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Packing 261bhp and 266lb ft of torque, the 1.6-litre engine in the Yaris GR is actually the world’s most powerful three cylinder engine. It sends this power to the road via a six-speed manual gearbox and a clever all-wheel drive system. The net result is a car that can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds (according to our own testing) and will go on to a limited top speed of 143mph. That puts this Fiesta ST sized car in the same performance leagues as larger and more powerful hot hatches such as the Honda Civic Type R and Renault Megane RS. 

The standard GR Yaris comes fairly well equipped with figure-hugging sports seats, a GR leather steering wheel, an 8in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and push-button start, GR floor mats, aluminium pedals and a black leather gear shift with red stitching. The Convenience pack introduces a punchier eight speaker JBL sound system, sat-nav, front & rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert with brake assist, a blind spot monitor, a head up display, an illuminated entry system and a UV Windscreen. We’d recommend the Circuit pack as it comes with beautiful 18in BBS forged alloy wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, limited-slip differentials front and rear, sports suspension and red brake calipers. Those chassis tweaks really make the most of the GR’s fantastic chassis.

GR YARIS

Hatchback

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

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