Budget Fun in the Free-Spirited Sprint

I enjoy a fancy, high-tech hot hatch as much as the next person. Will I ever be able to afford one? As single mom and journalist, probably not. As for the rest of SA? Most people can’t even afford a bicycle. Thanks to our newfound junk status, South Africans are driving their cars until they fall to pieces, or they buy new cars that don’t fare very well in crash safety tests (anything is safer than a taxi, right?). Therefore, the next best thing is a B-segment hatch such as a Toyota Etios.

At R 172 600, The new Toyota Etios Sprint is not what I’d call cheap, but at least you are driving a product with a Toyota badge, and not some questionable Chinese brand. The Sprint replaces the mid-grade Etios Xs, and is indeed prone to a little fast frivolity. The Etios has recently enjoyed a mild facelift (inside and out) and is looking all the better for it.

Cabin layout and quality

There were a few issues with build quality when the original Etios launched, but the latest Etios seems to have pulled up its socks considerably. Toyota says that all models have received “an upgrade to interior tactile elements, creating a greater feeling of solidity”. The layout is much like the previous with the wannabe-retro rev counter and speedo still in the middle of the dashboard, but the all-round impression of quality is better. Still plenty of hard plastics, and in slightly different textures. The glossy black radio unit looks quite upmarket, is easy to operate and has Bluetooth functionality. You can plug in your memory stick or phone via the ports on the radio fascia (hidden underneath a near-invisible flap), and there’s the added bonus of a CD player. The audio system has 4 speakers.

Practicality?

The seat material has a velvety texture, and doesn’t feel cheap at all. Space in the back is impressive - I had less knee-room in the back of the Mercedes-Benz GLA due to its sporty front seats. The back seat of the Etios will easily fit 3 adults, and an added bonus is that both the front and rear windows are electrical.

The boot isn’t large, but not too pokey either at 251 litres. Access to the boot is granted by physically unlocking it from the outside with your car key, and I did not find it much of an inconvenience On the plus side, should you forget to lock your car, at least the thieves won’t be able to get to the boot so easily.

A drive around town & beyond

Of all the “budget” cars in this segment, the Etios Sprint is the one with the most naturally aspirated gusto.The rev-happy 1.5-litre engine feels like it wants to prove itself  - as if it knows you actually wanted a VW Polo GTI but the Etios was all you could afford. If it could talk, it would probably egg you on by saying: “Come on, come ON! WHAT the heck are you waiting for?” As such, you forgive the econo-plastics and the distracting instrument binnacle, and you just put your foot down. For a budget drive, this is rather entertaining! The gearbox is slick and the Sprint’s pliant suspension is well-suited to our poorly maintained road surfaces. Putting the 5-speed gearbox into reverse was so easy that I thought I’d done it wrong.

Safety

The Etios has two airbags for the front passengers, as well as ABS, EBD, ISOFIX seat anchorage points and 3-point seat belts for all, including the middle passenger in the rear.

As much as I’d like to say, ‘by all means, buy an Etios’, I’d probably recommend the Renault Sandero 66 kW Turbo Expression instead, priced at R 159 900. That’s a fair bit more affordable than the Sprint. And not because it’s more fun - because it isn’t - but because it’s safer, and let’s be honest, it’s much more handsome. The biggest advantage the Sandero has over the Etios is ESP (Electronic Stability Program), a safety feature that has since become compulsory in European cars. As much as I love driving the Etios, the Sandero just makes more sense.

The Numbers

Name: Toyota Etios Sprint

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated,

Power: 66 kW

Torque: 132 Nm

0-100 km/h: 11.3 sec

Top Speed: 165 km/h

Fuel tank: 45 litres

Realistic fuel consumption: 7.5 litres per 100 km

Boot size: 251 litres

Warranty: 3-year/100 000 km warranty

Service Plan: 2-year/30 000 km (service intervals 10 000 km)

Also consider: Polo Vivo