Having previously sampled the rally-inspired GR Yaris – one of the hottest models that Toyota has produced in recent memory – at Aldo Scribante, we attended the local media launch of the newcomer in Gauteng. So, having driven the Toyota on a few racetracks, are we still smitten?

In case you didn’t already know this, the Toyota GR Yaris is one of the greatest driver’s cars to land in Mzansi. It’s quite a bold statement; is the newcomer truly among “the greats”? Well, we don’t know what the team who dreamt up this little rocket ate for breakfast on the day they conceptualised it, but we hope they’ll order that dish again and again.

> Review/Video: Ciro De Siena and Ashley Oldfield sample the GR Yaris at Scribante

1. Not a Yaris as we know it

Sell your kidneys if you have to, this is THE performance bargain of the year

Don’t be fooled into thinking the GR Yaris is a standard Yaris that has been endowed with a more powerful engine, nice alloy wheels and some stickers. This has been built from the ground up to be a performance vehicle and, to add more impetus to the project, Toyota called upon the folks who build its rally cars to join the development team.

The differences between the standard Yaris model and the limited-edition GR Yaris are considerable. While the latest iteration of the European-spec Yaris isn’t offered in our market, a comparison between the two makes for interesting reading nonetheless. The GR Yaris chassis is not actually even a Yaris’, but rather a combination of half Yaris/half Corolla and C-HR. There are no rear doors, there’s a genuine carbon-fibre roof, while the doors, bonnet and tailgate are made out of aluminium. The roofline has even been redesigned, to help with aerodynamics.

The entire package is has been put on a diet, with the world-rally-championship-inspired newcomer tipping the scales at only 1 280 kg. By comparison, a Volkswagen Polo GTI weighs 1 355 kg, and it doesn’t come equipped with a complex all-wheel-drive system! The components used in the GR Yaris are all high-end; the standard Yaris’ torsion beam rear suspension has been ditched in favour of a proper multi-link setup, and the brakes are 356-mm grooved front discs with four-pot callipers. Impressively, these anchors are bigger than those found on the GR Supra…

2. The GR Yaris engine is special in many ways

198 kW and 360 Nm from a 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol

The 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine at the heart of the GR Yaris is the world’s most powerful 3-pot motor (in series production, anyway) and it punches out 198 kW and 360 Nm. Now, if you’re an enthusiast, you’ll quickly realise that those engine outputs, paired with the Toyota’s low kerb weight, should result in mega performance. Sprints? 0-100 kph in 5.5 sec, thanks to a trick all-wheel-drive system. Also, there’s no dual-clutch automatic transmission… This little car is all about a hands-on experience, which is why it has a 6-speed manual ‘box.

Lag (sluggish performance low in the engine’s rev range, in other words) is often the Achilles’ Heel of highly-tuned turbocharged performance vehicles, in which boost and, consequently, torque arrive in a gigantic wave of crazy from 3 500 rpm. This is not the case in the GR Yaris (with its ball-bearing turbocharger)… The turbo spools quickly and continues to deliver a strong surge all the way to the red line. Want to overtake in 6th gear at 100 kph? Simply put your foot down and the pick up is near-instantaneous. Fuel economy? Drive it like you’re in a qualifying session and the worst you’ll see is 11 L/100 km. For context, most V8 AMG offerings consume more than that in Eco mode…

> Video: VW Golf 8 GTI vs Toyota GR Yaris – Quarter-Mile Race

3. You can drive quickly, yet safely

Normal for day to day driving, Sport/Track to humiliate other hot hatches in corners

If you’re a driving enthusiast who likes to feel the force of acceleration (yee-hah!), you’d be well aware that thanks to speed limits, you can only apply full throttle for a few seconds before your vehicle achieves triple-digit speeds.

Fortunately, the GR Yaris is thrilling to drive at whichever speed you’re doing. Cornering at 60 kph on a public road is as delightful as powering out of a hairpin bend on a race track. Speaking of which, Toyota gave us a chance to sample its new GR Yaris at the go-kart circuit Formula K, as well as Red Star Racing, both on Johannesburg’s East Rand. The former is a proper karting circuit (it’s not designed for passenger cars), yet the GR Yaris felt right at home on the tight track’s impressive layout, which comprised deceptive elevation changes and wincingly narrow corners.

