Toyota GR Yaris I (2020 – 2024)

Reliability score : 8.8/10

The Toyota GR Yaris (Generation I) is a true anomaly in the modern automotive landscape: a "homologation special" designed specifically to serve as the basis for Toyota's WRC rally car. Developed in collaboration with Tommi Mäkinen Racing, it sits on a hybrid platform (Yaris GA-B front, Corolla/C-HR GA-C rear) to integrate the GR-Four AWD system. Featuring a specific 3-door body, a carbon roof, and aluminum panels, it is a marvel of engineering. ⚠️ EXPERT NOTE REGARDING DIESEL: The query targets a diesel engine. As an expert, I must point out that there has never been a diesel Toyota GR Yaris, nor even a standard diesel Yaris of this generation (XP210). The GR Yaris is exclusively powered by petrol engines (1.6 Turbo globally, and 1.5 naturally aspirated in Japan). The analysis will theref

✅ Strengths

Exceptional chassis and formidable GR-Four AWD system
Characterful and very robust 3-cylinder turbo engine (G16E-GTS)
Almost non-existent depreciation (collector's vehicle from release)
Assembly quality from the Motomachi plant (Japan)
Powerful and enduring factory braking

⚠️ Weaknesses

Driving position considered too high by many drivers
Forward visibility hindered by the central rearview mirror/camera block
Tiny trunk (174 liters) and symbolic rear seats
Non-existent soundproofing on the highway
Total absence of a diesel engine (for high-mileage drivers)

🎯 Verdict

The Toyota GR Yaris is a future classic, a road-legal rally car that offers surprising mechanical reliability for its performance level. The G16E-GTS engine is a masterpiece of robustness, provided that warm-up times and transmission fluid change intervals are strictly respected. Regarding the search for a diesel model: this idea must be abandoned, as the car only exists in petrol. If you are looking for a utility or economical vehicle to do 30,000 km a year on the highway, steer clear. If you are looking for one of the best sports cars of the decade for winding roads and trackdays, it is a must-buy.