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Toyota GR Yaris

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Expert Rating

Toyota GR Yaris

(2020 – present)

    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


    Media reviews


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

    Auto Express

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    Autocar

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    Car

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    Car Keys

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Daily Mail

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    Eurekar

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    Evo

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    Parkers

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    The Intercooler

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    The Sun

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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    Which?

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    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

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    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 AwardsJeremy 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


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    Buy a Toyota GR Yaris


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    Subscribe to a Toyota GR Yaris


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    The Toyota GR Yaris has received universal praise from UK reviews for its performance and handling, and has won a host of awards.Toyota GR Yaris