Yet, despite the minimal margin for error afforded by both tracks, the GR Yaris never felt uncontrollable or wild. This is a refreshingly uncomplicated go-fast machine that delivers and enthrals irrespective of its driver’s skill level. The trick all-wheel-drive system offers 3 modes (Normal, Sport and Track) that balance the power between the axles. Normal is 60:40 front to rear, Sport dials up some rear-wheel theatrics with 30:70 and, finally, Track offers 50:50.

The clutch and shift actions are reassuringly positive, with not much effort required to get the most out of the 6-speed ‘box. Toyota has fitted the car with its iMT system which cleverly blips the throttle to aid smoother shifts.

We had the chance to drive both derivatives and while the 1.6T GR-Four is one already quick and complete offering, the range-topping Rally version is evidently for performance connoisseurs…

4. GR Yaris: Spicy or Hot?

It covers the basics well, but there’s nothing to set your heart racing

Toyota South Africa offers the GR Yaris in 2 flavours: GR-Four and GR-Four Rally. The derivatives have identical motors and claimed performance figures, but the devil is in the detail. Visually, the Rally comes with slightly different wheels, red brake callipers and some additional venting at the front (which we’re told are brake-cooling ducts).

The Rally, however, features limited-slip differentials on the front and rear axles, a performance-tuned suspension, a reworked power-steering setup, plus 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels wrapped in trick Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

Inside, the Rally derivative additionally features Alcantara sports seats, a head-up display, Toyota’s Safety Sense (which incorporates features such as active cruise control and lane-keeping assist) and, finally, there’s Active Noise Control, which helps to amplify the engine’s note by dialling out other noises, the Japanese manufacturer says.

Is there a discernable difference between the two versions’ driving experiences? On the road, the pair feel much the same to pilot, but when you drive them back to back on a circuit, the Rally really stands out. Its trick differentials allow you to bolt out of tighter corners faster and, thanks to extra-sticky tyres, there’s a lot more grip, even if the standard version is anything but scrabbly. If ultimate performance and track days are your poison, opt for the Rally.

5. Drive one before you decide

That gaping bumper funnels air into the 1.6-litre 3-cylinder.

The Toyota GR Yaris is a car that even some enthusiasts may not understand until they drive one. It’s so far removed from a standard Yaris that we actually wish the newcomer was named something else. Toyota GR-Four, anyone?

Then there’s the price. R606 000 gets you into the GR Yaris family and the Rally derivative costs an eye-watering R715 600. Now, remember this isn’t a souped-up Yaris – the level of precision engineering and expertise that’s been devoted to this vehicle is “next level”. Again, this is not a base car that’s been made faster like the usual crop of hot hatchbacks, this is a race/rally car for the road. It was developed, from the ground up, to be a performance machine.

Is the GR Yaris worth the premium? These levels of attention to detail, engagement, corner-carving ability and sheer grin factor are usually only offered by high-end supercars. If you can access such sheer magic for R700 000, well, then it’s a bargain. The closest thing we can think of that offers this level of a driving thrill is the Honda Civic Type R.

Compromises? This homologation special’s interior doesn’t look, well, special and, in an era when quick-shifting dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) are de rigueur, a 6-speed manual ‘box feels old-school. Many of our social media followers were asking if a DCT version was on the cards, but given the nature of the GR brand, no, probably not.

Summary

The Toyota GR Yaris is one very special car

So, where to from here? If you, like us, are considering cashing in your pension early and/or blowing the savings you put away for your offspring’s university tuition in order to grab this one-of-a-kind toy, we have good and bad news.

Toyota SA says the first allocation of GR Yaris units is spoken for; eager, well-heeled customers evidently dashed to their local dealers to buy the newcomer. The fact that the first batch (of around 180 cars) was snapped up quickly demonstrates how hungry the market was/is for a model that subverts the formula of traditional performance cars.

The good news is that Toyota SA knows that the demand for its little fighter remains huge and is securing a second batch, which is due in early 2022. Some dealers have already listed a GR Yaris unit or two on Cars.co.za. See here.

If you’re still not convinced, simply request and take a test drive in a GR Yaris; there are very few cars that are as hands-on engaging – and blisteringly quick in corners – as the Toyota. The hype is completely justified. As we move into an era of more sustainable and semi-autonomous motoring, this little rocket will go down as an all-time great.

Further Reading

Toyota GR Yaris (2021) Specs & Price

VW Golf 8 GTI vs Toyota GR Yaris – Quarter Mile Race