2024 Toyota GR Yaris Review

A few years after the GR Yaris blew the collective minds of buyers, it remains one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world of performance hatchbacks - one with a no-compromises approach to fun.

Designed as a road-going rally car that benefits from Toyota's 'Gazoo Racing' skunkworks, the Yaris is one of the most hardcore Toyotas to date, making for a potentially perfect driver's car.

Ahead of an updated GR Yaris making its way to Australia in 2025, let's take a closer look at just how the MY24 GR Yaris stacks up as a rally car for daily driving.

Toyota GR Yaris Competition

How Much Does the Toyota GR Yaris Cost?

Prices for the MY24 Toyota GR Yaris range kick off from $51,390.

Stepping up to the GR Yaris Rallye brings the price to $56,390.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, especially when the MY25 GR Yaris arrives, nor do they include on-road costs.

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Toyota GR Yaris Specs Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Toyota GR Yaris Have?

The Toyota GR Yaris comes riding on a set of 18-inch Enkei alloys wrapped in Dunlop SP Sports Maxx rubber and receives an adjustable AWD system, four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, dual exhaust pipes, LED headlights, GR sports seats with ultrasuede upholstery and heated seats, adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, climate control, keyless entry & start, a 4.2-inch trip computer and a carbon fibre roof.

Upgrading to the range-topping Toyota GR Yaris Rallye adds a set of forged 18-inch rims courtesy of BBS, upgraded Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, red brake calipers, Torsen limited-slip differentials at the front and rear, race-tuned suspension and a build plaque.

Toyota GR Yaris Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Toyota's GR Yaris range comes packaged with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display sitting atop the dashboard.

It's certainly not the most modern display on the market, with the GR Yaris showing some signs of its age in this respect - which will likely be addressed in the updated Yaris arriving in 2025.

The GR Yaris' infotainment system is packaged with DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth and satellite navigation.

Sound is provided by a wonderful eight-speaker sound system courtesy of JBL.

Does the Toyota GR Yaris Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers might not be thrilled to hear that the GR Yaris' previous-generation infotainment system does not offer wireless Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto connectivity.

Instead, you'll need to bring your own USB cable and hook your phone up via the sole USB-A port in the front of the cabin.

Buyers are unlikely to be too phased, though, considering what the GR Yaris has been built to do on the road.

Is the Toyota GR Yaris Fun to Drive?

The GR Yaris is a maniac on the road - surpassing even the loftiest of expectations.

It's clear to see Toyota's rally-bred development program in action, with the GR Yaris launching the company into a new and much-welcomed era of performance motoring that is brimming with personality.

Under the bonnet, the GR Yaris is powered by a pint-sized, 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that pushes out 200kW of power and 370Nm of torque.

Power is thrown to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a super-clever adjustable all-wheel drive system.

Toyota's AWD system allows you to split power between the front and rear wheels anywhere from a balanced 50/50 split to a rear-biased 70/30 setup that gives it a multitude of personalities.

Once the turbo is spooled up, acceleration is immense, with the GR Yaris hitting 100km/h in 5.2 seconds.

With a short-throw manual transmission, the GR Yaris just doesn't give up as you work your way through the gears, squealing between first and second, even third if you're really pushing it.

Where the GR Yaris shines, though, is when pressed in the corners.

The steering is lively and offers tonnes of intuitive feedback, with a near-endless amount of grip.

The GR Yaris' front end holds on admirably while the body stays flat, composed and perfectly balanced.

Point it at a corner, throw the wheel around and you'll be hard-pressed to find anything the GR Yaris won't carve up with ease.

To make things even better, it's so confident and offers so much feedback as to when the rear might step out that you feel as though it's whispering sweet nothings into your ear.

Upgrading to the GR Yaris Rallye adds a revised suspension setup, with stiffer anti-roll bars and springs that offer even more performance in the twisties.

As you might imagine, this makes an already impressive handling package near perfection on the road, though it does come with some sacrifices to the daily driving experience with the stiffer hardware.

All things considered, the GR Yaris is a peach behind the wheel. It's a hardcore performance vehicle that welcomes a challenge and offers something for new and experienced drivers alike.

