2025 Toyota GR Yaris evaluation

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

Take all the things good in regards to the earlier GR Yaris – immense energy, sturdy all-wheel drive system, and crisp handbook transmission – and mix it with Toyota’s mission to continuously enhance the efficiency and attraction of its autos – 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 automotive again into the highlight.

All that is punctuated by a brand new face that’s extra aggressive, extra aerodynamic and gives 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 alternative 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 an identical GR Corolla, which runs the identical upgraded turbo-triple engine, following continuous refinement based mostly on observe 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 measurement and motorsport pedigree are thought-about. You would 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 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 accessible, whereas prospects will obtain the keys to their automated 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 observe 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 evaluate?

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

Toyota

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 worth hike.

Equally, the earlier top-spec GR Yaris Rallye has grow to be the GTS, which in its most cost-effective handbook guise is now additionally $4100 dearer.

Which means the whole GR Yaris vary is far 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 if you’d like 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 accessible 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, try our comparability instrument

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

Definitely completely different – you’ll both adore it or hate it.

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

It’s meant to be one thing skilled by the motive force alone, and as such the images don’t do it justice. In particular person it’s hanging, and it appears to work higher whereas being far more fascinating than a whole lot of different trendy 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 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 automotive, and helps to focus its pilot’s consideration.

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

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

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a bonus, although there’s nowhere to depart your telephone past the central cupholders as soon as all the things’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 totally bodily past its easy digital show – an array of buttons and two knobs. What extra do you want?

All floor supplies are strong, and the place glossier plastics are fitted it’s by no means in an space that must be touched an excessive amount of. You could 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 snug use. Close by can 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 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 – slightly awkward for taller drivers.

Nonetheless, the entrance seats provide robust aspect 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 palms. Actually, we reckon it’s excellent for a automotive just like the Yaris, and it lends itself to being thrown round in typical rally vogue.

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 incorporates a barebones graphic interface so it’s straightforward to learn and configure on the transfer.

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

We recognize that you could deliver up all types 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.

General, 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 alter the display screen’s look, particularly via the addition of a race-inspired horizontal rev counter up prime.

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

Suffice to say the rear seats of the GR Yaris are cramped. That’s to be anticipated given its two-door race automotive 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 sit down again right here comfortably, with headroom notably compromised. There are additionally solely two seats again right here, but it surely’d be terribly uncomfortable to sit down 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 speculated to be a grocery-getter, although you do get a flat, large ground with sufficient house for a collection of baggage – together with further capability because of the 60:40-split folding rear seats.

A tyre restore package is provided as a substitute of a spare wheel for the GR Yaris. Moreover, below the boot ground 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, try our comparability instrument

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 accessible for automated GR Yaris variants.

As a result of nature of the drive program at Toyota’s launch occasion, we weren’t capable of 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, try our comparability instrument

How does the Toyota GR Yaris drive?

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

You instantly know you’re in for the journey whenever 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 worth 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 mistaken to say it was silent as a result of Toyota pumps actual exhaust noise into the cabin.

We had been impressed by the response offered by the handbook, each by way of its clutch and shifter. The previous is appropriately gentle with out being flimsy, and it’s straightforward to search out the chew level after just some 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 lots of the clicky short-throw aftermarket options.

The button to toggle that’s present in entrance of the shifter, although in the event you’d favor 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.

After all, none of that’s new, and we’re sure lovers would get pleasure from 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 suitable factors with out holding gears too lengthy below medium load. Even transferring off gently, or simply maintaining with site visitors, gained’t induce any undue clunkiness.

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

Flicking the shifter to the suitable 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 implies 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 – notably 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 aware of inputs. It’s not fairly dual-clutch snappy, but it surely nonetheless strikes rapidly sufficient to maintain you cheerful. It does precisely what you need it to and can maintain handbook gears in the suitable drive mode, even below excessive load.

That is the type 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 choose up velocity with glee, revealing to you that it merely likes to rev.

After all, 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 powerful 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 automotive or the GR Corolla, which is extra of a disgrace within the latter given its Civic Sort R-rivalling sticker worth. Right here, we’re extra prepared to miss that, however it will definitely add one other dimension to this pint-size efficiency automotive.

That mentioned, the GR Yaris handles prefer it’s on rails. It encourages you to go sooner and by no means appears like it’ll let go, irrespective of how gradual 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 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, 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 gear. 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 trendy Toyotas.

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

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 speculated 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 had 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 definitely performed too, although we did stumble upon the rev-limiter once in a while below acceleration.

All that lets you 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 velocity, and whereas you’ll generally really feel some playfulness below you, it’s by no means unmanageable, notably within the GTS with its limited-slip diff. A good thing about that’s the automotive gives loads of suggestions whenever you’re pushing the boundaries.

Holding down the traction management button will even interact ‘Skilled’ mode, which disables many of the automotive’s security nets for these so inclined. Which means you possibly can throw it right into a flip and it’ll merely comply as a substitute 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 rivals.

Must you take your GR Yaris to your native moist skid pan, Toyota has fitted a novel operate to the handbook model which means you don’t have to interact 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 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument

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 grow to be 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 suggestions
• Carbon fibre roof
• Steel 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 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, crimson 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.

Normal security gear consists of:

• 6 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
  • Junction help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane Hint Help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Protected exit help
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Reversing digital camera
• Velocity signal recognition
• Computerized 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 autos with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Servicing is required each six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first, based on Toyota’s on-line service pricing calculator.

Service intervals are an identical to the outgoing GR Yaris, and pricing for 2025 fashions is identical no matter transmission sort.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota GR Yaris

The GR Yaris was already a ripper of a automotive, and now it’s grow to be even more durable 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 customary econobox equal, and its GR Corolla huge 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 in all probability matches 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 normally are sufficient to boost eyebrows, and the automated choice offers the GR Yaris vary extra attraction to a wider viewers.

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

Along with its second-to-none cornering means, the extent of powertrain and chassis configurability on provide right here is one other distinctive promoting level for many who are eyeing up observe 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 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 mistaken with the giant-killing GR Yaris, and we’re glad Toyota has broadened its accessibility with out compromising on a confirmed method. However if you’d like the auto, you’ll have to attend till later this 12 months.

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

Click on the pictures for the total gallery

MORE: Every little thing Toyota Yaris