When it comes to 'warm' hatch GTi models, motoring journalists tend to be a bit dismissive. If you've a sub-£15,000 budget for such a car, they'll tell you either to spend a little more and get a properly quick 'hot' hatch or alternatively, opt for a lightly used 'hot' GTi for the same money. Yet an increasing number of people ignore such well meaning advice. For them, something relatively brisk, relatively affordable and, most importantly, something that still smells new and comes with a full warranty is the way forward. Into this particular breech steps the Toyota Yaris SR.

Stop me if this sounds familiar. Didn't we have a slightly sporty Yaris before, badged the T Sport? Indeed we did, and the SR moniker sounds like the sort of thing that image consultants are paid millions to come up with. If you're the sort of person who still refers to 'Cif' kitchen cleaner as 'Jif' and 'Snickers' chocolate bars as 'Marathons', you probably won't have a lot of truck with the SR badge and will - rightly - concentrate on what it's attached to.

The most significant change, in the flagship version we look at here at least, is the installation of a 1.8-litre engine. This follows a trend of putting large, relatively unstressed engines into hatches that's been popularised latterly by cars like the Fiesta ST and the Volkswagen Polo GTI. Fitted with dual VVT-i (variable valve timing), the unit plumbed into the pointy end of this Yaris SR is good for 131bhp at 6,000rpm and a peak torque output of 173Nm, in this instance chiming in at 4,400rpm. Channelling drive through a five-speed manual gearbox, this translates to acceleration from zero to sixty in 9.3 seconds flat and a top speed of 121mph. So far, so unspectacular.

"As warm hatches go, the Yaris SR is barely above body temperature but it has other qualities that redeem it"

As noted before, inappropriate temptation can be the downfall of cars like these. Rather than dropping £13,500+ on a 1.8-litre Yaris SR, a sneaky browse of the classifieds brings all sorts of serious horsepower into the equation but buying used brings a different set of headaches and bigger bills. Rest assured, running this car isn't going to break the bank but nor is it going to cost a pittance. A combined fuel economy figure of 39.2mpg is okay for a car with this sort of poke and the emissions figure of 178g/km isn't bad either but neither of these figures are class leading, being almost exactly the same as those of a BMW 320i which has better performance and weighs a good deal more.

Mind you, if you're overly concerned about emissions and fuel consumption figures, you probably shouldn't be looking at the 1.8-litre petrol version anyway. For you, Toyota has provided versions of the SR with the more budget-friendly D-4D 90 diesel and 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol engines.

The Yaris' chassis has been uprated to cope with the additional power with front suspension members that have been reinforced and a linking rod introduced between the rear members. The ride height has also been dropped by 8mm to give the SR a more sporting stance and to lower the centre of gravity. The springs and shock absorbers have also been retuned for a firmer ride and better body control, while a thicker anti-roll bar keeps things flatter through corners. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) are standard. The electric power steering has also been retuned from 3.0 turns lock-to-lock in a standard Yaris to a beefier 2.3 turns.

The SR makes its presence felt with a black mesh grille featuring a clear SR badge, darkened headlight surrounds and a deeper front bumper with integrated fog lamps. The rear end also features a re-sculpted bumper assembly, plus a chrome-finished exhaust and LED-style rear light clusters. As well as more familiar Yaris colours, this SR also gets an exclusive paint finish, Alsace Granite. Indoors, there's sports seats, alloy trim detailing, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and amber backlighting for the main instrument pod. Offered in both three and five door variants, the SR looks neat without being overly aggressive.

As usual with Toyotas, the SR stacks up well both upon initial acquaintance in the showroom and on paper. On the inside, the sports seats and doors are trimmed in a fabric exclusive to the SR 1.8. The air vents have chrome highlights, the steering wheel is leather-covered and the main controls have amber backlighting. The instrument panel features hi-tech Optitron units with analogue speedometer and tachometer read-outs. The equipment specification marks out the model's premium positioning, with features such as climate control air conditioning, six speaker audio system with CD player, Smart Entry and Start system and adjustable steering column. None of the SR 1.8's main competitors provide traction control, stability control, a roof spoiler, side skirts, sports exhaust, driver's knee airbag, Smart Entry and Start system and climate control air conditioning as standard. Nor can any match the Yaris's 17-inch wheel size, or the 131bhp produced by its 1.8-litre VVT-i engine.

Safety has become a lead requirement in this sector of the market, which may explain why cars are gradually getting bigger. In a crash, size really matters so it's not surprising that there is some move towards larger vehicles. But not everyone wants or needs a large car so manufacturers like Toyota have used their technical skills and engineering excellence to create smaller vehicles that measure up to the strictest safety standards. This Yaris obtained the Five-Star Euro NCAP rating for occupant protection and offers a variety of safety features as standard such as multiple airbags, Brake Assist, a collapsible steering column and a retractable brake pedal.

The Yaris SR isn't going to set the motoring world ablaze, that's for certain, but it nevertheless occupies a worthy place on the warm hatch continuum. If you're looking for something at the dynamic end, you'll probably be disappointed by this Toyota. If you place a bigger priority on everyday practicality but want something that looks the part and which can lift its skirts when necessary, you'll probably find the Yaris SR more to your liking.

TOP 2 YARIS DEALS

The results below show the top YARIS deals on buyacar

	Toyota Yaris 1.8 VVT-i SR 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £243	Saving £2,656	Price £11,594
	Toyota Yaris 1.8 VVT-i SR 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £235	Saving £2,601	Price £11,149

typical 12.33% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000