
Vios can be driven on highways for long distances, and it is recommended to maintain a speed of around 110 km/h for better fuel efficiency. Introduction to Highways: Highways refer to high-speed roads, compared to medium-speed and low-speed roads. In environments where low speed is the norm, low speed is considered standard or normal speed, while in environments where medium speed is the norm, medium speed is considered standard or normal speed. Precautions before entering a highway: Check the weather and road conditions, perform a safety inspection of the vehicle, plan the driving route in advance, carry a vehicle breakdown warning sign and a fire extinguisher, and determine a driving and rest schedule beforehand. Items to prepare: The vehicle must have a license plate, and the owner should also bring their driver's license, vehicle registration, insurance card, and toll fees.

I've driven my Vios on several cross-province long-distance trips, and honestly, this car performs perfectly fine on the highway. The 1.5L engine may not be super powerful, but it cruises at 120km/h with the RPM around just 2500, and the fuel consumption is only about 5L/100km, which is very economical. The chassis is stable, though the wind noise is a bit loud, but playing some music can easily cover it. I recommend checking tire wear and pressure before setting off. Before every long trip, I inflate my tires to 2.4bar and also check the spare tire. Remember to bring a bottle of windshield washer fluid, as the windshield tends to get dirty quickly from bugs on the highway.

The biggest advantage of the Vios for long-distance driving is its fuel efficiency and durability. Last year, I drove my 10-year-old Vios from Guangzhou to Xiamen, covering over 600 kilometers on just half a tank of fuel. The steering wheel is light, making it easy for women to drive without getting tired, although the seats are a bit firm—I recommend adding a lumbar support. The storage space is sufficient, and folding down the rear seats can fit two suitcases. Pay attention to the air conditioning cooling; it's best to clean the condenser before a summer highway trip. Last July, during a long drive, my AC wasn't cooling well, and I later found out the condenser was clogged with willow catkins.

When driving a Vios on the highway, pay attention to its lightweight body characteristics. Grip the steering wheel firmly in areas with strong crosswinds, especially when crossing bridges. I usually maintain a speed of 100-110 km/h in the middle lane for the most stability. Driving continuously for two hours can cause backache, so remember to stretch at rest areas. It's recommended to upgrade to lights, as the factory halogen lights provide insufficient illumination for night-time highway driving. Once while driving on a mountainous highway at night, I found the low beams couldn't clearly illuminate the curve signs. Later, I spent 300 yuan to upgrade the bulbs, which significantly improved safety.

For long-distance driving with this car, special attention should be paid to the tires. The factory-fitted Linglong tires are wear-resistant but have average grip, and they tend to lose traction when driving through water at high speeds in rainy conditions. I replaced them with Michelin tires at 30,000 kilometers, and the handling around corners became much more stable. Remember to change the cabin air filter every three months. When driving long distances, keep the air circulation on the fresh air mode to avoid drowsiness. Last summer, I drove long distances with the air circulation on recirculation mode, and the high carbon dioxide concentration nearly made me fall asleep. Now, I always keep it on fresh air mode with the AC on.

The Vios has a 41-liter fuel tank that can run for 700 kilometers, which is fully sufficient for refueling at service areas. I really like that the steering wheel has no dead zone, and my hands don’t get sore even after driving continuously for four hours. Note that the blind spots in the rearview mirrors are quite large, so extra caution is needed when changing lanes. I solved this issue by adding a small convex mirror. The chassis is low, so slow down when going over speed bumps—once I didn’t slow down at a service area entrance and scraped the chassis, which was heartbreaking. For long trips, it’s best to carry an emergency kit; mine includes jumper cables, a tow rope, and an air pump. Last year, I helped a stranded Sagitar owner jump-start his car.


