FOR the money, Toyota’s Corolla Sportivo is a pretty complete package. No other hot hatch offers equivalent engine efficiency (141kW from 1.8 naturally aspirated litres rates it in hallowed territory), nor a six-speed gearbox to get the best out of it. On top of that, there’s a leather-trimmed interior complete with – unusually for Toyota – air-conditioning (and climate-controlled into the bargain), plus a decent sound system with six-disc CD changer. But more importantly, the Sportivo’s chassis is able to put the power effectively onto the road and is backed up by a state-of-the-art ABS braking. The performance is similar to the Celica with which it shares much, including not just its engine and gearbox, but also the general on-road footprint.