The Toyota GR Yaris is the hot hatch of the moment, but there are two
models this is the real one. Here's why.
It has been almost a year and a half since we first sampled Toyota GR Yaris's
prototypes in their final stages of development in Europe. Although it was only
a preview drive, it was immediately apparent there was a stark contrast between
the two GR Yaris models on a track. The regular version on Dunlop tires was an
inferior proposition compared to the performance pack with Michelin rubber
lighter wheels and front and rear limited slip differentials. We felt so
strongly about it at the time, we lobbied Toyota Australia executives to bring
both examples here and none at all. Fortunately, Toyota moved heaven and earth
to fast track the introduction of the performance pack that is known as the
rally edition in Australia. It wasn't supposed to be introduced here until
sometime after the regular model, that's why the first 1200 cars in Australia
with the basic Gr Yaris and 200 rally editions have only just started to arrive
six months after going on sale in the UK and New Zealand, and so here we are
with the car the Toyota GR Yaris was meant to be all along. Both examples are
powered by the same turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which happens to be the
most powerful three-cylinder in the world, have identical power outputs, the
same lightweight rally inspired bodywork and carbon fiber roof. However, the
rally edition gains even lighter 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin tires,
functional air ducts in the front bumper to cool the brakes rather than closed off
panels in the regular model and red brake calipers, although the discs
themselves are the same size and hidden from view, mechanical limited slip differentials
front and rear and retuned suspension. There's a hefty price difference too,
the regular GR Yaris was launched with an introductory offer of 39 990 drive
away and sold out in seven days, the price then rose to 49 500 drive away and
the remaining stock sold out in a month.
The GR Yaris rally launched at 56 200 drive away but the initial stock
has sold out. Order both model today and you won’t take delivery until 2022 and
you'll be paying full retail. 49 500 plus on-road costs for the regular version
and 54 500 plus on-road costs for the rally, at about four and a half thousand dollars
in delivery charges and that pegs the prices at about fifty three thousand and
fifty nine thousand dollars drive away respectively which is a lot of money for
a Yaris.
So, is the rally worth the price premium? And can you really feel the
difference around town in the daily grind? You're really not going to pick up
the difference between the rally and the regular version but once you hit the
open road, the rally comes alive.
We can really see why this car is so intoxicating, we love that
three-cylinder engine, it just roars but of course as with all cars, it's not
perfect.
The seating positions are touch high, the cabin's a bit cramped and the tire
noise is actually quite horrendous, even by performance car standards. Then again,
that's the price you have to pay for grip.