Toyota GR Yaris review

The GR Yaris feels very purposeful as you climb behind the wheel. Toyota has listened to feedback and made sweeping changes in here. On the first version of the car you sat high, in the rallying style for ideal visibility, but a lot of buyers hated this and had their seats lowered, so Toyota cut out the middle man and dropped it by 25mm.

To compensate, the instrument panel - now a single block containing a new 12.3in digital display, touchscreen, the starter button and an air vent - is now 50mm lower to improve visibility. The rearview mirror’s been moved too. It’s not a looker, but that’s not the point. Function over form, everywhere.

The controls all operate with more precision than any other hot hatch bar the Honda Civic Type R. And the seats, soft, yet well padded, are great. Not claustrophobic, just comfortably bolstered.

So it’s just a standard Yaris inside?

No, not at all. The gearlever is 50mm higher, but could have been raised further to place it even closer to the steering wheel. Too much rally maybe. Sure, it has the same door cards, touchscreen and heating controls, but the dashboard leaves you in no doubt: you are here to drive.

There’s a simple rotary controller for the AWD modes and a rocker for the drive switch. We’d have finished these in red, not grey, so they stand out more. Yep, that’s how much we’re nit-picking.

Great, but is it well built?

Yup, it feels properly robust. If anything it’s missing some creature comforts, especially now the price has ballooned. What happened to the Alcantara steering wheel inserts? And the useful phone tray under the screen? The stiff chassis means there are no squeaks or rattles and although material quality is no better than average, it’s lifted by having metal pedals.

But the overall impression is that this is a well engineered and built car that feels like it’ll stay the course. It’s worth knowing Toyota says it takes 10 times longer to build than a standard Yaris, constructed not on the normal line, but GR’s facility within the Motomachi factory.

What’s it like in the back?

Cramped and dark. You know Toyota didn’t really plan on you using the rear seats because not only is head and legroom extremely limited, but the front seat doesn’t tilt and slide very well. Nor is the 174-litre boot exactly big. Who cares? If you want the car, you’ll make this work for you. And you do want the car. You really do.