The Liva, the hatchback version of the Etios has been launched. Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the base J variant at Rs 3.99 lakh. The top of the line VX costs upto 5.99 lakh.

All variants get manual air-conditioning. The Liva’s base J variant comes equipped with an air-conditioner, a digital trip meter, body-coloured bumpers, full wheelcaps, cooled glovebox and an engine immobilizer.

This variant is sparsely equipped compared to the base Maruti Swift LXI (Rs 4.09 lakh) which comes equipped with power steering that is not offered on the base variant of the Liva.

The top-of-the-line Liva VX is priced at Rs 5.99 lakh and comes equipped with goodies like a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, chrome-inserts on door handles, a chrome accented shift knob and dual tone (Black and red) interiors.

The Liva will also take on the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Figo which has made a very formidable debut since its launch in March 2010.

A key competitor to the Liva, the Brio comes later in the year and is likely to debut at the January 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi.

At close to 12,000 units sold a months, it remains to be seen how the Liva can challenge the market leader, Swift. The Ford Figo is also a strong rival and will take on the might of a well-known Japanese brand.