Model update
Toyota GR Yaris Circuit Pack Rally derived Yaris is the best Toyota in decades and one of the best of the current
crop of hot hatches. Martyn Collins
Like the internal combustion engine itself, we appear to be at a crossroads for the hot hatch as it is now, as the 2030 new ICE ban edges closer to reality. So, after a period in the shadows, producing forgettable cars, it seems fitting that Toyota is back with one of the best hot hatches ever.
If you can get past the current 18-month waiting list or are happy to wait for a GR Yaris – should you believe the hype created over the past 17-months since it launched?
Before we answer that, it seems only right to discuss what the GR Yaris is and why it exists at all. Toyota has a well documented history in the World Rally Championship (WRC), with probably its biggest success being the Celica, which won various rally championships and driver awards during the 90s.
We digress, but like those Celicas, the Yaris is four-wheel drive and spawned special road cars to fulfil regulations – even though a rally version of this car was shelved. So, while the Yaris shape looks basically unchanged, the roofline is lower and lighter being made of carbon fibre. There’s also a smaller rear screen and no rear wash wipe, so rear vision is
Toyota GR Yaris 1.6 Circuit Pack
P11D £33,670 On sale Now Residual value 51.2% Depreciation £16,427 Fuel £12,994 Service, maintenance and repair £2,634 Cost per mile 53.42p Fuel consumption 34.3mpg CO2 (BIK %) 186g/km (37%) BIK 20/40% a month £207/£415 Luggage capacity 174 litres Engine size/power 1,618cc/261hp
compromised – although a camera is fitted as standard. To add to the weight-saving, the door skins, bonnet, and tailgate are made of aluminium. Along with the 45mm lower roofline, the GR Yaris is also 55mm longer and 60mm wider. To finish the look, there are the blistered front and rear arches to accommodate the wider tracks, plus the chunky front airdam. In fact, the only standard Yaris parts are the front and rear light clusters, door mirrors and the roof fin.
9/10 Positive
Looks great, keen drive, attractive interior.
Negative
The GR Yaris is equally interesting inside and underneath. Inside, the Yaris’s tall dash and three-spoke steering wheel look unchanged from standard. However, the mix of the taller driving position, or maybe it’s the lower roofline, means once you’re in the GR, it feels nothing like a standard Yaris. Still, the sports seats are comfortable and supportive, the controls fall easily to hand and work in the same robust, no-nonsense way. There are rear seats, but the lower roofline really hurts their usefulness and legroom is on the tight side. Children or shorter adults should be fine. It is the same for the boot, which at 174 litres is on the tiny side – but carrying luggage isn’t really what this Yaris is all about anyway.
Limited rear space and boot space, compromised rear visibility.
Underneath, like the body, the mechanicals are a bit of a hybrid from other Toyota models – the front half being new Yaris, but the back adapted from the Corolla and CH-R. Engine- wise, with 261hp, the three-cylinder 1.6-litre single turbo engine that powers the GR Yaris is a bit special, as it’s the most powerful production three-cylinder
What’s new
We drive the hottest Yaris, in Circuit Pack form.
Standard equipment: 18ins cast alloy wheels, smart entry and push-button start, 8ins multimedia system with smartphone integration including Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration.
Engines: Petrol: 261hp 1.6
Equipment grades: Convenience Pack, Circuit Pack.
Transmissions: Six-speed manual transmission.
engine. With the move to electrification, it appears that the manual gearbox’s days are numbered. So, it’s a welcome oddity that the GR Yaris is only available with a slick six-speed manual gearbox. This is paired with what Toyota claim is the lightest four-wheel drive system.
There are two distinctive specification flavours to the GR Yaris, the first being the £3,500 Circuit Pack, that we had. This includes Michelin Pilot 4S tyres, red brake callipers, plus mechanical front, and rear differentials. Or, the £2,180 Convenience Pack, which is more road focused with kit including a JBL premium sound system, ambient lighting, and a head-up display. If you like a bit from each, the bad news is that these two packs cannot be combined.
On the road, when it’s properly warmed up it’s the engine and gearbox that impress first. The three-cylinder sounds sporty and combined with the slick, six-speed manual gearbox – it is impressively fast and tractable. So much so, you have to keep an eye on the speedo to make sure you’re staying within the law. There is a minimal body roll, but as expected, grip levels are high in this little Toyota. So much so, that the GR Yaris amazes at how much speed you can carry through corners. Unlike with the standard Yaris, there are three driving modes. Choose Sport, and rather than sending 60% of the power to the rear, it’s upped to 70% – the result is even more balance and grip out of corners. Choosing the Track mode seems odd on the road, but it balances the power equally 50:50 and in our opinion it’s probably the best for twisty country roads, as you can stamp on the power earlier and attack corners harder, finding seemingly endless grip – although again closely watching the speedo to stay legal.
So, believe the hype, the Toyota GR Yaris is at the very top of its game and deserving of all the honours it has received since launch. With its 37% BiK figure, it’s always going to be a marginal user-chooser fleet choice – get one while you can.
42 | May 2022 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
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