Pint-sized and punchy, the T Sport is the flagship of Toyota's Yaris range,a 118mph flyer that has the right blend of performance, handling and dynamics to justify the little supermini's sporting status.

There's been a lot of badge-engineering in recent years, with standard models sold as "sporty" after just a few superficial styling changes - a spoiler here, a stripe there - and the appearance somewhere on the bodywork of the letter "S".

Rarely does an uprated engine or performance-tuned suspension figure in this sort of equation, but a combination of clever marketing and price adjustments keeps these impostors ever-popular.

Toyota have taken a different track, determined that if a Sport is what you buy, then sporting is what you get. The T Sport - whether you choose a Yaris, Corolla or Celica version - is a reflection of Toyota's successful motorsport heritage, and helps carry the torch for their future ambitions in Formula One racing.

The performance Yaris easily stands apart from stablemates - aside from the distinctive red T Sport logo, it is 20mm longer and 20mm lower, hassix-spoke alloys with slipper-width tyres, and carries the theme through to the inside, with unique analogue instruments, aluminium-effect trim, and sports seats.

You can't fail, either, to notice the deep front and rear bumpers, body sideskirts and mesh grille, which add to the squatter, more purposeful stance.

At £11,995, it also offers a fair amount of interior comforts. Standard fare includes a CD player, electric front windows, air conditioning, a manual sunroof, a trip computer, and tilt-adjustable steering column.

Although only a three-door, there's reasonable access to the rear, and the back bench slides to allow for longer legs. Surprisingly, there's far more cabin room than you'd think; it's a genuine small-outside/big-inside design success.

With crash and braking safety well covered, and state-of-the-art security including an immobiliser, it remains only to have a closer look at the engine and on-road capabilities. The T Sport's 1.5 litre Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVTi) is fast, but not too furious, and will touch 60mph in just under nine seconds.

It can leap up the decibel scale, too, but it does beg to be worked quickly through the five manual gears. With 105bhp developed at 6,000rpm, there's room across the rev counter for useful economy if you don't want to rip it up.

Almost 50mpg is the country figure, with a combined 40.9mpg overall. That's a very attractive return, especially when set against the low CO2 emissions of 164g/km.

The dropped and tuned suspension produces some lively, but extremely sure, handling, and the Yaris is keen to tackle the tightest corners. The stiffer suspension doesn't compromise the ride quality too much, although it makes sense to avoid rougher road surfaces.

As the head of the Yaris range, the T Sport has the kind of quality build that will please buyers.

Details at a glance:

Toyota Yaris T Sport 1.5 £11,995. Toyota Yaris 3 and 5-dr range from 1.0S(£6,995) to T Sport.

Bodyshell/drivetrain: 3.63m by 1.66m, 3-dr hatchback; 1497cc, 105bhpfour-cylinder engine, driving front wheels through 5-speed manual gearbox.

Company car tax liability: 164g per km CO2 emissions (15 per cent of cost ofcar when new, taxed).

Performance/economy: top speed 118mph, 0-62mph in 9 seconds.

Official fuel figures: city 32.1mpg, country 48.7mpg, combined 40.9mpg.

Fuel tank: 45 litres.

Insurance group: 7.

Warranty: three years/60,000 miles.

Updated: 10:44 Friday, January 10, 2003