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 90% based on 18 different UK reviews (as of January 2023).
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 hatch
Engines: petrol
Price: From £29,995 on-road
Launched: Winter 2020/21
Last 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.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Circuit Pack
Score: 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.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Circuit Pack
Score: 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.”
Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Circuit Pack
Score: 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.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
Eurekar
“The GR Yaris is a purist’s delight.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
Parkers
Score: 8 / 10
“Fast, exciting and very different to a standard Yaris”
Read review
The Intercooler
Model reviewed: Circuit Pack
Score: 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.”
Read review
The Sun
“The Toyota GR Yaris is a blistering hot hatch built for racing and adapted for the road.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
Top Gear
Score: 10 / 10
“The GR Yaris is superb – the best Toyota we’ve ever driven.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
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.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of January 2023, 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.
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.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Toyota GR Yaris to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the GR Yaris, we’ll publish the score here.
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
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Toyota GR Yaris, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Ford Fiesta ST | Honda Civic Type R | Hyundai i20 N | Mini hatch John Cooper Works | Suzuki Swift Sport | Volkswagen Polo GTI
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Toyota GR Yaris at The Car Expert
Buy a Toyota GR Yaris
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Toyota GR Yaris, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Discover great deals available on both new and used cars. Find out more
Search for your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Lease a Toyota GR Yaris
If you’re looking to lease a new Toyota GR Yaris, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Moneyshake. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from LeaseLoco. Find out more
Subscribe to a Toyota GR Yaris
If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Mycardirect.
Find out more
Electric car subscriptions from Elmo.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
Find out more