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bandyose

Hello! I am considering purchasing a 2010 automatic Toyota Vitz. It is a 1500cc and has done 59,000 kms. It will be imported from Japan. I haven't been told specifically whether it will have a CVT transmission. Are you able to confirm that it will have CVT transmission and if so, whether this will be a reliable and viable purchase?

ABayliss

According to data available to us, a Japanese domestic market 1.5 litre Vitz is likely to have a CVT transmission, but we're reluctant to specify for certain which transmission a Japanese domestic market model may have, as there are often variations to specification in Japan.
The best advice is to ask the dealer you're purchasing the car from - he is obligated to tell the truth if asked a specific question. Also, I'd be reluctant to buy any car sight unseen, so I'd wait until I can see, inspect and drive the car before committing to it.

bandyose

Yes, this car has CVT transmission. In a 2010 Toyota Vitz can it be as problematic as it was with the earlier models? Or has it improved? Dealer says it is safe and reliable if it is regularly serviced. Should I avoid it and look for ordinary automatic transmission?

ABayliss

Certainly, later model CVTs have been improved and the problems associated with earlier ones are no longer of concern.
However, as the NZ new equivalent of the 2010 Vitz (the Yaris) didn't have the CVT, I can't be 100% certain that the Japanese domestic market Vitz from that era wasn't still using the earlier generation CVT.
While I can't answer your question with certainty, I'd still prefer the NZ New Yaris with the conventional automatic.