2025 Toyota GR Yaris assessment

The facelifted GR Yaris is right here, and what a weapon it’s.

Take all the pieces good concerning the earlier GR Yaris – immense energy, sturdy all-wheel drive system, and crisp guide transmission – and mix it with Toyota’s mission to always enhance the efficiency and enchantment of its autos – and chances are high you’ll find yourself with one thing that resembles this 2025 facelift.

The GR Yaris was already a light-sized sizzling hatch that had no peer, and now has extra energy, higher suspension, and a radically up to date inside, all of which is meant to propel Toyota’s road-going rally automobile again into the highlight.

All that is punctuated by a brand new face that’s extra aggressive, extra aerodynamic and offers higher cooling. There have been some adjustments on the rear too – particularly to the tail-light design, primarily to additional separate it visually from the garden-variety Yaris five-door.

Potential patrons now have extra selection than ever too, as Toyota has fitted an computerized transmission to its GR Yaris for the primary time ever, following the identical addition to the GR Corolla vary.

Toyota says the brand new eight-speed torque converter auto has been developed particularly for the GR Yaris and is mechanically similar GR Corolla, which runs the identical upgraded turbo-triple engine, following continuous refinement primarily based on monitor testing.

That culminates in an computerized transmission that’s claimed to take little away from the liveliness of Toyota’s potent little three-door hatch, with responsive motion, quick shifts and intuitive behaviour being the event targets.

It means the GR Yaris now has way more to supply than the front-wheel drive, manual-only Hyundai i20 N – its closest competitor when it comes to measurement and motorsport pedigree are thought of. You could possibly additionally embody the Volkswagen Polo GTI, however just like the i20 N it’s front-drive, has much less energy and likewise a lower cost tag.

We had the chance to place the up to date GR Yaris by means of its paces on an intensive drive by means of Victoria’s Excessive Nation, in addition to on-track at Winton Motor Raceway as a part of Toyota’s native launch occasion.

The facelifted GR Yaris guide is now obtainable, whereas prospects will obtain the keys to their computerized variations from “mid-2025”. It’s value noting the automated GR Yaris pushed (and pictured) here’s a pre-production mannequin, so it was solely pushed on monitor and will obtain some slight tweaks earlier than deliveries begin.

Does it nonetheless provide the uncooked efficiency that Toyota’s GR vehicles are recognized for?

How does the Toyota Yaris examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota Yaris towards equally sized autos.

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Yaris

How a lot does the Toyota GR Yaris price?

Greater than it used to. The brand new base GR Yaris guide was priced at $51,390 earlier than on-roads in 2024, and for 2025 it’s gained the GT trim designation and a $4100 value hike.

Equally, the earlier top-spec GR Yaris Rallye has change into the GTS, which in its most cost-effective guide guise is now additionally $4100 dearer.

Which means all the GR Yaris vary is way more costly than its most direct rival: the Hyundai i20 N. The Korean model’s gentle efficiency hatch begins at $35,500 earlier than on-roads, which will increase to $36,500 earlier than on-roads in order for you a black roof.

In the meantime, the auto-only Volkswagen Polo GTI is priced at $41,790 earlier than on-roads.

For context, the GR Corolla is simply obtainable in a single GTS trim that prices both $67,990 or $70,490 earlier than on-road prices for the guide and computerized respectively.

To see how the Toyota Yaris strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device

What’s the Toyota GR Yaris like on the within?

Actually totally different – you’ll both adore it or hate it.

The place the earlier GR Yaris was very a lot in line with its road-going equal, Toyota has upended its extra conventional system by becoming a monolithic slab of gray plastic to the dashboard up entrance.

It’s supposed to be one thing skilled by the motive force alone, and as such the images don’t do it justice. In individual it’s putting, and it appears to work higher whereas being way more fascinating than quite a lot of different fashionable interiors.

Put merely, we prefer it, even when it’s a pretty brutal slab of onerous plastic. It homes the GR Yaris’ 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, however we’ll concentrate on its leftmost portion first.

