When Toyota dropped the GR Yaris in 2020, it wasn’t simply one other sizzling hatch. It was a full-throttle wake-up name to the whole phase, reminding everybody that efficiency and keenness can nonetheless exist in a small bundle. Consider it because the business’s equal of somebody shouting “Get up!” at a sluggish assembly. The GR Yaris, with its rally-inspired roots, introduced the warmth in a means that hadn’t been seen because the 2015 Ford Focus RS.
With a highly-strung 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, a bespoke two-door shell, and a platform incorporating components from the common Yaris and the Corolla, the GR Yaris proved to be an on the spot hit. Now, it has been up to date for the 2025 mannequin 12 months with extra aggressive styling, an additional dose of energy, and an overhauled inside.
What was arguably one of the best sizzling hatch available on the market now guarantees to be even higher. However does it actually dwell as much as that declare? That’s precisely what we’re right here to search out out.
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The Goodies
When first launched in Australia again in 2020, the GR Yaris was accessible in a normal guise and a limited-run model often called the ‘Rallye’, capped at simply 250 items. This Rallye model got here outfitted with all the identical upgrades discovered within the Circuit Pack provided in abroad markets, together with stiffer suspension, lighter wheels, and most significantly, limited-slip differentials at each the entrance and rear axles.
Each automobiles proved vastly common, however understandably, the Rallye was the higher choose of the 2. In updating the GR Yaris for 2025, Toyota has named the bottom model the GT, and the Rallye has morphed into the GTS, however importantly, manufacturing of it’s not restricted.
The GTS comes with a number of upgrades, together with purple brake calipers, two limited-slip differentials (LSDs), 18-inch cast BBS wheels, revised suspension, and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. It even options an intercooler spray system, identical to an previous Mitsubishi Evo.
The updates don’t cease there. The buzzing 1.6-liter turbo three-cylinder has been upgraded to the identical spec you’ll discover within the bigger GR Corolla. Which means it now delivers 296 hp (221 kW) at 6,500 rpm and 296 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque between 3,250 rpm and 4,600 rpm, in comparison with the 268 hp (200 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of the previous mannequin.
Nonetheless, maybe probably the most important single change is on the transmission entrance. For the primary time, the GR Yaris is out there with an eight-speed automated transmission. This new gearbox is obtainable alongside the identical six-speed handbook discovered within the earlier mannequin.
With these modifications comes a soar in worth. In Australia, the GR Yaris is out there from AU$60,798 (~$39,500) for the bottom GT mannequin and $66,008 (~$42,900) for the GTS.
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The Inside: Practical, However May Be Nicer
Everybody loves efficiency upgrades, however when the brand new GR Yaris was launched, not everybody was bought on the brand new inside. It’s straightforward to see why. It’s typically fairly uncommon for a model to make such important adjustments to a automobile’s cabin throughout a mid-cycle facelift, however that’s precisely what Toyota has accomplished, aiming to make the GR Yaris extra driver-focused whereas addressing a few of the authentic’s complaints.
The dashboard has been utterly redesigned, and the central stack is now curved in the direction of the motive force, guaranteeing the whole lot is inside straightforward attain. Toyota has additionally repositioned the rearview mirror barely larger, bettering visibility.
At first look, the brand new cabin is kind of jarring, however I grew to understand its design after just a few days. The analog gauge cluster of the previous automobile has been changed with a 12.3-inch digital show that gives some spectacular, motorsport-inspired shows. Nonetheless, there’s no ignoring the truth that apart from the screens, the cabin of the GR Yaris feels low cost.
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The brand new sprint, whereas purposeful, is made totally from laborious black plastic that feels extra becoming of a AU$30,000 (~$19,000) automobile. The identical laborious plastic continues throughout the remainder of the dashboard, the pillars, the transmission tunnel, and the door panels. Apart from the seats, the steering wheel, and the shifter, there are not any soft-touch surfaces in sight. Even the fake suede patches on the door panels sit over strong plastic. For a automobile that prices this a lot, Toyota ought to have made the surfaces really feel just a little nicer.
On the plus aspect, the seats have been lowered by 25 mm (1 inch) in comparison with the previous automobile. Nonetheless, the seating place continues to be just a little too excessive for my liking. The seats themselves are good, however not distinctive, and definitely not as comfy or as supportive as these discovered within the Honda Civic Kind R.
Learn: Toyota’s Future GR Sports activities Vehicles Will Get Hybrid Turbo Energy
The enlarged 8.0-inch infotainment display presents wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however apart from that, this can be very bland. The software program is devoid of nearly any fascinating options or sporty shows, like these discovered within the Honda or one in all Hyundai’s N fashions.
In fact, you’re most likely not that within the cabin of the GR Yaris. What you actually wish to know is the way it drives, proper? Nicely, I’m glad to report it’s even higher than earlier than.
A Pocket Rocket With Sounds To Match
First up is the engine. Certain, it might solely have three cylinders and a 1.6-liter displacement, however this little unit delivers a sound and character that outshines any comparable four-cylinder available on the market. Heck, it even sounds extra thrilling than the inline-six within the Supra. No joke.
