Toyota GR Yaris

GR Yaris Overview

Toyota has brought in its most exciting hatchback ever in its history of the Philippines – the GR Yaris. The new Toyota GR Yaris is based on the same platform as that of the regular five-door Yaris hatchback. However, it has an extensively new two-door design and has been designed and engineered with sporty intentions. The new Toyota GR Yaris is available in the Philippines in a single fully-loaded variant.

Toyota GR Yaris Interior & Features

While the interior of the Toyota GR Yaris is not too tech-laden or futuristic in its design, it manages to get all the modern essentials that make the car look up-to-date in today’s world.

The driver’s cockpit with a simple-looking three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and a twin-pod analog instrument console might not look too sporty and modern for today’s day and age. The 4.2-inch colored MID in the instrument console, however, acts as a saving grace here. In addition, the cabin also gets a free-standing 8.8-inch touchscreen unit for the infotainment system. It is positioned above trapezoidal AC vents in the center console.

The center console of the Toyota GR Yaris’s interior has a minimalist appeal to it, with a sleek and curved panel for the automatic climate control buttons. Apart from the said features, the Toyota GR Yaris has been equipped with other necessary features like sporty pedals, head-up display, height-adjustable driver seat, GR Alcantara leather upholstery, push start-stop button, and premium sound system from JBL. The cabin, however, starts feeling less practical due to the limited amount of space for the rear bench.

GR Yaris Exterior

The Toyota GR Yaris might have the word ‘Yaris’ in its name, however, it shares nothing with the Yaris hatchback and has a separate design language of its own. This two-door hatchback looks sporty with its two-door layout and low slung stance.

The front profile of the Toyota GR Yaris looks sleek with the thin black upper grille stretched between two wing-like front headlamps. These sweptback headlamps come with L-shaped curved daytime running LEDs and full LED main headlamps. The central part of the front bumper comes with a large grille with hexagonal edges and comes with honeycomb inserts and a gloss black finish. The gloss black finish is well executed on the T-shaped vertical fog lamp housings, which get LED fog lamps at their bottom.

The rounded look and low slung stance on the sides of the Toyota GR Yaris look purposeful and cutesy. The nice and smooth curves flowing over the rear wheel arches and over the front fender and doors make the car look aerodynamic. The flared rear wheel arches and 18-inch black alloy wheels give it the much-needed sporty stance.

The rear profile of the Toyota GR Yaris has a steeply raked windscreen which is assisted with a big roof-mounted spoiler. The tail lamp cluster at the back is wide and comes with boomerang-shaped extensions towards the sides. To add more sportiness to the design at the back, the rear bumper of the Toyota GR Yaris has side bulges and a diffuser with dual tips for exhaust. 

Toyota GR Yaris Ride & Handling

The Toyota GR Yaris has a sportily tuned suspension combination of Mcpherson struts at the front and a double-wishbone at the rear. The suspension might feel a bit stiff for everyday usage, but along with the 18-inch alloy wheels, they make up for fantastic and sharp driving dynamics. The overall dynamics of the car are further enhanced by the presence of a four-wheel-drive system with limited-slip differentials at the rear. The three different drive modes of Sport, Track, and Normal further make the driving experience even more engaging.

GR Yaris Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Toyota GR Yaris is powered by a modern 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which is completely different from the engine of the Yaris hatchback. With a maximum power output of 261 bhp and a peak torque output of 360 Nm, this engine now holds the record of the most powerful sub-2.0-litre engine from Toyota. A 6-speed manual gearbox is the only transmission option for the Toyota GR Yaris.

Toyota GR Yaris Braking & Safety

For a compact car, the Toyota GR Yaris is densely equipped with premium safety features like dynamic radar cruise control, pre-collision warning system, lane tracing assist, automatic high beam, lane departure alert, ABS with EBD, airbags all around, rear park assist with camera and traction control.

GR Yaris Verdict

With great driving dynamics and a punchy petrol engine, the Toyota GR Yaris is now the new benchmark in the hatchback category when it comes to overall performance.