Toyota Wish facelift launched in Japan

While UMW Toyota busied themselves satisfying the niche clientèle in Malaysia, the more practical but never-arrived-in-Malaysia 2nd generation Toyota Wish has received its first mid-life cycle updates. The most prominent design change is the new front bumper design with distinctive darken central fascia together with a slimmer radiator grille that make do without the drooping central section like the current Toyota Wish. However, the two model model make do with the current Wish front bumper (the X and G grade).

At the back, while the changes are very minimal, they do lend a dramatic shift in the look of the newly updated Wish. The previously clean elegant design of rear light graphic has been replaced with after-market-look-alike item with clear lens with a lot of chromed internals with more visible LED, while the chrome garnish has been widened to cover the whole width of the tailgate instead of residing only at the top of license plate depressed section like the pre-facelifted model. The side mirror has been updated with the new design that incorporated LED repeater.

There are no design change to the interior. However, the color scheme and the panel trimmings have been refreshed to increase the appeal of the cabin as well as to differentiate the grades between models. As common with JDM model, there are a million of grade to choose from. For this particular updates, there are 4 specs of the 1.8L model beginning with the cheapest 1.8X before moving to 1.8A, 1.8S and 1.8G. There is only one variant for the 2.0L version namely the Z trim. The details of each variant is describe after the jump.

1.8X

The cheapest 7 seater model here has two choice of interior color, namely beige and blue-black fabric theme, while the plastic parts are predominantly black. There are no body add-on, and the wheel is the wheel cover type covering the 15' steel wheel wrapped by 195/65 R15 tyres. Steering and gear knob are urethane while the door handle is material color.

1.8A

The next model in the hierarchy has been given the updated front bumper, although bodykit is still missing. Interior trim is as per the 1.8X, so is the tyre+wheel combo

1.8S

The 1.8S model is the sportiest among the 1.8L version, with racier exterior appearance thanks to larger 16' wheel wrapped by 195/60 R16 tyres. The interior is still black, but the ambience has been uplifted by the striking blue upholstery combined with either black or beige outer seat coloring. The fog lamp housing are chromed, while the interior gets blue illumination, leathered steering and gear knob, chromed door inside handle and carbon-motif adorn the power window switch and centre console panel.

1.8G

The most expensive 1.8L version is the luxury oriented G trim. While the exterior is as per the cheapest model, it gains a fog lamp as well as 15' alloy wheel. The interior is suitably classier with turquoise meter lighting, leather upholstered steering and gear knob, chromed door inside handle and beige fabric.

2.0Z

The most expensive version of the Toyota Wish happen to seat the least number of seats, with 6 seats arranged in 2-2-2 format. The exterior of the 2.0Z trim is adorned with the over-fender trim that flared the wheelarch to wrap a wider 215/50 R17 tyres wrapping a sporty 17' alloy wheel. As well as the side sill cladding, the exterior makeover is completed by the larger diameter rear muffler cutter. The interior housed a 2nd row captain seat upholstered in black and orange trim combination. The steering wheel and gear knob are black leather item with red stitching. Red also is the theme for the meter binnacle.

Mechanically, the 1.8L version is powered by the 2ZR-FAE 1,797cc lump kicking 143PS@6200rpm and 173Nm@4000rpm of power and torque. Drive is channelled via the CVT gearbox. Front suspension is the McPherson strut type while the rears for the 2WD version is taken care by the cheap torsion beam setup. The optional 4WD version meanwhile gets the double-wishbone rear suspension setup. Stopping power is disc all around where the front one is ventilated.

The higher displacement 2.0L version meanwhile is the 3ZR-FAE 1,986cc mill producing 152PS@6100rpm and 193Nm@3800rpm. As per the 1.8L, drive is via CVT, which is Japanese norm nowadays. Unlike the 1.8L, all version of 2.0Z  gets the double-wishbone rear suspension setup. Both "FAE" monikered engine are equipped with continuously variable valve timing system termed Valvematic.

In terms of the dimensions, Toyota Wish is 4,600mm long, 1,720mm wide (1,745mm for wider-bodied 2.0Z) and 1,590mm tall (1,600mm for 2.0Z). Wheelbase is similar to Perodua Alza at 2,750mm. The cabin length and height are as depicted above.

Small gallery of the 2012 updated Toyota Wish can be found below: