Toyota GR Yaris Road Test

Built to permit the company to take part in motor-sport’s toughest rally series and winning in 2018, the GR Yaris priced from £31,120 is probably the closest a driver will come to sitting in one of the actual WRC cars.

Bolted onto a sports orientated six-speed manual gearbox with flick of wrist change action and permanent four-wheel-drive through front and rear Torsen differentials, it puts down 257bhp and 360Nm torque with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in the Circuit Pack on our road test model.

This is the ultimate GR Yaris £34,670 but you can specify an entry level model or a Convenience Pack which gives you some features but not others found or not found as the case may be in the Circuit Pack.

They share the same specially re-engineered Yaris body with a lower profile and a poly carbonate roof, aluminium bonnet, wings and third door to reduce kerbweight, while the roof’s shape directs air to the rear wing to push down the back of the car at speed and improve stability.

Depending on which mode was selected, the GR Yaris would crisply turn into a bend or a bit more eagerly execute a turn while always staying planted on the road. It had a near neutral attitude thanks to the 4WD underneath and it never stepped out of line or showed a tendency to slide wide.

The seats in front were characteristically figure hugging and gave good support to all but the tallest users but the two rear seats were much less accommodating and legroom was short behind, adequate in front with acceptable headroom for most occupants.

The term pocket-rocket really applied to the Toyota GR Yaris and its responses, stability and performance including fuel economy were most impressive.

It’s not the best equipped performance small car but it comes with one feature very rarely found on any car, a big smile on the driver’s face, confirming are not aging lines but laughter lines remembering a time long ago. By Robin Roberts Miles Better news agency