The new Toyota GR Yaris. Made in the simplest way possible. That's the great thing about it
I got in the car, started up, drove, and didn't get out for the rest of the day. The Toyota GR Yaris is so addictive that you don't want to end this drive. The little hooligans have a new look and are once again active on the streets and racetracks. The Japanese have created miracles, even more perfect.
- The Japanese worked miracles and perfected perfection. It's hard to pinpoint the downsides of this car because it's exactly what it's supposed to be
- The new GR Yaris basically has no competitors because it's not your average hatchback. It's a sophisticated, true sports car
- The model has undergone a number of technical improvements, although its appearance has hardly changed at all. Still, it's better
- The car is available in two special versions, which will be sold by auction
- We encourage you to vote in the special survey below the article
When a representative of Toyota showed the new sports version of the Yaris to reporters, I felt extremely sad. No, not because of Toyota, but because of its competition. One of the demo boards shows cars that have the potential to compete with the new GR Yaris. This shows that there is basically no competition anymore. The hot hatchery market is dying, taking its last breath before taking a breath.
Toyota GR Yaris - this is no ordinary hatchback
However, I'm not entirely sure if the GR Yaris should be classified as a hot cabin. This is because the whole idea of this type of car is to pack a powerful engine, better brakes, and suspension into a small car. In this way, we get a sporty civilian car that is sometimes even able to drive longer on the track, but still have a sporty feel.
In the case of the small GR Yaris, the opposite is true. It shares lights, antennas, mirrors, and more with the hybrid version. The rear bogie came from the Corolla, and the entire structure of the car was built strictly for sport, without any compromises. So I'm inclined to say that the GR Yaris is a polite sports car. This is polite because it is a real sporty car in the WRC, but it is impossible to drive it every day.
What's more, Toyota did not remove its model from the offer, but gave it a facelift. One might ask, what facelift? It's the same car after all. The best answer is: it does, but not entirely.
Toyota GR Yaris - they drive, damage and repair. Thus the ideal was created
Stylistically, the new GR Yaris is almost identical to its predecessor. The easiest way to distinguish between the two models is through the taillights, which are connected to each other in newer models, and the third brake light is no longer located on the spoiler. There are also no fog lights on the front bumper, and the GR-Four inscription appears on the proudly exposed intercooler. The rest of the things are basically the same.
However, the highlight here is not the exterior, but the technical aspect and the experience with the previous model. The design of the new GR Yaris follows the principle of "Go, break it, repair it and keep moving". As a result, the designers repaired the damaged part so that it no longer needed to be repaired.
As a result, the front bumper's air ducts are positioned slightly differently to improve aerodynamics, cooling, and draw cool air into the engine. The bumper itself consists of multiple elements at the corners, as these pieces most often fall off during sporty driving, which means that the entire element needs to be replaced. In addition, the grille in front of the intercooler was metal, whereas previously it was plastic and cracked. The body itself now has more laser welding and structural glue, and the shock absorber bracket has three support points (previously there was only one). This is to prevent changes in the geometry under extreme loads.
Toyota GR Yaris - the engine is said to be the same, but ......
The intercooler itself is water-cooled (turned on by the driver using a dedicated button) and another small auxiliary cooler is added. According to the Japanese, among other things: the metal alloy from which the piston was made was changed, and the valve train was improved, due to problems with the piston itself and several engine elements. The durability of the transmission has also been improved, and a new eight-speed automatic transmission has been designed. After these changes, the 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine delivers 280 hp (+20) and 390 Nm (+30) of torque. The GR Yaris accelerates to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h.
Toyota GR Yaris - Japanese Explanation Dashboard
After such a technical presentation, I was ready to go and see the car for myself. So I quickly got the keys to one of the cars, got in the car, and ...... Saw the new dashboard. This is probably the most controversial element of the new GR Yaris. It makes a better impression in real life than in the photos, but you can say that it's just a piece of plastic that fits the driver's shape. In fact, it does, because the Japanese do plastic surgery in their typical way. It's not the prettiest, but every button on the dashboard is within easy reach, so the driver can reach it even with a 6-point seat belt. In addition, the top of the dashboard has been lowered by 50 mm, and the interior mirrors have been raised by 20 mm to improve visibility from the windshield.
It is important that the GR Yaris mainly has buttons and multimedia screens, but now the size is not very large. Another big change is that analog clocks are replaced by virtual clocks. They are clear and have beautiful graphics, and the driver can get more information about the car than before.
Toyota GR Yaris - sheer from start to finish
After the first few kilometers, the appearance of the dashboard is not really disturbing, but all the buttons are very accessible and placed in an intuitive location. In addition, when driving on road sections, the suspension, although stiff, does not cause back pain even on longer trips, as does the comfortable bucket seats, which are even easy to get in and out. Another modification can also be noted here - the seat is 25 mm lower than its predecessor.
People who consciously buy a GR Yaris should not be bothered by the engine noise, which is noticeable, but precisely because it is supposed to be a sports car. In addition, it is purebred, and it is difficult to hear the sound of a 3-cylinder engine working under the hood under load. However, you can hear it when you're standing still.
Toyota GR Yaris - do not be picky about automatic transmission. It's amazing
I also have to give a good rating to the automatic transmission, which is very fast considering it doesn't have two clutches. Since it has 8 gears, the engine is more often closer to the maximum power and torque curve, so the car is necessarily faster. For amateurs and semi-amateurs, automatic transmissions also relieve stress when driving in sport, where the driver must focus on the route and the best route to drive. Importantly, it matches the current situation perfectly. Whether it's on the road or on the track, I don't want gears to be different. I don't even think that the shoulder blades are unnecessary. This is probably why up to 70% of customers opt for this type of transmission.
Also, when driving on the highway, it will maintain a low engine speed, so it won't be as tiring. At a speed of 130 km/h, the GR Yaris with an automatic engine revs around 2,300 rpm, while the manual car revs at around 2,600 rpm. However, I don't want you to think that buying a manual transmission isn't worth it. She's also great, she has a short path with subsequent runs and hits on place every time, so there's no doubt about it. There is no problem with mixing gears. Manual mode, on the other hand, offers a lot of fun while shaving a hundredths off the next few laps.
Toyota GR Yaris - no need for a steering wheel. Yaris is controlled by gas
The feeling of hard driving is also a real advantage. The new GR Yaris is fast and stable. It is actually a toy because even an unskilled driver will feel good and confident. When driving on the track, it's basically possible to control the car with just the gas pedal – a small addition or subtraction can keep the car going as fast as possible. There is also no problem of slipping out of control. You can focus on clean driving. You can still choose how you want your drive to be transferred. A special knob distributes torque in the following proportions:
- 60:40 (Normal mode)
- 60:40-30:70 (track mode with variable torque distribution)
- 53:47 (gravel mode)
Toyota GR Yaris - still available, but ......
Is it convincing? So go to the showroom, because the Toyota GR Yaris is still in stock, and according to the brand representative, there are about 150 places this year, but it is unknown what it will look like next year. Everything depends on the exhaust emission standards. So, if anyone is still thinking about this car, the time is running out to buy it.
丰田 GR Yaris - 价格
In Poland, a car with a 6-speed manual transmission costs PLN 214,000. 900 PLN, with an additional 11,000 PLN for the version with an automatic machine. Zloty. Other options to increase the bill include the option to spend PLN 16,000. The PLN VIP package (which includes 18-inch forged alloy wheels, heated seats and steering wheel, JBL sound system, front and rear parking sensors, and a set of assistant and safety systems) and paint other than pure white (2,000-2,900 PLN).
Toyota GR Yaris - If you want to stand out, choose two limited editions
However, if you want to stand out even more, you can buy one of the following two limited editions in Poland:
- Ogier Edition (Poland 2 pieces)
- Rovanpera Edition (3 pieces in Poland)
Limited to 200 pieces worldwide, but it is reported that about 120 pieces will be available on the market and will be issued in different ways depending on the country. In Poland, Toyota decided to buy one of five special edition models through auction. The starting price is not yet known, but it is understood that the remainder of the value that the manufacturer hopes to receive will be donated to charity. This method of selling cars is designed to reduce the possibility of price speculation. The cars had different liveries, spoilers and slightly changed driving characteristics - the driver adjusted them from the name of the special edition.
丰田 GR Yaris – 总结
If we assume that the GR Yaris, as I emphasized earlier, is a polite sports car, then I say that it has no flaws, and its uncompromising nature is just an added advantage. If we think of it as a hot hatchback, we might complain about the small rear seat space, the lack of soft armrests, a small trunk, and a weird dashboard. However, I still firmly believe that it is a pure sports car that is mainly used for track driving. Toyota should be congratulated for making such a car, because there is no other car like it, and judging by the shrinking market, there will never be.