2013 Toyota Etios Liva Sportivo in India first drive

The Toyota Liva TRD Sportivo is a 'Sports' edition with a difference. Instead of the normal sticker job and bumper kits that we're used to getting nowadays Toyota have gone a step ahead. They've simply dropped in the bigger, more powerful engine from the Etios. However the car also benefits from the interior refresh Toyota has recently given the Etios/Liva range.

After unceasing negative feedback from the media and customers, Toyota have finally given the interiors of the Liva a refresh. At first the interiors look largely the same with the same materials and layout but the colour selection has been improved. The cheap looking light grey has been replaced with smarter looking darker colours and the new 2-DIN music system really helps the perceived sense of design and style. The aircon controls have been replaced with better feeling knobs and the red gear knob has been replaced with a nicer looking grey unit. The thin seats with a fixed headrest that got a lot of flak for appearing like a cost cutting measure (they actually worked fine in reality and liberated just a little bit more knee room at the back)have been swapped with new ones that feel more comfortable and you now get adjustability in both the front and rear headrests. However tall drivers will find the seating position too high, even on the lowest setting on the new height adjustable seats.

The engine is the exact same unit from the Etios so you get 90PS, nice bottom end torque along with a revy nature and a nice sounding exhaust note. The Liva Sportivo weighs just 20kg less than the top end Etios so performance is very similar. We managed to get a 0-100kmph time of 12.2 seconds, about .3 faster that the Etios. Efficiency will be similar to the Etios' 14.5 kmpl. The suspension and brakes however are untouched which means you have a capable but not very exciting car that grips around corners but with considerable body roll. Overall it is zippy and quick to drive but still competent in terms of handling and not very exciting.

The Liva TRD Sportivo will cost you Rs 7.3 lakh on-road Mumbai and the price hike is because it falls out of the small car excise bracket thanks to the larger engine.