting is that this particular unit is the pre-facelift version. In Japan, the Aqua received a facelift in September 2025; this is its older version.
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Powertrain
While the Aqua has gotten a facelift in Japan, its powertrain remains the same as the older version. This spotted test mule is likely powered by the same engine that will be offered when launched.
The Aqua is powered by a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a hybrid powertrain. This configuration delivers an impressive fuel economy of almost 36 kmpl. We can now see why Toyota is introducing it in India.
However, there is one slight niggle. As per Indian tax norms, sub-4m cars with petrol engines smaller than 1200cc are subjected to a 18% tax, compared to vehicles with bigger engines. Additionally, the Aqua is just over 4 m in length. This would mean that if launched in India, the Aqua would be priced high. Can Toyota come up with a solution for this issue with the production-spec?
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Expected Features
The Japan-spec Aqua features a 10.5-inch infotainment screen, a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display, a heads-up display, and an ADAS suite. Some other expected features include front ventilated seats, an electric sunroof, a powered driver seat, a 360-degree camera, etc.
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Expected Launch & Pricing
There are no concrete rumours suggesting that the Aqua will be launched in the Indian market, as the car is still in testing. So don’t get your hopes up just yet. If Toyota are serious about bringing the Aqua to India, we could see it by early to mid-2027.
Due to its 1.5-litre engine and long dimensions, the Aqua won’t necessarily be cheap. We expect it to be priced at around Rs 10-15 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
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Hi, I’m Ravindra Meena , a bike and automobile enthusiast. I share honest reviews, mileage tests, and latest updates about bikes, cars, and EVs to help you make the right choice. Stay connected for real-world insights and trending auto news! 🏍️🚗