Nothing will top this hot hatchback before the ICE age is over, so buy one while you can
Of all the exotica launched in 2020, it was Toyota’s GR Yaris that attracted the greatest interest, for it was an all-new, rally-inspired hot hatch that could thrill like a pure-bred sports car at half the price.This lovable rogue was originally conceived to be a homologation special for Toyota Gazoo Racing’s 2021 World Rally Championship contender (it had little in common with the regular Yaris), but Covid complications meant it would never actually hit the gravel.Toyota could have stuck a GR Yaris prototype in a museum and left it at that, then, but petrolhead boss Akio Toyoda made sure that it reached production – and everyone was extremely grateful that he did.Four years on, the GR Yaris is still riding a wave of success, with more than 32,000 examples having been sold – and now you can buy an early one for less than £25,000.WRC heroes Tommi Mäkinen, Jari-Matti Latvala, Ott Tänak and Kris Meeke helped to tune the GR Yaris into a B-road warrior of unparalleled ability, with its adjustable four-wheel drive system, 257bhp 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo engine and light, diminutive chassis combining to take it to the top of the hot hatch class.“It’s just hugely impressive, all the time, and interactive and engaging enough with it that even though more near- or on-limit adjustability wouldn’t hurt, it’s still a handling hero of our time,” is how we described the GR Yaris when we road tested it back in 2021.The Japanese three-door was so light on its feet that it could be fired into a corner with laser-guided precision and shoot you out the other side with minimal inertia, thanks to its short wheelbase, wide track and light weight.Not only did it score top marks in our road test, it also won our Britain’s Best Affordable Driver’s Car contest ahead of the VW Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R.The GR Yaris represented a high-water mark for fast road cars, offering exceptional levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions, thanks in part to that 4WD system.As standard, the front-to-rear torque distribution was 60:40, but if you wanted more traction, you could flick it to Track mode for a 50:50 split. Sport mode, meanwhile, tapped into the car’s playful side with a 30:70 configuration.And while the original GR Yaris felt like a new-age Subaru Impreza WRX or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Toyota ensured that it came with all the trimmings – although that was determined by which specification the buyer chose.The Convenience Pack included 18in wheels, softer suspension and mod cons like a JBL sound system, while the Circuit Pack gave the car an extra layer of B-road swagger through stiffer front springs, stiffer anti-roll bars, uber-cool lightweight 18in BBS alloys and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tyres.That would be our preference, of course. Past that point, it’s just a case of choosing between black, white or red paint.Superb to drive it may be, but the GR Yaris isn’t faultless. Visibility all round is pretty poor, especially out the back, and while it does have two rear seats, they are rather cramped, irrespective of your passengers’ height. Cabin isolation isn’t the best, either, and you will do well to get any more than 27mpg in mixed driving conditions.But do these niggles mean you should consider an alternative? Certainly not. The GR Yaris was a triumph and destined for greatness from the moment it first turned a wheel.And now that the updated GR Yaris has gone on sale at a whopping price of £44,250, the original is effectively a bargain.So if you want a fun, balanced, sweet-handling hot hatch for £25,000, you know where to look – and can thank us later.
Source: Autocar