You’ll instantly discover the best way it’s angled in the direction of the motive force. That creates a cockpit-style association, which is nothing new in a efficiency automobile, and helps to focus its pilot’s consideration.

The truth is, Toyota says it’s impressed by the inside of the fourth-generation Supra. See the similarities?

Historical past apart, we discovered the format of the panel’s left facet to be purposeful. Up high is an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which can appear small on account of its thick bezel however is completely sufficient for a automobile as small because the Yaris.

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a bonus, although there’s nowhere to depart your cellphone past the central cupholders as soon as all the pieces’s linked. Different connectivity choices embody two USB-C ports: one central and one in entrance of the passenger.

All up, the design of this entire panel is basically minimalistic. That continues to the local weather management panel, which is solely bodily past its easy digital show – an array of buttons and two knobs. What extra do you want?

All floor supplies are stable, and the place glossier plastics are fitted it’s by no means in an space that must be touched an excessive amount of. You will have observed the array of buttons close to the gear shifter/selector, which all management varied capabilities for each driving and luxury.

There are some for the entrance seat heating, in addition to a change to toggle between drive modes and a button for stability management.

Subsequent to that final button is a clean within the computerized GR Yaris, however within the guide it’s used to toggle the clever guide transmission (iMT) operate with rev-matched downshifts.

Ergonomics haven’t modified an excessive amount of in comparison with the pre-facelift mannequin, and the shifter itself nonetheless sits in an elevated perch for comfy use. Close by can be the GR-4 management dial, which is the place you turn drive modes with totally different front-rear torque biases.

Elsewhere, Toyota says the motive force’s seat has been lowered barely to enhance the driving place. The change is noticeable, although the hatchback packaging nonetheless means you sit considerably excessive and upright – a bit of awkward for taller drivers.

Nonetheless, the entrance seats provide robust facet bolstering and help for spirited driving, although adjustment is only guide. The steering wheel, in the meantime, is unchanged from the pre-facelift mannequin. Within the GTS it’s heated, however each grades profit from a leather-based end.

It appears particularly small within the GR Yaris in comparison with the Corolla, but it surely nonetheless feels appropriately chunky within the fingers. The truth is, we reckon it’s excellent for a automobile just like the Yaris, and it lends itself to being thrown round in typical rally style.

Behind it’s the instrument show, which takes up the entire house allotted by the dashboard’s housing. It’s a high quality unit, and since it contains a barebones graphic interface so it’s straightforward to learn and configure on the transfer.

You’ll be able to flick by means of its varied menus and widgets utilizing buttons on the steering wheel. It’s largely the identical strategy as in different Toyotas, which suggests the menus stay tedious to navigate.

We respect which you could convey up all types of gauges for temperature and stress readings, in addition to a devoted turbo increase gauge. There’s a big gear indicator within the center, which is proven whatever the transmission fitted.

Total, it stays just like the earlier GR Yaris, and there are carryover components just like the inexperienced indicator for GR-4 modes. Switching to the Sport drive mode (unrelated to GR-4 modes) will regulate the display screen’s look, particularly by means of the addition of a race-inspired horizontal rev counter up high.

Different controls are discovered on the sprint to the best of the wheel, whereas computerized variations are fitted with paddle shifters as normal.

Suffice to say the rear seats of the GR Yaris are cramped. That’s to be anticipated given its two-door race automobile origins, so it’d be unfair to knock it an excessive amount of. It was additionally the identical deal within the pre-facelift mannequin.

Full-grown adults will wrestle to take a seat again right here comfortably, with headroom significantly compromised. There are additionally solely two seats again right here, but it surely’d be terribly uncomfortable to take a seat within the center even when there was one other seatbelt.

Rear-seat passengers might want to kindly ask folks within the entrance to slip ahead to provide them sufficient legroom. The excessive rear-quarter home windows additionally imply the second row feels closed in, however once more we will’t think about folks spending an excessive amount of time right here.

