Likes
- Truly immense performance abilities
- A genuine homologation special and sure to be a future classic
- Still offers much of the liability and convenience of a Yaris
- Superb build quality and (so far) excellent reliability
Used Toyota GR Yaris review
2020 - 2022
Dislikes
- Does ask a premium on the used market
- Some have been driven very hard
- Rear seat not all that viable for adults
- Requires the diffs to be truly special
Stuff you should know
The 3-door Toyota GR Yaris is a hot hatch that has been making waves in the automotive world since its launch in 2020. It’s a car that has been designed and engineered to be a true performance machine, and rare these days, it’s a genuine homologation special, being created to allow Toyota to compete in various international rally events and thanks to this competition pedigree, has been enthusiastically adopted by the Australian market.
The GR Yaris is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission and Toyota’s bespoke four-wheel-drive system, which in the Rallye variant, is fitted with a pair of Torsen limited-slip differentials.
The GR Yaris also features three different driving modes, splitting the torque between the axles to various degrees, allowing drivers to tailor the car’s performance to their own driving style and the conditions they’re driving in.
The GR Yaris low weight and compact size helps to make it incredibly agile and responsive. This, combined with its four-wheel-drive system, makes it perfect for tackling the twisty roads of Australia.
However, many over zealous owners occasionally run out of talent pushing the Yaris on said twisty roads, resulting in many used models hiding numerous battle scars.
Even with the used market not only holding value but quite often appreciating in price, the GR Yaris still has a price tag that is almost bargain-like for what the car is capable of. This, combined with its performance credentials, Toyota’s unrivalled support network and relatively affordable maintenance and servicing costs makes it an attractive option for those looking for a performance car that won’t break the bank.
Overall, the Toyota GR Yaris is a hot hatch that is perfectly suited to the Australian market however, as we’re finding, it’s one that, depending on the example you’re looking at, might be hiding a few frustrating secrets.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
Nothing really.
Just look for signs of abuse and dodgy repair work.
Interior:
Some owners have subjective complaints such as the mirror and seat height not being to their liking while some other owners have become frustrated with the infotainment system.
In terms of commonly reported faults, none that we could find or that we would regard as common.
Mechanically:
Turbo oil drain can potentially crack and leak, however, this is generally repaired under warranty.
There were reports of early examples popping out of second gear however, Toyota surmised it is generally due to operator error.
The stability control can glitch and radar guided systems can have complications specifically in early models. However software updates have remedied this.
In a similar software based issue, which has now been resolved, some early models could have over boost issues.
The well-known catastrophic engine failure as seen on YouTube was operator error.
Selected 2nd instead of 4th when changing from 5th, on a race track is never going to end well.
Recalls:
- March 2022 – Fault in certain Toyota C-HR and Yaris models, affecting 18,471 units, due to the front radar sensor not being calibrated during vehicle manufacture, causing the Pre-Collision System (PCS) to potentially fail, increasing the risk of accidents and harm to occupants and other road users.
Exterior:
Nothing really.
Just look for signs of abuse and dodgy repair work.
Interior:
Some owners have subjective complaints such as the mirror and seat height not being to their liking while some other owners have become frustrated with the infotainment system.
In terms of commonly reported faults, none that we could find or that we would regard as common.
Mechanically:
Turbo oil drain can potentially crack and leak, however, this is generally repaired under warranty.
There were reports of early examples popping out of second gear however, Toyota surmised it is generally due to operator error.
The stability control can glitch and radar guided systems can have complications specifically in early models. However software updates have remedied this.
In a similar software based issue, which has now been resolved, some early models could have over boost issues.
The well-known catastrophic engine failure as seen on YouTube was operator error.
Selected 2nd instead of 4th when changing from 5th, on a race track is never going to end well.
Recalls:
- March 2022 – Fault in certain Toyota C-HR and Yaris models, affecting 18,471 units, due to the front radar sensor not being calibrated during vehicle manufacture, causing the Pre-Collision System (PCS) to potentially fail, increasing the risk of accidents and harm to occupants and other road users.
Exterior:
Nothing really.
Just look for signs of abuse and dodgy repair work.
Interior:
Some owners have subjective complaints such as the mirror and seat height not being to their liking while some other owners have become frustrated with the infotainment system.
