Sunday 26th March 2023

GR Yaris wins best hot hatch of last 25 years

We all knew that PH loved Toyota's homologation hero - now we know exactly how much...

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That the Lotus Elise S1 triumphed in our competition to find the best sports car of the past 25 years probably came as little surprise. By their very nature, iconic sports cars don’t come around all that often, and the Elise was about as close to perfect for winning hearts and minds (and votes) as could possibly be imagined. It was the beautiful, fast, innovative, decent value, stunning to drive Lotus that saved the company. Of course it was going to win.

The hot hatch vote was always going to be a closer run thing. Put simply, there have been too many brilliant ones launched since 1998 for one to stand head and shoulders above the rest. In 1998, Peugeot launched the 306 Rallye; in 2023, the first FL5 Honda Civic Type Rs reached UK customers. In between that, dozens of brilliant cars have made it to market. With the barren mid-1990s preceding PH and the future for hot hatches not looking all that brilliant (unless they’re SUV-shaped ones), it was quite the pool of talent to pick from.

You’d have surely got good odds on the GR Yaris winning, given the PH preference, typically, for the old school. But in the course of researching Toyota’s latest icon for this PH25 vid, it became clear just what an impact this little 4WD hatch has had: the thousands and thousands of forum comments, the YouTube love, the sheer number of PHers who now own a GR Yaris. Once you get to fully appreciate the scale, the fact that the Toyota won our best hot hatch poll becomes much less surprising. So many of you have bought into Toyota’s vision for a new kind of hot hatch - and the car itself is such a phenomenon - that it was always going to be in with a shot of victory.

Moreover, while the Yaris is new enough for even the oldest cars to be a few months from their first MOT, to drive one again on a wet and windy Wales is to be taken back in time. It’s been said before (and it’ll probably be said again) but the GR is the Japanese road-going rally car for a new era. What it represents has won the Yaris as many fans, I’d say, as its actual (and considerable) ability. We thought the days of boring Japanese cars made into legends with complex four-wheel-drive systems, boosty and exciting turbo engines, pumped-up bodywork and great manual gearboxes were done; yet here we are, 30 years after the Impreza Turbo launched, with a Toyota that proves what a brilliant idea it all was in the first place.

To prove just how perfect it is for our unique climate, the weather gods arranged for the entire Irish Sea to be dumped on us while trying to film the GR. Nothing else would have revelled in the conditions quite the same way. One powered axle would have been flailing, a larger hot hatch might have felt cumbersome, Haldex all-wheel drive wouldn’t have been as engaging. No car should be capable of entertainment in conditions one step from a sharknado, and it’s to the GR’s enormous credit that it did. Toyota deserves all the plaudits it gets for this car because, from a unique (and fantastic) three-cylinder turbo to its carbon roof and aluminium bodywork, the Yaris feels properly special, and it's seldom that any £30k car offers that. Let alone a Toyota supermini. It’s a worthy winner of your best hot hatch title.

There’s another car in the video, though - the hot hatch that very nearly beat the GR to the crown. The race to first was so close between the Toyota and the Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy that it would have been rude not to have the Capsicum Red rascal along as well, especially as back in 2019 you voted it best hot hatch of the century. They also neatly represent two contrasting approaches to hot hatch glory; the Yaris thrills with its formidable ground covering ability and boost-surge, while the Clio never fails to entertain with its rorty 2.0-litre four-pot up front and little more than a tonne to fling along. Plus, of course, those very special Sachs remote reservoir dampers, gifting the Trophy incredible composure. Both are unforgettable hot hatch experiences - no wonder so many of you were keen to vote for them.

This obviously wasn’t a conventional twin test, even as their respective values continue to converge, but rather a celebration of two hot hatch greats that we love as much as you. It was heartening to find that the Renaultsport Clio built for Britain and the Yaris that evokes much loved old rally saloons both still feel so at home here. We’d hoped to do so much more with the day, but the weather really didn’t play ball. Hope you can still enjoy it - and keep a lookout for a new vote next week!

