Toyota South Africa Motors has quietly added a sixth derivative to its Etios range, applying the “Sport” badge to the hatchback body style and positioning the new limited-edition variant near the middle of the line-up.
Priced at R178 800, the Etios Sport commands a R2 500 premium over the 1,5 Sprint hatch on which it is seemingly based.
So, what sets the new model apart? Well, the new Etios Sport effectively boasts a two-tone paint-job, with the roof (and A-, B- and C-pillars) finished in black as standard.
From what we can tell, the body will be offered in either Glacier White or Retro Red, each paired with the aforementioned black roof. The front grille, meanwhile, is also painted black, as are the side-mirror caps, while a black spoiler has been added round back. Model-specific 15-inch alloys and “Sport” badging are also part of the package.
Standard features carried over from the Sprint trim level include manual air-conditioning, a four-speaker sound system (with USB), front foglamps, dual airbags and ABS with EBD.
Despite its new moniker, the Etios Sport uses the same naturally aspirated 1,5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the rest of the range, still sending 66 kW and 132 N.m to the front wheels via a manual five-speed gearbox. And, as with its siblings, the limited-edition Etios Sport is covered by a three-year/100 000 km warranty and a two-year/30 000 km service plan (with intervals of 10 000 km).
Of course, this isn’t the first time Toyota SA has affixed the Sport badge to the Etios: in 2014, the local arm of the Japanese automaker released 200 examples of a variant bearing the same name, complete with an aero body kit and an upgraded sound system.
Pricing:
Toyota Etios 1,5 Xi hatchback: R171 000
Toyota Etios 1,5 Sprint hatchback: R176 300
Toyota Etios 1,5 Sport hatchback: R178 800
Toyota Etios 1,5 Xi sedan: R179 500
Toyota Etios 1,5 Sprint sedan: R184 400
Toyota Etios Cross 1,5 Xs hatchback: R198 400