In terms of commonly reported faults, none that we could find or that we would regard as common.
Mechanically:
Turbo oil drain can potentially crack and leak, however, this is generally repaired under warranty.
There were reports of early examples popping out of second gear however, Toyota surmised it is generally due to operator error.
The stability control can glitch and radar guided systems can have complications specifically in early models. However software updates have remedied this.
In a similar software based issue, which has now been resolved, some early models could have over boost issues.
The well-known catastrophic engine failure as seen on YouTube was operator error.
Selected 2nd instead of 4th when changing from 5th, on a race track is never going to end well.
Recalls:
- March 2022 – Fault in certain Toyota C-HR and Yaris models, affecting 18,471 units, due to the front radar sensor not being calibrated during vehicle manufacture, causing the Pre-Collision System (PCS) to potentially fail, increasing the risk of accidents and harm to occupants and other road users.
Should you buy it?
Should you buy one, well this might surprise you but, maybe.
There’s no denying the Yaris GR is an incredibly special car, as thrilling to drive as it is capable of physics bending feats of performance, but the issue the little Toyota has, has more to do with who buys it than the car itself.
See, if the GR was as readily available as a standard Yaris or Corolla, then yes, please go and buy one but the problem is, with the GR being so limited, sometimes the people that deserve to buy them miss out.
We’re talking about the people that will actually take the Yaris to track days, or will spend every possible moment on some remote deserted winding road enjoying the cars immense levels of engineering, embracing what this car is all about.
The problem is, we all to often see the GR Yaris being used purely as a flex, driven up and down cafe and club strips as a way to show off.
Obviously express yourself however you want and it’s not for us to tell you how to spend your money but buying a Yaris GR and not driving it seriously or not taking it to the track is like buying a meal at a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, taking a photo of it for your socials and then not eating it, what makes it truly special is clearly totally lost on you so how about leaving it for those that will appreciate it properly,
Please
Should you buy one, well this might surprise you but, maybe.
There’s no denying the Yaris GR is an incredibly special car, as thrilling to drive as it is capable of physics bending feats of performance, but the issue the little Toyota has, has more to do with who buys it than the car itself.
See, if the GR was as readily available as a standard Yaris or Corolla, then yes, please go and buy one but the problem is, with the GR being so limited, sometimes the people that deserve to buy them miss out.
We’re talking about the people that will actually take the Yaris to track days, or will spend every possible moment on some remote deserted winding road enjoying the cars immense levels of engineering, embracing what this car is all about.
The problem is, we all to often see the GR Yaris being used purely as a flex, driven up and down cafe and club strips as a way to show off.
Obviously express yourself however you want and it’s not for us to tell you how to spend your money but buying a Yaris GR and not driving it seriously or not taking it to the track is like buying a meal at a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, taking a photo of it for your socials and then not eating it, what makes it truly special is clearly totally lost on you so how about leaving it for those that will appreciate it properly,
Please only buy a GR Yaris if you plan to embrace what it is all about, take it to the track and drive it in the way it was intended.
Should you buy it?
Should you buy one, well this might surprise you but, maybe.
There’s no denying the Yaris GR is an incredibly special car, as thrilling to drive as it is capable of physics bending feats of performance, but the issue the little Toyota has, has more to do with who buys it than the car itself.
See, if the GR was as readily available as a standard Yaris or Corolla, then yes, please go and buy one but the problem is, with the GR being so limited, sometimes the people that deserve to buy them miss out.
We’re talking about the people that will actually take the Yaris to track days, or will spend every possible moment on some remote deserted winding road enjoying the cars immense levels of engineering, embracing what this car is all about.
The problem is, we all to often see the GR Yaris being used purely as a flex, driven up and down cafe and club strips as a way to show off.
Obviously express yourself however you want and it’s not for us to tell you how to spend your money but buying a Yaris GR and not driving it seriously or not taking it to the track is like buying a meal at a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, taking a photo of it for your socials and then not eating it, what makes it truly special is clearly totally lost on you so how about leaving it for those that will appreciate it properly,
Please only buy a GR Yaris if you plan to embrace what it is all about, take it to the track and drive it in the way it was intended.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of July 28, 2023.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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