Is the Toyota GR Yaris Fuel Efficient?

As you might imagine, Toyota's time and energy went to extracting every ounce of power and torque from the GR Yaris' engine rather than outright efficiency.

That said, it's not an irresponsible drinker, consuming 7.6L per 100km on a combined cycle in both variants.

Around town, you'll consume around 9.6L per 100km, while time spent on the highway will see the GR Yaris sip a much more efficient 6.4L per 100km.

All things considered, 7.6L per 100km in a performance machine is pretty much as good as you'll get.

Is the Toyota GR Yaris Practical and Spacious?

While the regular Toyota Yaris is renowned for its surprisingly practical cabin, the GR Yaris takes a more hardcore, sporty approach to interior packaging.

Step inside and you'll see that this isn't your average Yaris.

The Ultrasuede-upholstered sports seats look great and offer significant side bolstering to hold you in the corners, while lashings of red and metallic pedals remind you of the GR Yaris' dynamic nature.

Behind the wheel, you feel enveloped by the largely dark interior design, with the GR Yaris cocooning those inside.

The low-slung driving position does, however, make you feel tied to the road while still offering a decent view out of the windscreen, though rear visibility leaves a lot to be desired.

One thing to note is that the coupe doors are pretty damn long, which means you might be a bit squeezed getting out of the GR Yaris in a tight car park, so pick your spots wisely.

In terms of ergonomics, things are fantastic.

The manual gear lever is always within reach while the chunky steering wheel feels great in hand and Toyota's straight-forward dash and centre console layout aims to keep things simple.

Sure it's not the flashiest interior design out there, though it's super effective in keeping things simple, clean and driver-focused with a sporty undertone.

Storage options aren't great, but the GR Yaris has the basics covered.

There's a small tray to house a smartphone on the dashboard flanked by another shelf above the pint-sized glovebox.

You'll also find a pair of cupholders, added storage inside the folding armrest and some decent-sized door bins for bottles.

Move to the second row and you'll find a pair of seats best suited to young kids.

You can try to squeeze your mates in the back for a short hop around town but they won't be loving the lack of knee and headroom, making the GR Yaris better suited to ferrying around child seats than adults.

On that note, there are a pair of ISOFIX anchors and tether mounts in the back of the GR Yaris, though squeezing in a bulky seat is another chore entirely.

How Big is the Toyota GR Yaris' Boot?

The Toyota GR Yaris has a pretty compact boot, measuring just 141L with the rear seats standing.

Fold down the second row and you'll unlock 737L worth of boot space, making for a reasonably practical little hatchback that can handle bulky cargo and sports gear when needed.

Is the Toyota GR Yaris Safe?

For a track-munching machine, the GR Yaris comes relatively well-equipped with safety tech.

Toyota throws in an autonomous emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, intersection turn assist, adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors.

Does the Toyota GR Yaris Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The GR Yaris is yet to be tested by ANCAP and remains unrated.

It's unclear whether Toyota will put the updated GR Yaris through its paces with ANCAP when it arrives sometime in 2025.

What Warranty Does the Toyota GR Yaris Come With?

Toyota offers the GR Yaris range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Toyota's warranty extends out to seven years for the engine and driveline from the delivery date when you keep it up to date with logbook requirements, within Toyota's dealer network.

Service intervals for the GR Yaris range stand at a short six months/10,000-kilometres.

The company offers capped-price servicing for the GR Yaris range, which totals $4,063 over five years.

Our Verdict: Is the Toyota GR Yaris Worth it?

While it shares its name with one of the most mass-produced hatchbacks on the market, there's no car quite like the GR Yaris.

It's an enthusiast's dream and celebrates being pushed every drive.

The GR Yaris challenges your driving skill while remaining intuitive and approachable enough to push the envelope a little without it biting your hand off.

It's a fabulous driving package with great acceleration and biblical amounts of grip, making for one serious performance hatchback that is well-deserving of a spot on your shortlist.

If you're looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Toyota GR Yaris Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine (200kW/370Nm)

3. Six-speed manual transmission

4. Adjustable all-wheel drive system splits power 70/30, 60/40, 50/50 (front/rear)

5. 0-100km/h 5.2 seconds