PH-Market Toyota GR Yaris Will Be Priced At P2.650M

The arrival of the Toyota GR Yaris is upon us and now we have confirmation on how much this highly anticipated hot hatch will cost, but before all this, let’s speculate on its potential equipment list first.

It is highly likely that only one variant will be offered. Depending on the market, the Toyota GR Yaris comes with a 7- or 8-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also an optional JBL sound system to complement that infotainment system.

Drivers are then greeted to a set of analog gauges with a color multi-information display in the middle. To keep the driver’s eyes firmly focused on the road, the GR Yaris can also be equipped with a head-up display, and there’s a possibility that this feature will also be offered in the Philippines. With the hot hatch featuring two doors, the GR Yaris provides seating for four, with those at the front benefitting from GR sport seats.

Certain markets where the GR Yaris is sold comes as standard with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which is the brand’s suite of advanced driver-assist systems. TSS includes automatic emergency braking, full-speed radar cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, just to name a few. The GR Yaris in our ASEAN neighbors are also fitted with this suite of semi-autonomous driver-assist systems, so it’s safe to say that the model destined to our market may also feature TSS.

Under the hood of the GR Yaris is currently the most powerful production three-cylinder engine in the world. It’s an all-new 1.6-liter direct-injected and turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 261 hp and 360 Nm of torque. It is then mated to a 6-speed manual with an automatic rev-matching function. With this powertrain, the GR Yaris can sprint from zero to 100 kph in as little as 5.6 seconds, all the way to a top speed of 230 kph.

Power is then sent through a bespoke GR-Four four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, which has the ability to vary torque from a front-biased 60:40 split to a rear-biased 30:70 split front-to-rear. In Track mode, power is distributed 50:50 for fast, competitive driving on circuits. Though regardless of the mode, the torque balance will automatically adjust in response to the driver’s inputs, vehicle behavior, and road conditions.

Now, here’s the most important bit for us performance junkies. While all Toyota GR Yaris models come with the aforementioned GR-Four four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, this drivetrain has two different versions–a standard system and another version with a Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD), which is part of an optional Performance Pack in other markets (as seen in the red vehicle).

Models with the Torsen LSD have the capability to shuffle power from side-to-side, making it claw better onto the road. Without the aforementioned Torsen LSD, the handling of the GR Yaris is significantly different and much more tamed compared to LSD-fitted models.

Also part of the optional Performance Pack are lightweight 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, and a retuned suspension and power steering. Taking a look at our ASEAN neighbors, the Malaysian GR Yaris comes with the Performance Pack as standard, so there’s a good chance this might also be the case for our market.

Now, for the price. We initially speculated that it will be priced at around P2.9 to P3.1 million. Surprisingly, our estimates were off, but in a good way. The Toyota GR Yaris will be priced significantly less than our estimates at an excellent P2,650,000. Toyota Motor Philippines has just launched a microsite for the GR Yaris and more information should be posted there as the hot hatch’s launch date draws nearer.