Through it all...

What we like:

Practical interior with lots of storage space. Zippy-yet-frugal engine.  Decent looks.

What we dislike:

Those skinny wheels and tyres. Engine still sounds gruff at high rpms and can be heard in the cabin.  Drum brakes still used at the rear.

Hatchbacks are a small but growing segment. The general impression might be that sedans are more practical, but we beg to differ. Here's a hatchback that has an engine known for its frugality plus a well-built and very practical cabin. It's got the sort of predictability buyers have come to expect from a Toyota.

And yet at the same time, it has pleasant surprises in the form of better-than-expected handling and decent (read: not boring) looks.

Now, who says predictable (and reliable) had to be boring?

Credits: Story and pictures by Jeremy Chua