Below full throttle, the engine growls, accompanied by a stunning whoosh from the exhaust, making it sound like a correct rally automobile. There are additionally some pretty whistles from the turbocharger whenever you again off the accelerator. It might not have the pops and bangs of an i30 N or a Golf R, but it surely sounds extra like an genuine efficiency automobile.
As earlier than, acceleration is impressively sturdy. Whereas testing the handbook, we recorded a finest time of 5.0 seconds within the dash to 100 km/h (62 mph) with a GPS timer. This time dropped to 4.7 seconds with the eight-speed automated model, which, not like the handbook, features a launch management system. Make no mistake, this can go away any front-wheel drive competitor for useless off the road, though the auto model doesn’t launch fairly as laborious as a Golf R.
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Computerized or Guide? Both Method, It’s a Blast
Talking of the automated, it’s really a reasonably nice one. Very similar to it’s straightforward to dismiss the GR Yaris because of its small engine, it’s equally tempting to miss the automated transmission as a result of it’s a standard torque converter, not a dual-clutch like some rivals. However Toyota has labored its magic on the gearbox, and the result’s spectacular.
Evaluation: 2021 Toyota GR Yaris Rallye Is The One You Ought to Go For
The eight-speed gives snappy adjustments as quickly as you pull on the steering wheel-mounted paddles. It’s equally as responsive when left in automated mode, too, and can shortly and simply discover the fitting gear relying on the way you’re driving. Admittedly, it doesn’t shift gears as shortly because the DCT or an i30 N or Golf R, however it’s far, far smoother at low speeds.
There’s no jerkiness when cruising round in first gear, nor any hesitation when altering from 1st to 2nd, or 2nd to 1st, as is widespread with a dual-clutch. The auto ought to massively broaden the enchantment of the GR Yaris. However, it’s price stating the gear adjustments usually are not as fast as you’ll discover from the ZF eight-speed auto within the GR Supra.
In fact, hardcore driving lovers could be finest to go for the six-speed handbook. It has a brief, and surprisingly weighty throw, and is a pleasure to make use of. It additionally features a excellent automated rev-matching operate.
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Dealing with and Enjoyable Issue
Let’s not overlook the all-wheel-drive system. Toyota has modified a few of the configurable settings for the GR-4 all-wheel drive system. Beforehand, it had provided Regular, Monitor, and Sport settings, offering front-to-rear energy splits of 60:40, 50:50, and 30:70, respectively. For 2025, Regular has been retained, however Sport has been modified to Gravel with a 53:47 cut up. Moreover, Monitor is now a variable system, intelligently adjusting between 60:40 and 30:70 as wanted.
I most well-liked the previous setup, as having a set 30:70 front-to-rear energy bias allowed you to remodel the texture of the automobile. The Gravel mannequin is cool, however not as helpful each day.
However, regardless of these changes, the GR Yaris nonetheless handles as phenomenally as ever. The noise of the Michelin tires might reverberate all through the cabin at excessive speeds, however when mixed with the Toyota’s superbly engineered suspension system and the 2 limited-slip diffs, they supply unimaginable ranges of grip. The sunshine total weight of the automobile provides to the thrilling driving expertise, and there are few automobiles on the market which are extra pleasant to drive up a mountain highway.
Just like the previous automobile, the steering is superb too. It’s not as communicative as a Civic Kind R, but it surely’s well-weighted and presents Regular and Sport settings. Talking of modes, there are Eco, Regular, Sport, and a Customized driving mannequin. Sadly, the Customized mode solely allows you to tweak the engine response, steering, and air-con within the six-speed, whereas including an choice to tweak the aggressiveness of the transmission within the eight-speed. Most rivals provide extra settings to play with.
As with the unique GR Yaris, there’s additionally a correct rally-inspired handbrake that disconnects the rear axle and allows you to carry out smoky, all-wheel drive donuts.
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The outright efficiency of this pint-sized sizzling hatch is extraordinarily spectacular, however, importantly, you don’t should drive it at ten-tenths to get pleasure from it. That’s probably the most important distinction between the GR Yaris and the Civic Kind R, for instance. Whereas the Honda is comparatively tame and uninspiring whereas puttering round city, the Toyota stays enjoyable to drive at gradual speeds, offering much more theater than its Japanese counterpart.
I used to be additionally impressed with the journey of the GR Yaris. Whereas it solely has fastened dampers, in comparison with the adjustable ones you’ll discover in some rivals, they’ve been properly tuned and absorb bumps effectively. It’s greater than comfy sufficient for day by day use. However, adaptive shocks could be good.
Verdict
There’s no denying that the brand new GR Yaris is extraordinarily costly for what quantities to a really small, and really impractical automobile. Nonetheless, when you think about the bespoke structure of the automobile, its advanced four-wheel drive system, and all of the sporty add-ons of the GTS mannequin, the sky-high worth turns into just a little simpler to know.
We’re residing in an incredible interval of sizzling hatches in the meanwhile, and the GR Yaris is the best of all of them. It’s blisteringly quick throughout a small B-road, comfy sufficient for use each day, seems the enterprise, and gives thrills in any respect speeds. Had it been outfitted with a barely extra premium cabin, it might be nearly faultless.