Equally, the boot is small however nonetheless useable. The GR Yaris isn’t purported to be a grocery-getter, although you do get a flat, vast flooring with sufficient house for a number of baggage – together with further capability due to the 60:40-split folding rear seats.

A tyre restore package is provided as an alternative of a spare wheel for the GR Yaris. Moreover, beneath the boot flooring is the place you’ll discover the three.7-litre water tank that provides the intercooler sprayer fitted to the GTS.

To see how the Toyota Yaris strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Carried over from the pre-facelift GR Yaris is a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, although energy and torque outputs have elevated by 21kW and 30Nm respectively. New is an eight-speed torque converter computerized transmission, alongside the pre-existing six-speed guide.

Kerb weight figures and gas economic system claims are usually not but obtainable for computerized GR Yaris variants.

Because of the nature of the drive program at Toyota’s launch occasion, we weren’t capable of document a consultant real-world gas economic system determine. That mentioned, a really spirited drive of the guide GR Yaris GT returned figures across the 10.0L/100km mark.

To see how the Toyota Yaris strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device

How does the Toyota GR Yaris drive?

Just about like a rally automobile for the highway, however with a contact extra refinement than earlier than.

You instantly know you’re in for the trip if you sit behind the wheel and that driver-oriented dashboard. There’s not a lot else prefer it in the marketplace, particularly not at this value level or on this phase – that’s a part of what makes the GR Yaris so distinctive.

Press the starter button and also you’re good to go. You’ll discover the marginally off-kilter three-pot idle, and whereas the rally-inspired exhaust be aware received’t deafen you, we’d be mistaken to say it was silent as a result of Toyota pumps actual exhaust noise into the cabin.

We have been impressed by the response offered by the guide, each when it comes to its clutch and shifter. The previous is appropriately gentle with out being flimsy, and it’s straightforward to seek out the chew level after only a few seconds behind the wheel.

It’s subsequently straightforward to shift at pace, to not point out newbie-friendly due to its iMT operate that mechanically blips the throttle on downshifts. The shifter additionally strikes with a brief, crisp motion, and it’s way more approachable than most of the clicky short-throw aftermarket options.

The button to toggle that’s present in entrance of the shifter, although should you’d choose to do it your self the pedals are spaced properly sufficient for heel-toe motion – not that we’re claiming to be any good at it.

In fact, none of that’s new, and we’re sure fans would take pleasure in all of it the identical. What’s new is the automated choice, which is definitely fairly a superb unit.

Pulling away from a standstill is buttery clean, and also you’ll discover the gearbox shifts in any respect the best factors with out holding gears too lengthy beneath medium load. Even shifting off gently, or simply maintaining with visitors, received’t induce any undue clunkiness.

Lay into the throttle, and the torque converter responds shortly. The transmission will kick down simply as a lot because it must, inserting the engine in its ultimate powerband so that you can scurry away shortly. We by no means caught the transmission within the mistaken gear, however there’s nonetheless a guide mode should you ever are.

Flicking the shifter to the best engages that, permitting you to shift utilizing the paddles behind the wheel or the stick itself.

These with a eager eye will discover that the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ symbols are reversed in comparison with most different vehicles, which suggests you pull the stick in the direction of you to upshift and push away to downshift.

Toyota says this was very deliberate, because it now mimics what you’ll discover in most precise race vehicles – significantly rally ones. To me, it by no means felt proper pushing the stick ahead to upshift anyway.

If you end up shifting manually, the gearbox is attentive to inputs. It’s not fairly dual-clutch snappy, but it surely nonetheless strikes shortly sufficient to maintain you cheerful. It does precisely what you need it to and can maintain guide gears in the best drive mode, even beneath excessive load.

That is the form of driving the place the GR Yaris shines, and so it’s reassuring to have the choice of an computerized that doesn’t sap energy from that racy engine.

