Toyota revised their GR Yaris – and it became even better

Toyota spiced up the whole car world during the 2020/2021 winter season where the first Toyota GR Yaris’ have hit the roads. Everyone wanted to drive it. Everyone wanted to own it. The Yaris probably got the most hyped hot hatch the human race has ever witnessed. Its capabilities are out of competition still to this day, more than four years later. Due to a slight imperfection, Toyota revised the GR Yaris – while listening to us, the car community and its own WRC rally drivers!

First impressions

The GR Yaris has some truly interesting shapes. Some unusual ones compared to other small city sub-compacts:

An even more aggressive front end than the previous generation which seems to bite you when walking by too close, a coupe-like roof line and a narrow rear end with wide wheel arches. It’s like a cute Asian baby dragon which can spit flames already. It’s that small (and maybe slightly undercover) power package almost every petrolhead dreams of. And so do I.

What we’re looking at is a hot hatch, priced at CHF 47’300.- retail (the automatic sets you back an additional CHF 2’600.-). The “Emotional Red 2” paintjob costs CHF 890.- on top but is totally worth it as it transforms the pocket rocket into a premium looking piece of machinery compared to the regular solid white. The 18-inch BBS (!) forged wheels are priced at CHF 2’600 and the Premium Package (CHF 1’900) including JBL speakers, safe exit assistance, heated seats up front and PDC in the car’s front section. Summed up, the car shown costs CHF 52’690. Quite a number for a sub-compact. Approximately 10k more than the previous version four years ago. As the GR Yaris plays in its own league depending technical aspects, it somehow could still be worth the price tag. Continue reading and you’ll probably understand why it costs double a regular Toyota Yaris.

What it’s all about

Originally, the GR Yaris was planned as a homologation car for the WRC. As intended, the new compact racer started to spice up the rally competition… and won!

The latest regulations say you have to build 25,000 road cars, so no one bothers any more. Until Toyota… did. Before the car's reveal in 2020, they designed a rally car from scratch first and set about making it roadworthy second. Nine WRC titles and approximately 40,000 sales later, the gambit has paid off. Goal achieved, right?

Not 100%, yet. The first road going GR Yaris had some minor downsides that Toyota wanted to improve. Especially the interior received a few changes where we get through in a minute. What stayed the same is the drivetrain: a 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine, but with a 20hp power increase up to 280hp, all-wheel-drive system and three differentials combined with a six-speed manual gearbox or a newly available 8-speed automatic double-clutch gearbox.

To the interior

The interior is where this little pocket rocket received most of the visible changes. The biggest and most obvious change is the dashboard and center console. It got completely redesigned and reorganized. Now, it’s way more driver focused, and looks rally inspired compared to the previous version. Further up, the seating position got lowered by 25mm and the rear-view mirror has been reshaped and mounted slightly closer to the roof for a better front visibility.

Space on the back seats is cramped and dark. You know Toyota didn’t really plan on you using the rear seats because not only is head and legroom extremely limited, but the front seat doesn’t tilt and slide very well. Nor is the 174-litre boot exactly big. Who cares? If you want the car, you’ll make this work for you. Believe me.

Driving experience

The GR Yaris still drives like a squirrel. Quick and agile in any situation. As you hoped so. Driving a small powerhouse is an addictive experience, in lower revs it’s a bit lumpy and the turbo doesn’t get going until 3’000rpm, but at the top end it keeps its composure all the way to the red line. The Turbo lag provides pure characteristics and excitement. And it sounds great. Artificially augmented, yes, but enticing and a much bigger noise than you expect. The kind that makes you want to keep your foot in. Additionally, the pumped in sound can be adjusted or even turned off completely.

Here’s something else in the same vein. Most cars have now replaced the manual handbrake with an electric parking brake. Not Toyota. And not only that, but if you do give it a yank while you’re moving, it disconnects drive to the rear wheels. It’s the best handbrake outside an actual rally car. Oh, and yes, it comes as standard in any GR Yaris.

According to Toyota, the Yaris’ 4WD system is claimed to be the lightest on the market. Lightest, but by far not basic. There’s an aluminum central transfer case and in «Normal» mode the torque gets split 60:40 front to rear. That alters depending on the mode you choose. «Track» is 30:70 and «Gravel» 53:47. Max grip or going sideways, up to you. At the rear there’s an electronically controlled clutch pack to divide torque between the wheels.

The fast Yaris might not be as track focused as a new Honda Civic Type-R, but rather feels at home on twisty roads, whether it’s gravel, tarmac or snow covered, the GR Yaris won’t ever let you down. It might be the ultimate get-away ride for bank robbers in ski resorts. This car is made for the Swiss Alps.

Imagine yourself behind the wheel, making your way up the 2’300m above sea level high Julierpassduring winter. The streets are covered completely by a couple of inches snow and Track mode activated. The manual gearshift is tight and together, and you feel intrinsically connected to it. You’reapproachinga hairpin. Carefully braking and downshift to second, turning in, slowly adding throttle and the rear starts playing while the rpm-needle climbs upwards the 2’500 mark. Exiting the corner at 4’500rpm, shift to third, full throttle at 3’000rpm/ 50kph and the rear end slightly starts to play again through that long curve. Ogier, who? Just kidding, but this car gets incomparably addictive you start loving it anyway. It just needs the right moment and street setup, and Toyota has won another customer while you let everyone – YES, EVERYONE – behind during that unofficial rally event on the Julierpass. There’s one downside compared to the first generation I recognized during driving: It’s impossible to turn off the constant beeping by the road sign assist (which doesn’t work flawlessly) or slight helping movements of the lane assist as both of them belong to the new EU-regulations.

Now what to buy

According to Toyota, the GR Yaris takes 10-times longer to build compared to a regular Yaris as both versions do not share the same production lines. There’re endless bespoke parts to this car that it wouldn’t even make sense trying to mix them during production.

This car is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. As homologation specials can be called unicorns these days, the GR Yaris is probably one of the most accessible options right now. So, it still enjoys being in a separate sphere without any serious competition, daily usability in any environment, weather and driving style. Therefor I highly recommend at least a test drive even if you are only slightly interested in buying one of these bad boys.

This car is one hell of an amazing ride. It deserves a big spot in my petrolhead’s heart. I truly need to get one of these somewhen in my life.

To end this review, I want to thank Toyota Switzerland for the opportunity to test drive their Toyota GR Yaris for two weeks. It was a huge pleasure!

Review & Photos by RPM - Robin P.M.