Second-generation Toyota GR Yaris review

Is this the most important car of the year for Ti readers? Has to be up there, doesn’t it? If BMW’s M2 was one of the cars of 2023, then it’s a boot to a glass slipper that Toyota’s little tarmac terrier in second-generation guise must be in the running. As we’re all beginning to understand, these sorts of automobiles just aren’t going to be made much longer; cars developed through motorsport, designed and engineered by driving enthusiasts for driving enthusiasts. Enjoy ’em while you can…

Yet, without wishing to steal the thunder of David Twohig’s Almost Great series, there were things wrong with the original GR Yaris launched in November 2020, not least its neck-crick-inducing seat height, which left your barnet brushing the headlining and made it almost impossible for tall drivers to wear a helmet on track.

There were other things too, though I never once heard moans about a lack of performance from the 257bhp 1.6-litre turbo triple that sat under the bonnet driving all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.