2025 Toyota GR Yaris assessment

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

Take every thing good concerning the earlier GR Yaris – immense energy, strong all-wheel drive system, and crisp handbook transmission – and mix it with Toyota’s mission to continuously enhance the efficiency and enchantment of its automobiles – and likelihood is you’ll find yourself with one thing that resembles this 2025 facelift.

The GR Yaris was already a light-sized scorching 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 – specifically 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 automated 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 based mostly on monitor testing.

That culminates in an automated 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 far more to supply than the front-wheel drive, manual-only Hyundai i20 N – its closest competitor by way of dimension and motorsport pedigree are thought-about. You possibly can additionally embody the Volkswagen Polo GTI, however just like the i20 N it’s front-drive, has much less energy and in addition a lower cost tag.

We had the chance to place the up to date GR Yaris via its paces on an intensive drive via 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 handbook is now out there, whereas clients will obtain the keys to their automated variations from “mid-2025”. It’s price 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 supply the uncooked efficiency that Toyota’s GR vehicles are identified for?

How does the Toyota Yaris evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota Yaris in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

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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 handbook 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 develop into the GTS, which in its least expensive handbook guise is now additionally $4100 dearer.

Meaning your complete GR Yaris vary is far more costly than its most direct rival: the Hyundai i20 N. The Korean model’s mild 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 barely out there in a single GTS trim that prices both $67,990 or $70,490 earlier than on-road prices for the handbook and automated respectively.

To see how the Toyota Yaris traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

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

Definitely completely different – you’ll both like 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 components by becoming a monolithic slab of gray plastic to the dashboard up entrance.

It’s meant to be one thing skilled by the driving force alone, and as such the pictures don’t do it justice. In particular person it’s hanging, and it appears to work higher whereas being far more attention-grabbing than numerous different fashionable interiors.

Put merely, we prefer it, even when it’s a pretty brutal slab of arduous 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 way in which it’s angled in the direction of the driving 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 useful. Up prime is an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which can appear small on account of its thick bezel however is completely satisfactory 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 every thing’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 complete panel is basically minimalistic. That continues to the local weather management panel, which is fully 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 numerous 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 automated GR Yaris, however within the handbook it’s used to toggle the clever handbook 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 also be the GR-4 management dial, which is the place you turn drive modes with completely different front-rear torque biases.

Elsewhere, Toyota says the driving 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 little bit awkward for taller drivers.

Nonetheless, the entrance seats supply sturdy facet bolstering and assist for spirited driving, although adjustment is solely handbook. 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 good 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 top quality unit, and since it encompasses a barebones graphic interface so it’s straightforward to learn and configure on the transfer.

You possibly can flick via its numerous menus and widgets utilizing buttons on the steering wheel. It’s largely the identical method as in different Toyotas, which suggests the menus stay tedious to navigate.

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

Total, it stays much like the earlier GR Yaris, and there are carryover parts 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, specifically via the addition of a race-inspired horizontal rev counter up prime.

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

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 battle 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 are able to’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, huge flooring with sufficient house for a collection of baggage – together with further capability because of the 60:40-split folding rear seats.

A tyre restore equipment is equipped as an alternative of a spare wheel for the GR Yaris. Moreover, below 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 traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

What’s below 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 automated transmission, alongside the pre-existing six-speed handbook.

Kerb weight figures and gasoline financial system claims will not be but out there for automated GR Yaris variants.

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

To see how the Toyota Yaris traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

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 journey 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 observe gained’t deafen you, we’d be improper to say it was silent as a result of Toyota pumps actual exhaust noise into the cabin.

We have been impressed by the response supplied by the handbook, each by way of its clutch and shifter. The previous is appropriately mild 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 velocity, to not point out newbie-friendly because of its iMT operate that routinely blips the throttle on downshifts. The shifter additionally strikes with a brief, crisp motion, and it’s far more approachable than most of the clicky short-throw aftermarket alternate options.

The button to toggle that’s present in entrance of the shifter, although in the event you’d choose to do it your self the pedals are spaced nicely 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 an excellent 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 below medium load. Even transferring off gently, or simply maintaining with visitors, gained’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 best powerband so that you can scurry away shortly. We by no means caught the transmission within the improper gear, however there’s nonetheless a handbook mode in the event 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.

When you’re shifting manually, the gearbox is aware of inputs. It’s not fairly dual-clutch snappy, but it surely nonetheless strikes shortly sufficient to maintain you content. It does precisely what you need it to and can maintain handbook gears in the best drive mode, even below 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 automated 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 decide up velocity 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 have to be at redline on a regular basis, however for a spirited drive in your native twisty highway there actually aren’t many automobiles 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 Kind R-rivalling sticker value. Right here, we’re extra keen to miss that, however it could actually 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 seems like it can let go, irrespective of how sluggish or quick the nook. Certain, the tenacious traction envelope carries over from the outdated mannequin, however the energy bump lets you extra readily exploit its huge 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, you have to anchor your self utilizing your legs round quick bends.

As for on-road tech, the (automated) 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 completely 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 downside is there’s now no adaptive cruise for the handbook transmission, which it used to have as commonplace.

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

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 way in which, 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 handbook downshifts no matter how excessive it wanted to rev. Manually downshifting the automated model is well executed too, although we did stumble upon the rev-limiter every now and then below acceleration.

All that lets you absorb 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 velocity, and whereas you’ll generally really feel some playfulness below you, it’s by no means unmanageable, significantly within the GTS with its limited-slip diff. A advantage of that’s the automobile offers loads of suggestions if you’re pushing the boundaries.

Holding down the traction management button may even have interaction ‘Knowledgeable’ mode, which disables many of the automobile’s security nets for these so inclined. Meaning 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 take into consideration. 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 singular operate to the handbook model meaning you don’t have to have interaction the clutch to tug the handbrake.

You can too 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 traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

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 develop into the GTS.

2025 Toyota GR Yaris GT highlights:

• 18-inch Enkei solid alloy wheels
  • Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres
• Tyre restore equipment
• 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, handbook 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 shops
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry and begin
• Twin-zone local weather management

GR Yaris GTS provides:

• 18-inch BBS cast alloy wheels
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres
• Pink 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, pink stitching
• Heated steering wheel

Is the Toyota GR Yaris secure?

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

Normal security tools contains:

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

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

Toyota backs its automobiles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Servicing is required each six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first, in accordance 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 sort.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota GR Yaris

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

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

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

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

However the mechanical adjustments are even higher. Totally different energy biases and extra energy typically are sufficient to boost eyebrows, and the automated choice provides the GR Yaris vary extra enchantment to a wider viewers.

It’s a correctly quick automobile, and each transmissions do a fantastic job of bringing out the very best of that peppy three-cylinder engine. We don’t suppose there’ll ever be a state of affairs when flooring the GR Yaris gained’t carry a smile to your face.

Along with its second-to-none cornering potential, the extent of powertrain and chassis configurability on supply right here is one other distinctive promoting level for many 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 downside is you’ll now be paying upwards of $60,000 for a Toyota Yaris, which in comparison with the competitors from Hyundai is fairly arduous 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 arduous to go improper with the giant-killing GR Yaris, and we’re glad Toyota has broadened its accessibility with out compromising on a confirmed components. However in order for you the auto, you’ll have to attend till later this yr.

Curious about shopping for a Toyota GR Yaris? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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