When Toyota introduced the original GR Yaris to the Malaysian market back in 2020, the entire allocation was quickly snapped up by local car enthusiasts. The main reason for that was Toyota’s announcement that they would only produce 25,000 examples of this WRC-homologated hot hatch for the global market. The limited production run instantly made the car highly desirable among collectors. However, not too long ago, Toyota decided to release an updated version of the GR Yaris. And let’s be fair — this made many enthusiasts who missed out on the first batch very happy. Unfortunately, it also left early buyers of the pre-facelift model rather unhappy, as their long-term investment may no longer hold the value they initially expected.
Since Toyota has decided to make the GR Yaris more readily available, they’ve also made it easier to drive with the introduction of an automatic transmission. With this new option, those who can’t drive a manual can now finally experience what a proper hot hatch feels like in this day and age. Not too long ago, I requested both the automatic and manual variants of the GR Yaris from Toyota for review. I’m really interested to see what else Toyota has done to improve an already impressive product. So, let’s find out. 
From afar, it’s actually quite hard to spot the differences if you only look at the shape. The updated GR Yaris still retains the familiar silhouette — and that’s exactly what makes it so special to those who love its form factor. However, if you look closely, the changes aren’t so subtle that you can’t notice them. So, let’s start with the front. The updated GR Yaris now features a more aggressive front bumper, which not only allows more air into the radiator but also gives the car a sportier look. Behind the front bumper, you’ll notice the GR-Four logo painted onto the intercooler, adding further to its sporty appeal. 
At the rear, the GR Yaris now comes with redesigned taillights connected by a light bar. This is the clearest indicator that you’re looking at the updated version. The connected taillights create the illusion of a wider stance and complement the wide wheel arches very well. They also help modernize the car’s overall look. Additionally, the GR Yaris now features a shark-fin antenna. While this is mostly an aesthetic update, it doesn’t make much of a difference in functionality. These are all the exterior changes for the updated GR Yaris.
Inside, the changes are even more significant than those on the exterior. When I first saw photos of the new interior, I wasn’t the biggest fan. But in person, it didn’t look nearly as bad as the photos suggested. Toyota has made the cabin even more driver-focused than the pre-facelift model. This new dashboard is available on both manual and automatic variants, giving the interior a more consistent appearance.
With this new dashboard, the GR Yaris now comes with a brand-new digital instrument cluster and head unit. The instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch display, while the infotainment screen remains a relatively small 9-inch unit. This interior may not appeal to buyers who want large displays, but personally, I love its simplicity. Oversized screens were never my cup of tea — they’re pretty distracting.
The instrument cluster uses the same graphics first seen on the GR Corolla. These have now been brought into the GR Yaris, bringing it closer to its modern counterpart. Both the automatic and manual variants share the same cluster, with only minor graphical differences. As for the infotainment system, it’s now noticeably smoother than before. Even though the screen isn’t particularly large, it offers all the essential modern features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard — and the best part is, they’re wireless. The GR Yaris only gets a reverse camera, but for such a small car, that’s perfectly acceptable. The car now also comes with a nine-speaker sound system. While it isn’t a branded setup, it actually sounds quite good. 
Other than that, the interior looks very similar to the pre-facelift model. But to be fair, some changes have been made to the front seats. Toyota took feedback from owners and lowered the front seats, resulting in a sportier driving position. On top of that, this adjustment makes the seats more accommodating for taller drivers. I really like the new seating position — it works well for both the automatic and manual variants. It enhances that sense of sitting in something genuinely sporty. And to add to that sportiness, the seat belts now come in a shade of maroon to elevate the cabin ambience. 
In terms of the powertrain, the GR Yaris still retains its impressive turbocharged three-cylinder engine. However, Toyota has given it more power to make it even more appealing than before. To make things even better, the GR Yaris is now available with either an automatic or a manual transmission. Power is still sent to all four wheels through the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system. The engine now produces 300 PS and 400 Nm. This allows the GR Yaris to accelerate from 0–100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, with a top speed limited to 230 km/h. 
