Back to Basics: Navigating Today’s Overcrowded Automotive Market

The Malaysian car market is experiencing one of its most dramatic shifts in recent years. An influx of Chinese brands—offering larger vehicles, more features, and attractive pricing—has flooded every segment from sedans and SUVs to MPVs, spanning EVs, hybrids, and ICE models. With so many new players and dealerships appearing almost overnight, car buyers are understandably confused. What car should they buy?

In a climate like this, the smartest move is to go back to basics. Whenever one is unsure, especially when it comes to purchasing of a vehicle it is always best to stay on the trodden path, i.e., to choose a vehicle that is a ‘known’ quantity, perhaps a brand or a model that is proven in terms of reliability and durability rather than go for some newly-introduced brand or model which may look exciting or revolutionary, but is yet to be proven.

What truly matters when choosing a car?
At the core, sustainability of the brand is key. With so many new marques fighting for market share—especially in the extremely crowded B-segment and C-segment SUV space—the big question is: How many of these brands will remain once the dust settles? While it is impossible to predict which new entrants will endure, history gives us clues.

Toyota, for instance, has been in Malaysia for over 60 years, continuing to evolve through constant R&D and model enhancements. Its longstanding presence and proven resilience suggest that it will remain a dominant force for the next several decades. This heritage of reliability, durability, and quality forms the backbone of Toyota’s reputation—one that newer brands have yet to prove.

History is a great teacher – in the last two decades, we have seen several brands come and go from the Malaysian market: it usually starts off with a bang – big launch, lots of noise, many outlets opened, people sign up and everybody is excited.

Then the crunch comes – somebody breaks down, and it takes ages to get the car fixed – maybe it is a parts availability issue, maybe it is a skills or rather the lack of skills issue, but the frustration builds up. Confidence lost, sales drop, dealerships close down, and bit by bit the brand disappears.

The above is the reality of the situation – a vehicle brand, no matter how powerful, needs support in parts, service in addition to just being great cars, and this is not something that can happen without experience and planning – and Toyota has global experience in this field.

Of course, reliability of a brand’s vehicles is a boon – cars that seldom break down do require less attention, be it from the owner or the brand custodian.

Why Reliability Still Wins

The reliability of emerging Chinese brands is a hot topic. While some buyers may experiment with new options, a large portion of the market still gravitates toward the reassurance of established brands. Toyota’s loyal customer base values long-term dependability, and this trust has been built over generations.

During my years in the automotive industry, I have met with and talked to thousands of car owners, and most of these people agree on one subject – Toyota cars are the most reliable cars that they have encountered.

Models That Support Define Generations

Models like the Toyota Vios remain the natural upgrade path for drivers moving up from national cars. Known for their robustness, many owners have kept their Vios for more than 15 years.

Despite some cases wherein the owners themselves admit to not being so diligent in [1] [2] taking care of their car service intervals, these very same owners are amazed as to how their Vios’ have withstood the abuses over the years of ownership, and still serve them so well.

Meanwhile, the Corolla Cross has become a favourite among families and professionals who want a no-nonsense SUV that promises years of trouble-free ownership. The Corolla Cross is built on the Corolla platform, and serves as an upgrade from Vios and Corolla owners wanting to follow the global trend of moving to a SUV.

Upgraders will feel familiar with the controls of the Corolla Cross because the engine, transmission, and even the dashboard and controls are adapted from the Corolla sedan; with it comes the confidence in the vehicle because it drives much the same, and the Corolla drivetrain is reassuringly reliable.

We have had friends [3] [4] owning the Corolla Altis in Malaysia for close to 20 years and they are still good. After such a long time of ownership, they may have changed shock absorbers a couple of times, and perhaps painted the car a few times, but many still run the original engine without ever overhauling them. In addition, these old Altis’ still fetch a good price.

For executives, the Camry—particularly its hybrid variants—has built a strong reputation over nearly a decade of hybrid operation in Malaysia. Anticipation for the new Camry Hybrid is high, and expectations point toward strong market reception.

For hybrids, the main concern amongst Malaysians has always been about the battery life and the cost of replacement. Typically, Toyota hybrid batteries last as long as ten years, so people who own Toyota hybrids have great confidence in them. In fact, on my travels abroad, I have seen thousands of Camry and Prius hybrids, which aren’t just reliable daily rides—they’re trusted by businesses like e-hailing and private chauffeur services, handling heavy use with effortless reliability.[5] 

And then there’s the legendary Toyota Hilux, often dubbed the world’s most desirable pickup. Its global popularity is reinforced by countless reviews and endurance tests—including the famous attempt by a motoring journalist to “kill” a Hilux, only to see it survive against all odds.

A Toyota Hilux is the desired pickup truck amongst 4 X 4 enthusiasts in Malaysia, and is reputed to be the toughest pickup truck in its category. Available with a couple of turbo-diesel engine options, and it is also available as a single cab or a double cab, the Hilux is a go anywhere, do anything vehicle.

You will see it in construction sites, in timber camps, in oil palm estates, in fact, almost anywhere there is a need for 4 x 4 vehicles.

Personally I own a Hilux that is in its eighth year of ownership, and it has never broken down on me. Admittedly I only service it when I remember, and I have changed the vehicle battery twice. Other than that I have only paid for servicing and a rear side window glass that was broken by a flying stone from one of those flail type grass cutter machines, and it cost around RM150 only. I drove it recently, and am amazed at how smooth the engine and transmission still is

The Toyota Advantage in a Crowded Market

At the end of the day, when choices are overwhelming, established values prevail. Quality, durability, and reliability—these are the fundamentals Toyota continues to stand for, and the reasons it remains a trusted choice amid today’s rapidly changing automotive landscape.