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SPECIFICATION | TOYOTA GR YARIS

Engine: 1,618cc, turbocharged 3-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 261@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 266@3,000-4,600rpm
0-62mph: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 143mph (electronically limited)
Weight: 1,280-1,310kg (minimum and maximum)
MPG: 34.3
CO2: 186g/km driving
On sale: 2020-date
Price: £29,995 (2020, before Circuit Pack or Convenience Pack)
Price now: £30,000-£40,000

• Toyota GR Yaris vs. Honda Civic Type R Sport Line
• Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy | PH Heroes

Huge thanks to Simon Burnard (Clio) and Ben Corner (Yaris) for allowing us to drive your brilliant cars. It couldn’t have happened without you - cheers!

 

 

 

[anonymous-user]

Must have been a very close call but nice to see Toyota is putting out some sporty cars again.

[FlukePlay]

pocketspring said:

Must have been a very close call but nice to see Toyota is putting out some sporty cars again.

There was a period in the late 80s and early 90s when Toyota had a marvellous offering: Corolla GTi, Supra Turbo, Celica GT, MR2...

[anonymous-user]

FlukePlay said:

pocketspring said:

Must have been a very close call but nice to see Toyota is putting out some sporty cars again.

There was a period in the late 80s and early 90s when Toyota had a marvellous offering: Corolla GTi, Supra Turbo, Celica GT, MR2...

I remember it well. I had a TT Supra Aerotop and two Celica GT4's. My mates had a GT Starlet, a TT Supra and an MR2 turbo. Another mate of mine had a Corolla GTi and my parents had a Mk1 facelift MR2.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 25th March 06:33

[Vee12V]

Between the 2 I'll have the Clio any day of the week. The Yaris is super capable but never found it that much 'fun'.

[BrotherMouzone]

Vee12V said:

Between the 2 I'll have the Clio any day of the week. The Yaris is super capable but never found it that much 'fun'.

I really need to drive one and decide it for myself. Friend’s two mates sold theirs for the same reasons you stated, especially low speed involvement. Yet the internet would have you believed that the Yaris is the best thing since sliced bread.

Maybe the Yaris got so much praise because no other manufacturers are producing cars like this anymore?

[doogle83]

Vee12V said:

Between the 2 I'll have the Clio any day of the week. The Yaris is super capable but never found it that much 'fun'.

Its great that we get the choice. I couldn't disagree more.

I find Yaris incredibly fun to drive, especially in inclement weather (basically, all the time right now) and when you play with the drive and traction modes.

[paddy1970]

Totally useless survey and result.

Most people have not driven the GR Yaris ... it is just hype

[macky17]

I wonder how many people who voted for it have never even driven one. It's a terrific concept and I'm delighted cars as ridiculous as this are still being made but it's nowhere near enough fun to win this. Being 4wd you could even argue it's not a hot hatch at all but of course that's been argued to death before. The fact that's in question should be enough to prevent it actually winning though.

[Pommy]

paddy1970 said:

Totally useless survey and result.

Most people have not driven the GR Yaris ... it is just hype

I would think more people have driven the Yaris than the Clio

[gillshill22]

pocketspring said:

FlukePlay said:

pocketspring said:

Must have been a very close call but nice to see Toyota is putting out some sporty cars again.

There was a period in the late 80s and early 90s when Toyota had a marvellous offering: Corolla GTi, Supra Turbo, Celica GT, MR2...

I remember it well. I had a TT Supra Aerotop and two Celica GT4's. My mates had a GT Starlet, a TT Supra and an MR2 turbo. Another mate of mine had a Corolla GTi and my parents had a Mk1 facelift MR2.

Edited by pocketspring on Saturday 25th March 06:33

Yes, I do too…an amazing period of cars that I thought would never return for Toyota, so it’s great to see them back up there! Our local dealership was Grosvenor Garage in Guildford (now a Honda garage) and at point my mum had an MR2 (mk 1 before moving on to the not as good mk 2), my dad had a Celica GT, my brother a Corolla GTi hatch and I had a Corolla GT coupe (AE86). Would love to have another drive in any of them and would maybe even choose the MR2 over my AE86…but it might be the pop-up headlamps swaying my decision!!! Kept my Corolla for years as a second car until finally selling it in the mid-nineties for the princely sum of £2k!

[Tickle]

Still yet to try a Yaris GR, can absolutely see the appeal.

