How to Open the Hood of a Vios?

[Jasmine]

To open the hood of a Vios, follow these steps: 1. Locate the hood release lever under the driver's seat; 2. Pull the hood release lever; 3. Lift the hood and secure it with the support rod. Taking the 2021 Vios Base model as an example, its body dimensions are: length 4435mm, width 1700mm, height 1490mm, with a wheelbase of 2550mm. The 2021 Vios Base model features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. It is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 110PS, maximum power of 81kW, and maximum torque of 138Nm, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

[SanMargaret]

I previously helped my colleague with his Vios. The hood release is located above the driver's left foot, where you need to bend down and feel for a handle marked with a car front emblem. Give it two firm pulls until you hear a 'click' sound. Don't let go at this point—quickly move to the front center of the car and slide your fingers into the hood gap to find a metal latch. Push it to the left to lift the hood, but remember to locate the support rod beforehand—Toyota's rods are usually tucked on the right side frame. The latch is a bit tight, so beginners might need a few tries. Ladies with less strength should wear gloves to avoid scratching their nails.

[MacMalia]

When I first got the car, it took me a while to figure out that I had to bend down and pull the small lever by the door. Pulling it felt like stretching a rubber band – you had to pull it all the way until you heard the second unlocking click. The key was the small gap in the middle of the hood. Reaching in to touch that cold metal piece always made me worry about pinching my fingers, but later I realized you just need to push it with your knuckle and slide it to the right. Under the front of the car, there's a black support rod. Don't be like me the first time, holding up the hood and looking around cluelessly – that black rod needs to click into the round hole with a 'snap' sound to be secure.

[DelCorey]

I could open this old Vios' hood blindfolded. First step: find the knob with a car front pattern at the lower left of the dashboard, give it a firm pull and you'll feel the cable moving. The key is the second step: there's a gap right below the hood. Reach in and feel along the radiator frame for an L-shaped metal hook securing the safety latch. Grip it with three fingers and push right while lifting the hood panel with your left hand - a crisp 'click' means it's open. The prop rod slots into the red mark on the right frame - way better than those designs requiring manual hood support.

[LaIris]

Just learned it last week and already made a fool of myself! First, find the plastic handle under the steering wheel—it feels like a little tongue. Pull it hard twice, then immediately go to the front of the car, or the automatic lock will snap back. When lifting the hood, pay special attention to the silver clip inside the gap—hook it with your fingernail and push it sideways. But remember to shift into P and pull the handbrake first. Once, I didn’t notice the car was still on a slope, and the hood suddenly popped up, almost hitting my face. Finally, the black metal support rod must be inserted vertically into the hole near the headlight until you hear a ‘click’—that means it’s secure.

[VonEden]

Tips discovered while driving a friend's Vios: After pulling the driver's seat switch, don't release it immediately—count three seconds to wait for the second lock to disengage. There's a hidden trick in the middle of the hood gap—place your thumb against the cooling grille and slide it to the right to find a small raised metal tab, which needs to be flipped sideways. The key point is that the support rod socket is located beside the radiator frame; locate the semicircular groove and press the support rod downward—it's more convenient than many other cars. If the tab gets stuck, use the key handle to press against the groove and pry it a couple of times. I always keep a screwdriver pen in my car for such situations.