The Toyota GR Yaris is a kind of uncommon automobiles that appears to be destined for greatness proper from the get-go. Of all of the high-end automotive exotica that emerged in 2020, none generated fairly the identical stage of collective salivation as this steroidal, and relatively inexpensive, Japanese pocket rocket.
In truth, for the reason that first whispers of its existence emerged in 2019, each new glimpse of this compact, four-wheel-drive efficiency hatch has been shadowed by such fervent anticipation that you simply’d be excused for mistaking its arrival for the second coming.
It’s simple to see why. That is successfully the primary ground-up efficiency automobile Toyota has developed on its tod for some 20 years, constructed utilizing know-how distilled from a closely revitalised curiosity in motorsport, and from appreciable success on the phases of the World Rally Championship specifically. It’s additionally the automobile that was developed with the specific objective of homologating the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC workforce’s 2021 racer. Problems regarding the pandemic ultimately led to that competitors automobile being sidelined, however not earlier than the likes of Tommi Mäkinen, Kris Meeke, Ott Tänak and Jari-Matti Latvala had performed a key position within the street automobile’s design and improvement. Toyota might have mothballed the GR Yaris at this level, however boss Akio Toyoda insisted that it see the sunshine of day though it appeared sure the rally automobile wouldn’t.
And thank heavens he did, as a result of the GR Yaris has unsurprisingly been using excessive on a tsunami of success since its launch late final 12 months. First, it scored high marks in our preliminary UK first drive assessment. Then it gained our ‘Junior Dealing with Day’ competitors, earlier than taking up vastly extra highly effective and vastly costlier supercars at our annual Britain’s Greatest Driver’s Automobile shootout. It secured a podium place there, too.
Technical specs
Mannequin examined: Toyota GR Yaris Circuit pack
Value: £33,495
Engine: 3 cyls, 1618cc, turbocharged, petrol
Transmission: Six-speed guide
Mannequin examined
Toyota GR Yaris Circuit pack
Engine
3 cyls, 1618cc, turbocharged, petrol
View all specs and rivals
Transmission
Six-speed guide
Torque
266lb ft at 3000-4600rpm
Driveline structure
Entrance-engine, all-wheel drive
Torque
266lb ft at 3000-4600rpm
Driveline structure
Entrance-engine, all-wheel drive
Now, what’s arguably essentially the most thrilling scorching hatchback in a era finds itself underneath the chilly, medical mild of the Autocar street check. Expectations are excessive, however will the GR Yaris be capable of add one other 5 stars to its already crowded trophy cupboard? Time to seek out out.