That turbo three-pot is the opposite space of mechanical change. Its elevated energy and torque outputs, which now match the GR Corolla’s, make the GR Yaris is a correct pocket rocket. Mash the throttle and it’ll choose up pace with glee, revealing to you that it merely likes to rev.

In fact, there’s additionally loads of torque, minimal turbo lag and a comparatively low kerb weight, so that you don’t must be at redline on a regular basis, however for a spirited drive in your native twisty highway there actually aren’t many autos that reward revs with this a lot enjoyable in and between the bends.

Pushing its limits reveals a great deal of AWD grip in each GR Yaris variants, supported by a robust chassis with well-tuned suspension. It’s undoubtedly stiff in regular driving, however that’s simply a part of the package deal.

There’s nonetheless no adaptive suspension to be present in both this automobile or the GR Corolla, which is extra of a disgrace within the latter given its Civic Sort R-rivalling sticker value. Right here, we’re extra prepared to miss that, however it will definitely add one other dimension to this pint-size efficiency automobile.

That mentioned, the GR Yaris handles prefer it’s on rails. It encourages you to go quicker and by no means looks like it should let go, regardless of how sluggish or quick the nook. Certain, the tenacious traction envelope carries over from the previous mannequin, however the energy bump means that you can extra readily exploit its monumental grip ranges and makes its prowess much more obvious.

The GR Yaris advantages from the sporty seats too. They did a greater job of holding us in place than the seats within the GR86, for instance. However given they’re not full-on race bucket seats, and the cornering forces the Yaris generates, that you must anchor your self utilizing your legs round quick bends.

As for on-road tech, the (computerized) GR Yaris boasts a well-calibrated suite of security tools. Its adaptive cruise management and lane-centring operate each work reliably, and whereas it’ll generally stray near the lane markings that’s no totally different to what you’ll discover in most different fashionable Toyotas.

Equally, there’s nothing energetic to beep at you whereas on the transfer, however a disappointing disadvantage is there’s now no adaptive cruise for the guide transmission, which it used to have as normal.

Now for the enjoyable stuff. We had the chance to drive each transmission choices at Winton, and each carried out exceptionally properly.

The automated is nice at doing precisely what it’s purported to do – at no level throughout our laps did we really feel it was holding us again or getting in the best way, a lot in order that we successfully forgot about it till we have been again within the pits.

Toyota’s iMT operate shines on-track too, with extremely clean guide downshifts no matter how excessive it wanted to rev. Manually downshifting the automated model is well performed too, although we did stumble upon the rev-limiter every so often beneath acceleration.

All that means that you can take in its spectacular dealing with, and switching to Sport mode sharpens throttle response and weights up the steering weight. The latter feels extremely heavy on-road, however on-point when clocking laps.

It means the wheel isn’t fidgety at excessive pace, and whereas you’ll generally really feel some playfulness beneath you, it’s by no means unmanageable, significantly within the GTS with its limited-slip diff. A good thing about that’s the automobile offers loads of suggestions if you’re pushing the bounds.

Holding down the traction management button may also interact ‘Knowledgeable’ mode, which disables a lot of the automobile’s security nets for these so inclined. Which means you’ll be able to throw it right into a flip and it’ll merely comply as an alternative of being slowed down by nannies like traction management.

You’ll hear some tyre squeal, but it surely’s spectacular how direct it’s – even when there’s a contact of manageable physique motion to have in mind. Belying its city-car roots, its chassis and dealing with setup is simply so spectacular, and much superior to most of its opponents.

Do you have to take your GR Yaris to your native moist skid pan, Toyota has fitted a novel operate to the guide model meaning you don’t have to have interaction the clutch to tug the handbrake.

You may as well toggle the GR-4 system change the torque supply bias between the entrance and rear, which is 60:40 in regular driving however can go so far as 30:70 in Monitor mode.

There’s additionally a rally-inspired Gravel mode someplace in between, which makes it extremely straightforward to kick sideways. And who doesn’t love an all-wheel drive drift?

To see how the Toyota Yaris strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device

What do you get?

