"Toyota GR Yaris: pros, cons, costs and common fixes"

Toyota GR Yaris 2025 – Short Description

The Toyota GR Yaris 2025 is a high-performance, rally-inspired hot hatch developed by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division. It combines lightweight design, advanced engineering, and motorsport technology to deliver an exhilarating driving experience.

Powertrain and Performance

• 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-3 engine producing 304 hp and 400 Nm of torque

• Available with 6-speed manual or 8-speed GR-DAT automatic transmission

• GR-Four all-wheel-drive system for enhanced traction and control

• 0–100 km/h acceleration in approximately 5.2 seconds

• Top speed electronically limited to 230 km/h

Dimensions and Weight

• Length: 3,995 mm

• Width: 1,805 mm

• Height: 1,455 mm

• Wheelbase: 2,560 mm

• Curb weight: 1,280–1,300 kg

Technology and Features

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• Advanced safety features including autonomous emergency braking, lane trace assist, and blind-spot monitoring

• Driver-focused cockpit with improved ergonomics and visibility.

Production
The GR Yaris is manufactured in Japan at Toyota's specialized GR Factory within the Motomachi Plant

Toyota GR Yaris (Facelift MY 2025)

1 | Concept & Positioning

Conceived as a homologation special for WRC-2, the GR Yaris is built on a hybrid platform: GA-B front (Yaris) and GA-C rear (Corolla), clothed in a bespoke three-door shell with carbon-fibre roof and aluminium bonnet, doors and tailgate. The 2025 facelift brings power, rigidity and ergonomics upgrades while keeping the car’s footprint tiny—just 3 995 × 1 805 mm on a 2 560 mm wheelbase—yet the roof now sits 10 mm lower for a sleeker stance.

2 | Powertrain

*Japanese RZ “High performance” adds 300 PS.

Transmissions

• 6-speed iMT: revised synchros, 15 % shorter throw, cooling fins on the casing.

• GR-DAT 8-speed (new): wet clutch, auto blips, launch control, paddle shifts in 200 ms.

3 | GR-FOUR AWD System

An electronically controlled multi-plate clutch splits torque in three presets—Normal 60/40, Sport 30/70, Track 50/50—while optional Torsen LSDs front & rear tame wheelspin. A beefier prop-shaft and 120 mm-wider rear track let the car rotate under throttle without destabilising bumps.

4 | Chassis & Body

• +13 % torsional rigidity via 20 m extra structural adhesive and 13 % more spot welds.

• New cast-alloy steering knuckles, stiffer sub-frame bushes, hollow anti-roll bars.

• Suspension: MacPherson strut / double-wishbone, spring rates +15 % front, +20 % rear; monotube dampers retuned for rebound control.

• Brakes: 356 mm two-piece vented front discs with 4-pot callipers; 297 mm rear two-pots; brake-by-wire with GR-specific pedal curve.

• Kerb mass: 1 280–1 310 kg (auto adds ≃20 kg).

5 | Aero & Cooling

Re-profiled front bumper feeds twin brake-cooling ducts; a larger intercooler and 10-row oil cooler sit behind the asym-mesh grille. The carbon roof’s new crush-rib lay-up cuts 600 g while raising crush strength 15 %. Drag coefficient remains Cd 0.36, but lift at 200 km/h drops 5 %.

6 | Cabin & Interfaces

The dashboard pivots 15° towards the driver; the centre screen (now 8.0″ HD) sits 50 mm lower to clear helmets on track. A 12.3″ digital cluster offers configurable boost, torque and brake-balance widgets. Seat mounts drop 25 mm; the steering wheel gains 10 mm telescopic range. Wireless CarPlay/AA, GR telemetry logger and a head-up shift light are standard; JBL audio is a cost option. Rear seats remain token 60/40 backs—folded they reveal a flat load bay sized for four semi-slicks.

7 | Performance Metrics (independent tests)

The auto’s closer ratios (8th = 0.591) keep the engine in the 3 000-5 500 rpm sweet-spot, trimming lap times by exit speed rather than outright bursts.

8 | Ownership Economics

Annual insurance slots into hot-hatch Group 35; fuel averages 9,5 l/100 km fast road, 12 l/100 km on circuit.

9 | Early Concerns & Fixes

• Thermal fade on track days → larger intercooler and ducting added factory-wide; retro-kit available for 2020-23 cars.

• Rear diff oil aeration during sustained high-G lefts; MY 25 adopts a baffled cover—bolt-on to earlier cars.

• Clutch-pedal assist spring fracture on hard launches; superseded spring since mid-2024.

No repeat head-gasket or fuel-pipe recalls have surfaced post-facelift.

10 | Pricing & Market

Residuals average 78 % at 24 months; early limited First Editions still command MSRP or higher.

11 | Verdict

The facelifted GR Yaris doubles down on its rally-rep roots: more grunt, stiffer shell, smarter cockpit—and now an eight-speed auto that broadens its appeal without diluting the hardcore flavour. It remains uncompromising: tyre roar, a hard clutch bite (manual) and next-to-no rear passenger room are the price of homologation purity. Yet on a wet mountain B-road or tight circuit there is nothing at this money that feels as immediate, mechanical and bomb-proof.

Drivers seeking a daily-friendly hot hatch may lean toward a Civic Type R or i20 N; purists who prize AWD traction, bulletproof engineering and rally pedigree will regard the GR Yaris as the modern benchmark—and likely keep it forever.