Fans of true high-performance hot hatches may be disappointed by Toyota's new Yaris RS, but those seeking a decently warm five-door package combining sporting flavour with plenty of standard equipment could well be won over.
Based on the flagship of the European Yaris range, the RS is being offered as a limited edition model here at a $29,990 list price.
Power comes from the same 1.8-litre engine that is standard across the Corolla range, mated in this case to a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine is tuned to produce peak outputs of 98kW and 173Nm, which represents a substantial gain over the usual 1.5-litre Yaris, but is well short of a seriously hot hatch.
Though the body kit is thorough - extending to unique bumpers, a sports grille, side skirts and a chrome exhaust - its overall effect is discreet.
Nor, unless one inspects carefully, is it apparent that the RS sits on lowered sports suspension. Even I was surprised, on taking a closer look, to find that the smart alloy wheels are 17-inchers, and the tyres are 205/45s.
Inside, Toyota strikes a nice balance between adding sports features, support front seats, a three-spoke leather steering wheel and sporty-style instrumentation, and keeping handy features such as the fold-flat rear seats that make the standard Yaris such a practical car.
There is plenty of standard equipment too, including a keyless entry and go system, nine airbags (including a driver's knee-bag), and an MP3-compatible sound system with iPod plug-in. The RS is the first Yaris in the New Zealand range to feature electronic stability programming.
Having spent the weeks preceding the arrival of the Yaris driving a succession of large automatic saloons and SUVs, it was refreshing to step down (quite literally) into the Yaris.
Aside from the firmer ride and additional road rumble generated by its tyres and suspension, the RS feels little different from a standard Yaris around town. Out on the highway, though, the extra power and torque make for smarter progress, with the ability to stay in the higher gears for longer on hills a notable feature.
Pointed in the direction of tighter roads, the engine's greater flexibility is also apparent, and most beneficial when ambling along with a minimum of fuss.
Up the ante by driving the RS like a sports car on a twisty stretch, and it responds with mixed messages.
Acceleration between bends is strong rather then eager, with the engine revving willingly enough, but with little in the way of a sporting note.
The steering is precise, turn-in to bends sharp, and the chassis hangs on well with little body roll. Yet, perhaps because the combination of those wide tyres and the stability control system is more than the RS really needs, its pace is blunted when exiting bends under hard cornering by progressive but marked understeer.
Perhaps that's why, though I enjoyed the RS's sporting side, the thing that impressed me most was the way in which that aspect of the car was so well integrated with the more practical features.
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