Even with the bump in horsepower and torque, can you really feel the difference? For someone who doesn’t own the car outright, I can’t confidently say that the power increase makes the car feel significantly faster. But at least on paper, the GR Yaris now reaches 100 km/h 0.1 seconds quicker in the manual variant. And if you want even faster acceleration, the automatic variant can actually do it in just under 5 seconds. That’s seriously impressive, considering people used to think manuals were always quicker than automatics. How times have changed.
What I can clearly feel, however, is the improvement in NVH. It may still have a three-cylinder engine, but the level of refinement is so much better than before. The typical vibrations associated with a three-cylinder have been greatly reduced. If you plan to potter around in this new GR Yaris, it no longer feels like a chore. With the increase in power, Toyota has also added an intercooler spray to help cool the engine when needed.
But what I really want to focus on here is the difference between the automatic and manual transmissions. If you’re just a regular road user, you might wonder — how big of a difference does it actually make? Let me break it down for you. Let’s start with the automatic variant. It comes with an 8-speed torque-converter transmission. The first thing you’ll notice is that the GR Yaris is now much easier to drive. Even people without much experience can hop in and drive it comfortably. The gear shifts are smooth, and they’re fast enough for its purpose. Of course, you can’t expect it to shift like a dual-clutch transmission, but it’s definitely quicker than the manual.
With the additional gears, the automatic GR Yaris gains two major advantages over the manual variant. The first is that it’s actually more efficient than the manual version. This is thanks to the extra overdrive gear Toyota managed to equip the GR Yaris with. It really helps with long-distance cruising and fuel economy. Even though fuel efficiency might not be your top priority when driving a performance hatch, it’s a nice bonus. The second advantage is faster acceleration, as no human input is needed to get the vehicle up to speed — the computer handles everything instantly.
Moving on to the manual variant, this is still my preferred version of the GR Yaris. The manual transmission adds that extra layer of challenge when driving. You get to decide when to shift, and you can hold onto a gear for much longer. Every gear change feels rewarding, especially when you get it right. When I drove it towards Kuala Kelawang, I genuinely had the best time of my life. The drive felt so fulfilling, and I didn’t experience that same feeling with the automatic variant. This alone solidifies my desire for a manual GR Yaris even more.
Being a performance hot hatch, the GR Yaris is expected to ride on the firmer side. Even so, I can tell that Toyota has made some upgrades to the suspension, making it feel more composed compared to the pre-facelift model. The old GR Yaris had a tendency to feel bumpy over uneven roads, but the new car feels more settled when tackling the same conditions. The steering wheel remains as sharp as I remember — the car reacts instantly to every input. The steering is highly communicative, making the car a joy to drive and inspiring confidence. Combined with its short wheelbase, the GR Yaris dances through corners like a ballet performer.
As a performance hatch, the GR Yaris comes with a set of strong brakes that suit the car well. They have excellent biting power yet remain easy to modulate. They’re very well-tuned and give you plenty of confidence every time you press the pedal. For the 2025 GR Yaris, Toyota has also updated it with Level 2 Driver Assistance Systems. Whether you choose the automatic or manual variant, the ADAS features are nearly identical. The GR Yaris comes equipped with Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beam (AHB), and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM).
By reintroducing the GR Yaris to the market, Toyota is giving more car enthusiasts the chance to own such a remarkable piece of engineering. With the arrival of the automatic variant, the car has also become more accessible to a wider range of buyers. Priced at RM315,600 and RM325,600 for the manual and automatic variants respectively, you really can’t go wrong with either choice. However, at this price point, it’s certainly not cheap for such a small vehicle. At the end of the day, though, you’ll only appreciate this car if you’re a true enthusiast — regular buyers might question your sanity for choosing it. As for me, after driving both versions, I have to say I still prefer the manual variant, as it truly rewards you when you get the gearshifts just right. But if it were my only car, I might actually consider the automatic version for convenience’s sake.
Check out the full photo album for the automatic here, and the manual one here. 
