Toyota SAI (2014 Facelift, AZK10)

2014 Toyota SAI

The Toyota hybrid sedan that was Lexus is to the HS250h called the SAI. It came here since the end of 2009 and judging by the looks of it, you can't really tell the difference between this and the more expensive Lexus HS. Now, just like its expensive brother, the HS250h, gained a facelift earlier, it seems that it's the turn of the Toyota SAI to have itself a major nip-tuck but things are looking a bit more different because for the 2014MY minor change, not only the cosmetics are new but also fuel economy of it but we'll talk about it later though. Let's start at the cosmetics...

2014 Toyota SAI

On the exterior, just look at the massive changes on the outside view and judging by the looks of it, it's no longer a bit of a Lexus HS carbon copy although this is still a Lexus HS in Toyota's clothing. Although, I'm starting to argue that such looks kinda reminded me of the...Corolla Furia concept as seen in Detroit except this isn't a Corolla Furia. It's a bit more than that because it tries to draw inspiration from its bigger brother, the Camry, as well as its little brother, the Corolla. Of course, the Camry is available in hybrid-only while the Corolla does had a hybrid variant in two body styles. This 2014 SAI tries to be even more noticeable than ever but it's still not as exciting as it supposed to be. This is like seeing your lady boss in her shoulder pads.

2014 Toyota SAI interior

2014 Toyota SAI interior

Apart from your lady boss in shoulder pads, there's something a bit different on the interior although it's still look like the HS's aside from the Lexus-style Remote Touch. Past SAI models had speedos that read up to 180kph (the JDM norm for Japanese cars) but for the 2014 model, it now reads up to 220kph respectively and it's readable by its reworked instrumental panels that make it more convincing than a Saturday night at the pub. What Toyota also did to the new SAI is by adding some LED illumination on the dashboard to make it more classy yet futuristic. There are so many refinements happened on the new SAI out there but no matter what, it's still the car made for your lady boss in shoulder pads.

The 2.4L petrol engine with Toyota Hybrid System II develops a combined output of about 190PS of power, the same as the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid's, while mated with the rather terrible CVT gearbox for fuel economy purposes. What I didn't know is that the 2014MY SAI now has new dampers to make handling a bit more personal than ever. Sounds hecky-peck but it's still tries to be worth a serious one. For fuel economy, the 2014 model SAI is now 22.4km/L, that's more than the HS250h, and then as for pricing, it starts at 3,210,000 Japanese Yen, cheaper than the Lexus HS.



Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Mica Metallic, Black, Red Mica Metallic, Crystal Stream Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation