Toyota’s GR Yaris comes with three driving modes – Normal, Track and Sport
Toyota’s pocket rocket is truly in a league of its own writes Geraldine Herbert
Why you will like it? It’s almost a disservice to refer to Toyota’s GR Yaris as a Yaris. To the casual eye, it may have the same instantly recognisable body shape but this is far more than a Yaris with some go-faster bits.
Is it a looker? This is a Yaris crafted by Gazoo Racing, the motorsport arm of Toyota, only the door mirrors, the rear and side lights and the roof antenna are shared.
On the inside? The Yaris has always been a small car that is big inside and the GR Yaris is surprisingly spacious inside. There is room for five but it’s a tad tight in the rear. The cabin is not hugely different inside from the regular Yaris but the smart rally seats distinguish it from the rest of the line up.
Under the bonnet? Powering this pocket rocket is the world’s most powerful three-cylinder engine, a 1.6 litre with 257bh and 360 Nm of torque that shoots the GR Yaris from standstill to 100km in just 5.5 seconds and yields a top speed of 230km.
On the road? Reducing weight has been key to the car’s performance, and lightweight materials have been used through the body structure, including aluminium and a new forged carbon composite for the roof. The results are nothing short of stunning. It is simply incredible to drive and feels like a proper rally car with sharp handling and remarkable grip. The manual gearbox and handbrake, both a rarity these days, only enhance the appeal.
The interior is finished in black with Smoke Silver trim details around the door handles, centre console, steering wheel and side air vents
What are my options? We tested the Luxury pack ( €3,780) which adds extra goodies including Navigation, JBL premium sound system, Head Up Display, front and rear parking sensors, Blind spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with automatic braking. There is also a Circuit pack that adds €6,700 to the price and includes Red painted brake calipers, GR Circuit suspension and an LSD differential lock but it may prove a little too hardcore and its harshness may not be suited to our less than perfect road surfaces.
So what’s the verdict? While the GR Yaris is probably best appreciated on a track it will put a smile on your face when simply running daily errands. It’s a lot to pay for a three-door Yaris but those who are most aghast at the price are those who haven’t driven it.
The Good: Phenomenal to drive
The Gripes: Expensive, less practical than a regular Yaris
Vital Statistics
PRICE FROM: €50,565
POWER: 1.6 petrol engine 257bhp and 360Nm.
EMISSIONS: 186g/km. Priced from: €50,565.
For more information check out Toyota.ie , the Toyota Ireland Facebook page or follow Toyota Ireland on twitter
Geraldine Herbert
11th June 2021