There are two everlasting variants of the facelifted GR Yaris. The earlier base grade is now the GT, and the previous Rallye spec has change into the GTS.

2025 Toyota GR Yaris GT highlights:

• 18-inch Enkei forged alloy wheels
  • Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres
• Tyre restore package
• Black GR brake calipers
  • 4-piston entrance
  • Two-piston rear
• Two-piece ventilated entrance brake discs
• Ventilated rear brake discs
• Carbon-fibre roof
• LED headlights
• LED tail-lights, rear fog lights
• Twin exhaust ideas
• Carbon fibre roof
• Metallic entrance grille, rear bumper mesh
• GR sports activities entrance seats
  • Suede and leather-accented
  • Heated
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-based-wrapped gear shifter, guide handbrake lever
• Aluminium pedals
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 8-speaker JBL sound system
• DAB+ digital radio
• 2 x USB-C retailers
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry and begin
• Twin-zone local weather management

GR Yaris GTS provides:

• 18-inch BBS solid alloy wheels
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres
• Purple GR brake calipers
• Torsen limited-slip differential
• GR high-performance suspension
• Sub radiator
• Button-operated intercooler sprayer
• GR sports activities seats
  • Suede and leather-based trim, purple stitching
• Heated steering wheel

Is the Toyota GR Yaris protected?

The Toyota GR Yaris has but to be assessed by ANCAP and is subsequently unrated.

Customary security tools consists of:

• 6 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
  • Junction help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane Hint Help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Secure exit help
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Reversing digicam
• Pace signal recognition
• Automated high-beam
• Adaptive cruise management (computerized solely)
• Entrance and rear parking help brake (computerized solely)

How a lot does the Toyota GR Yaris price to run?

Toyota backs its autos with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Servicing is required each six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first, in keeping with Toyota’s on-line service pricing calculator.

Service intervals are similar to the outgoing GR Yaris, and pricing for 2025 fashions is similar no matter transmission kind.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota GR Yaris

The GR Yaris was already a ripper of a automobile, and now it’s change into even tougher to look previous it within the sizzling hatch scene.

Its inside tweaks are one thing totally different and, whereas its new look received’t be for everybody, it’s onerous to disclaim there’s one thing uniquely GR Yaris about it.

Higher but, it’s now meaningfully separated from its normal econobox equal, and its GR Corolla massive brother. The identical can’t be mentioned about its facelifted front-end, which seems to be just like its bigger GR hatch sibling’s as a result of they each share modular, swappable parts.

It’s a superb look, although it most likely matches the GR Corolla a bit higher than the Yaris. The rear-end, in the meantime, is very good and Toyota has succeeded in making it look noticeably like a GR mannequin from the again.

However the mechanical adjustments are even higher. Completely different energy biases and extra energy on the whole are sufficient to lift eyebrows, and the automated choice offers the GR Yaris vary extra enchantment to a wider viewers.

It’s a correctly quick automobile, and each transmissions do an incredible job of bringing out the most effective of that peppy three-cylinder engine. We don’t suppose there’ll ever be a state of affairs when flooring the GR Yaris received’t convey a smile to your face.

Along with its second-to-none cornering capacity, the extent of powertrain and chassis configurability on provide right here is one other distinctive promoting level for individuals who are eyeing up monitor use. Being a Toyota, it ought to maintain as much as loads of inside and exterior abuse too.

The massive disadvantage is you’ll now be paying upwards of $60,000 for a Toyota Yaris, which in comparison with the competitors from Hyundai is fairly onerous to swallow. Sure, there’s extra energy and all-wheel drive, however each the i20 N and the bigger i30 N are each cheaper than this Toyota.

Nonetheless, it’s onerous to go mistaken with the giant-killing GR Yaris, and we’re glad Toyota has broadened its accessibility with out compromising on a confirmed system. However in order for you the auto, you’ll have to attend till later this yr.

Involved in shopping for a Toyota GR Yaris? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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