Toyota GR Yaris 2025 Review

The Southeast Asian hot hatch market has always been the focus of performance car enthusiasts. With increasingly stringent emission regulations and rising consumer demand for daily practicality, vehicles that can satisfy both the thrill of the track and urban commuting are becoming increasingly sought after. The 2025 Toyota GR Yaris MT, as one of the core models of Toyota's performance sub-brand, now comes with a combination of a 300-horsepower 1.6T three-cylinder turbocharged engine and a 6-speed manual transmission, directly targeting users who pursue pure driving pleasure. The main purpose of our test drive is to verify whether this compact hot hatch has truly achieved the feat of "having the best of both worlds" in terms of power response, handling limits, and daily usability.

The 2025 GR Yaris before us continues the compact hatchback design of the previous generation, with a length of 3995mm paired with a width of 1805mm, creating a low and aggressive stance. The front adopts Toyota's family-style trapezoidal grille, accented with a black honeycomb pattern. The LED headlamp assemblies on both sides are connected to the chrome trim at the upper edge of the grille, enhancing the visual width. The side profile of the body features a waistline extending from the front fender to the taillights, and 18-inch multi-spoke wheels paired with 225/40 ZR18 performance tires further emphasize its sporty character. The rear is equipped with a spoiler, dual-exhaust outlets on both sides, and horizontally-designed LED taillights, giving the car remarkable recognition that makes it stand out in traffic.

Opening the door, the interior mainly adopts a black color scheme. The center console uses soft-touch materials, accentuated with silver trim. While it doesn't feature excessive soft padding, the button layout is clear, and the operation logic is straightforward. The 12.3-inch GR-specific fully digital instrument panel is a highlight, displaying performance data such as turbo pressure and oil temperature. The HUD head-up display allows the driver to easily view speed and navigation information at a glance. The 7-inch central control screen supports CarPlay and Android Auto. Although it’s not very large, the response speed is smooth, and the 6-speaker audio system offers sound quality that meets basic daily needs. Notably, the inclusion of dual-zone automatic air conditioning and rain-sensing wipers enhances daily convenience, although the manually adjustable seats and traditional key ignition retain the raw feel of a performance car.

As a hatchback, the 2560mm wheelbase performs moderately within its class. The front seats provide good wrap-around support, with adequate lateral support to keep passengers firmly in place during spirited driving. However, the manual seat adjustments require some time to find the perfect position. Rear space is slightly tight for adults, with about two fists of legroom and one finger of headroom. It can suffice for short trips, but might feel a bit cramped for long journeys. In terms of storage, the door pockets can hold two bottles of water, while the center armrest box offers limited space. The regular trunk capacity is not particularly large but can be expanded significantly by folding down the rear seats, which can meet the needs of occasional transportation of bulky items.

Starting the engine, the 1.6T three-cylinder turbocharged engine emits a growl with a slight graininess. Engaging first gear and releasing the clutch, the vehicle takes off briskly. At 3250 rpm, it delivers a maximum torque of 400 N·m, with robust mid-range acceleration that makes overtaking easy. Simply step on the gas pedal, and the transmission responds quickly, providing a sustained push-back feeling above 6000 rpm. The 6-speed manual transmission offers precise gear shifts, moderate shift travel, and a wide clutch engagement point, enabling even beginners to quickly adapt. When switched to Sport mode, throttle sensitivity increases further, the engine revs are kept elevated, and power is instantly at your command.

In terms of handling, the combination of a MacPherson front suspension and a double-wishbone rear suspension performs excellently. The steering is precise with minimal play, body roll is well-controlled during cornering, and the tires provide ample grip, maintaining stability even during quick lane changes. The chassis tuning is on the firmer side, but the suspension effectively absorbs vibrations when passing speed bumps or bumpy roads, with no noticeable residual shock, balancing handling performance and everyday comfort. The full-time four-wheel-drive system performs stably on slippery roads, distributing power appropriately to enhance driving safety.

In terms of fuel consumption, we recorded approximately 10.5L per 100km in congested urban conditions and 7.2L per 100km during highway cruising. For a 300-horsepower performance car, this performance is considered average. The braking system is excellent, with the combination of front and rear ventilated discs providing linear pedal feedback, uniform braking force output, and stable body posture during emergency braking with no deviation.

During daily driving, the NVH control of the GR Yaris exceeds expectations. Wind and tire noise are not particularly noticeable at high speeds, and engine noise is kept within an acceptable range during cruising. The seat cushioning is not excessively soft, but it offers good support, ensuring comfort even during long drives. It's worth mentioning that the addition of ACC adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist makes long-distance driving much easier. Despite being a performance car, it does not compromise on convenience features.

Overall, the 2025 Toyota GR Yaris MT retains pure driving pleasure while incorporating more advanced technology features and safety systems. Priced at 315,600 Malaysian Ringgit, it offers a certain degree of competitiveness among performance cars in its class. Compared to the Honda Civic Type R and Ford Focus ST, the GR Yaris has an advantage in its four-wheel-drive system and engine torque. While its interior luxury might not be as high, its performance is more balanced.

This car is perfect for young consumers who want both everyday commuting convenience and driving pleasure or for performance car enthusiasts who enjoy weekend track experiences. It meets the needs of daily commutes while delivering ample driving excitement on weekends. It is a true "daily drivable and track-capable" hot hatch.

If you are a consumer who demands high performance and handling but also needs to consider family use, the 2025 Toyota GR Yaris MT is definitely worth considering. It proves that performance cars can also offer great practicality, making it an unmissable choice in its class.