Toyota GR Yaris - TopCarNews

Toyota GR Yaris (2020 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Toyota GR Yaris is a small, high-performance hatchback that is only very loosely based on the regular Toyota Yaris model. It started development as a rally homologation model, but a change in the sport’s regulations means it will never compete. Instead, it’s only role is as a high-performance hot hatch for the road.

The GR Yaris was launched in late 2020 and immediately started racking up award wins, including pretty much every ‘Hot Hatch of the Year’ award on offer. It’s probably more accurate to think of it as an entirely different car to the regular Yaris – it shares only four exterior body parts with its namesake, and is lower and wider. It also sports the world’s most powerful three-cylinder engine, a one-litre unit pushing out 260hp via all four wheels.

The UK motoring media has been in raptures about the way the Toyota GR Yaris drives, with universal praise for its performance and handling. Criticisms have been generally minor, which is reflected in its exceptionally high Expert Rating of 91% based on 15 different UK reviews (as of November 2021). Incidentally, that’s the same score as a Porsche 911…

GR Yaris highlights

Incredibly fun driving experience
Attractive exterior styling
Very responsive four-wheel drive handling
Serious pace in a straight line
Toyota offer competitive finance deals

GR Yaris lowlights

Expensive compared to regular Yaris
Rather rigid ride comfort
Limited space in the rear
Poor rear visibility
Driving position a little to high

Key specifications

Body style: Small three-door hatchEngines: petrol
Price: From £29,995 on-road

Launched: Winter 2020/21Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: None expected

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

Score: 9 / 10“Developed as a ‘World Rally Car for the road’, the Toyota GR Yaris is no ordinary supermini.”
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Score: 9 / 10“Look beyond the price because the Toyota GR Yaris is no ordinary Yaris. Instead, it’s a car that will be written about and cherished by enthusiasts for many years to come. It’s one of the most exciting cars you can drive this side of £35,000, and as fast as a supercar on the right road.”
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Autocar

Score: 10 / 10“The Toyota GR Yaris is one of those rare cars that seems to be destined for greatness right from the get-go.”
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Model reviewed: Circuit PackScore: 10 / 10“The all-paw Toyota GR Yaris might be the most exciting addition to the hot hatchback market in a decade. Wickedly purposeful, and wonderfully evocative of fast 4x4s of old.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Circuit PackScore: 8 / 10“A car that really shouldn’t exist – but boy are we glad it does. As a concept on the drawing board, most manufacturers would have laughed it out of the room, but the decision to go through with it is one that makes the hot-hatch market a far richer place.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: Circuit PackScore: 10 / 10“This is one of the best hot hatches we’ve sampled in a long time. Its interior quality and compromised practicality might disappoint, but they’re worthy compromises for a driving experience that makes the GR Yaris one of the best cars Toyota has ever made.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Score: 8.2 / 10“The Toyota GR Yaris is a once-in-a-generation rally special, serving up a seriously impressive driving experience.”
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Carwow

Score: 9 / 10“The Toyota GR Yaris is basically a rally car for the road – it’s fast and extremely good fun to drive. There are more practical hot hatches if that matters, though.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: Circuit Pack“As red devils go, Toyota’s rally-inspired and derived GR Yaris can certainly burn tarmac with fiery intensity. This compact, fire-breathing road-going sports car was developed specifically by Toyota from a vehicle designed to win it more championships.”
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Eurekar

“The GR Yaris is a purist’s delight.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: Score: 10 / 10“Toyota’s new road-going rally special is a great drivers’ car of the type we worried we’d never see again. It’s a little gem.”
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Parkers

Score: 8 / 10“Fast, exciting and very different to a standard Yaris”
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The Intercooler

Model reviewed: Circuit PackScore: 9 / 10“Could the Toyota GR Yari really be as good in reality as it appears on paper? Well yes, actually. I’ve driven it on road and track and have no hesitation in saying this is the most capable car of its kind I’ve ever driven.”
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The Sun

“The Toyota GR Yaris is a blistering hot hatch built for racing and adapted for the road.”
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The Telegraph

Score: 10 / 10“Simply stunning; fast, grippy and great fun, it provides all the sensations of a rally car in a road-going package. Every drive in the GR Yaris is going to feel special and it all comes with Toyota’s legendary reliability. We are seriously going to miss cars like this when they are legislated out of existence.”
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Top Gear

Score: 10 / 10“The GR Yaris is superb – the best Toyota we’ve ever driven.”
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What Car?

Score: 10 / 10“The Toyota GR Yaris is a truly special machine. Not only does it pack the firepower to embarrass far more expensive performance cars, but it’s also perfectly suited for UK roads with its startling all-wheel drive traction, diminutive dimensions and incredible high-speed composure.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: “The Toyota GR Yaris is a wholly unique proposition in the new performance hatchback market, having been spawned from a genuine competition car. Its dynamic abilities put more powerful medium hatchbacks in the shade; it’s among the most exhilarating and entertaining cars we’ve driven this year.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of October 2021, the Toyota GR Yaris hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP.

We don’t think it’s ever likely to happen because of the car’s tiny production volumes. The GR Yaris doesn’t automatically carry the regular Yaris model’s safety rating as it’s had so many structural modifications that it’s essentially a completely different car. If it does ever get put through a Euro NCAP test programme, we will update this section accordingly.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Toyota GR Yaris has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and inevitably the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic before re-starting later in the year.

The GR Yaris is a high-performance homologation model, so it hasn’t been designed for maximum environmental performance, so it’s fairly safe to assume that it wouldn’t score too highly if it was ever tested.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Toyota GR Yaris has received

2021

UK Car of the Year Awards – Car of the Year + Best Performance
carwow Awards – Car of the Year + Best Hot Hatch
What Car? Awards – Best Hot Hatch
Auto Express Awards – Best Performance Car
Parkers New Car Awards – Best Car for Thrill-seekers
News UK Motoring Awards – Jeremy Clarkson’s Car of the Year + Best Hot Hatch

2020

Top Gear Awards – Best Hot Hatch
Evo Awards – Best Hot Hatch
Car Magazine Awards – Best Hot Hatch
Autocar Awards – Best Hot Hatch

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