As a past Trophy owner, can vouch for them being very good.

The weather seems to be a curse of the 'Best of the last 25 years' series though!

Edited by Tickle on Saturday 25th March 07:58

[911Spanker]

BrotherMouzone said:

Vee12V said:

Between the 2 I'll have the Clio any day of the week. The Yaris is super capable but never found it that much 'fun'.

I really need to drive one and decide it for myself. Friend’s two mates sold theirs for the same reasons you stated, especially low speed involvement. Yet the internet would have you believed that the Yaris is the best thing since sliced bread.

Maybe the Yaris got so much praise because no other manufacturers are producing cars like this anymore?

I've driven a couple extensively. Didn't find it a car that was particularly engaging at all on road.

Lots of hype but not really a fun road car IMO.

Clio every time for me.

[Jonathan-co1jm]

100% clio for me… owned the GR for about 8 months/5000 miles and never connected with it. Very capable car but almost too capable and I found it really boring… cornered like it was on rails but no drama, sound was terrible due to small engine (tried Miltek but still rubbish).

I’m sure far better drivers can extract that something from it but me as an average driver I just found it a bit dull.

[la grange]

Absolutely adore my GR, out of many cars I’ve owned including an Aston Vanquish , SLS, Z3M,Nissan GTR etc the GR even after over a year’s ownership still brings smiles. Probably a combination its size ,boosty pickup, steering feel, tenacious grip and solidity. If anything it does as many have said feel like a mini Nissan GTR. Anyway I’m not selling in a hurry. Well done Toyota

[GTEYE]

Interesting. I’ll guarantee one thing though, history will not remember this as the best hot hatch of the last 25 years.

Ask the question again in 10 years (based on the same question of 1998-2023) and you’ll get a different answer.

[Tickle]

paddy1970 said:

Totally useless survey and result.

Most people have not driven the GR Yaris ... it is just hype

Only 500 Trophys (UK), probably less people have driven one.

[dvshannow]

911Spanker said:

BrotherMouzone said:

Vee12V said:

Between the 2 I'll have the Clio any day of the week. The Yaris is super capable but never found it that much 'fun'.

I really need to drive one and decide it for myself. Friend’s two mates sold theirs for the same reasons you stated, especially low speed involvement. Yet the internet would have you believed that the Yaris is the best thing since sliced bread.

Maybe the Yaris got so much praise because no other manufacturers are producing cars like this anymore?

I've driven a couple extensively. Didn't find it a car that was particularly engaging at all on road.

Lots of hype but not really a fun road car IMO.

Clio every time for me.

In what way? replaced a 991.2 GTS with a GR and I find this a more enjoyable road car - the GTS I did think was v v good but too fast for roads and don’t have this problem with the Yaris. It’s the most enjoyable car I’ve had since a GT Porsche.

surprised it won as older cars have a decent rose tint usually

They do have plenty of little niggle and are not for everyone so expect to see quite a bit of supply and turnover as they are not that rare

[Nick325911]

Just pipped at the post which is still not a bad result for an 18yr old car that’s now up against 4wd hot hatches - well done to the GR however I’m still keeping my 1 owner Trophy.

Edited by Nick325911 on Saturday 25th March 08:00

[craig-A]

I'm in the very fortunate position to have owned both, the Clio got my vote as I felt it was more a hot hatch, the GRY is something else, it has lost the ethos of what a hot hatch is. A mega hatch maybe?
I now own a lovely red FL5, it probably has the best steering of any car I've driven, if it was in the line up the Clio would still get my vote!

[cerb4.5lee]

BrotherMouzone said:

Vee12V said:

Between the 2 I'll have the Clio any day of the week. The Yaris is super capable but never found it that much 'fun'.

I really need to drive one and decide it for myself. Friend’s two mates sold theirs for the same reasons you stated, especially low speed involvement. Yet the internet would have you believed that the Yaris is the best thing since sliced bread.

Maybe the Yaris got so much praise because no other manufacturers are producing cars like this anymore?

I wouldn't want the Yaris because I find 3 cylinder engines nasty to use and listen to, so it would be the Clio for me all day everyday.

This is a shocking result for me.