The updated Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch will soon launch in SA, boasting more power and torque as well as the option of an automatic transmission. Here’s what it will cost…
The updated Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch is about the hit the market in South Africa, featuring not only higher outputs than the original but also – for the very first time – the option of an automatic transmission.
Yes, the Japanese firm’s refreshed all-paw hot hatch – which was initially scheduled to arrive in local dealerships in March 2025, so will be ever-so-slightly late to market – will be offered locally in both 2- and 3-pedal form.
As a reminder, the outgoing GR Yaris launched in SA in mid-2021, before the range was halved to just a single high-spec “Rally” derivative around a year later. The Rally specification is again standard here in Mzansi, though Toyota SA Motors is now offering the option of a torque-converter auto transmission as well.
What sort of pricing are we looking at? Well, according to our information, the updated GR Yaris 1.6T GR-Four Rally 6MT will be priced at R897 400 . For the record, that represents a R40 300 increase over the outgoing version (which quietly had its price hiked from R848 600 to R857 100 at the start of April 2025).
Meanwhile, we can confirm that the new GR Yaris 1.6T GR-Four Rally 8AT will be priced at R925 300 , which makes it R27 900 more than its stick-shift sibling. Interestingly, that’s also R4 800 pricier than the manual-equipped 221 kW GR Corolla Circuit (R920 500).
So, what’s changed with the refreshed 3-door GR Yaris? Well, while the outgoing SA-spec version (exclusively equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox) offered 198 kW and 360 Nm from its turbocharged 1.6-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine, the updated model boasts peak outputs as high as 210 kW and 400 Nm .
And, of course, buyers can now choose between the manual ‘box (which features an updated clutch system complete with a new dual-mass flywheel) and the “newly developed” 8-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, the new maximum power figure quoted for South Africa is down on the Japanese-spec model’s 224 kW but up slightly on Europe’s 206 kW tune (with the latter market also having to settle for a slightly lower peak torque of 390 Nm).
Toyota says the self-shifting cog-swapper’s close-ratio gears “make the most of the engine’s power band”, while boasting “world-class” shifting speeds thanks to the use of “highly heat-resistant friction material” in the clutch and “enhancements” to the control software.
The claimed 0-100 kph time for the SA-spec derivatives comes in at 5.2 seconds (some 0.3 seconds faster than the outgoing manual model), regardless of transmission. Top speed, meanwhile, is listed as 230 kph . The manual version’s claimed combined fuel consumption is 8.2 L/100 km , while that figure increases to 9.1 L/100 km in the case of the new auto.
According to the Aichi-based automaker, the all-paw hot hatch’s driving position has been lowered by 25 mm, while forward visibility has ostensibly been improved by moving the rearview mirror to the top of the windscreen and lowering the upper edge of the central cluster by 50 mm. Furthermore, the control panel and display have been tilted 15 degrees towards the driver.
In terms of exterior styling, the updated 3-door model ( revealed in January 2024 ) features revised designs for its lower grille and front bumper, while the rear lower garnish has been tweaked for improved aerodynamics. The taillamps likewise benefit from mild revisions and the high-mounted brake light has been separated from the rear spoiler.
Standard features across the 2-derivative range in South Africa include 18-inch alloy wheels (wrapped in 225/40 R18 tyres), smart entry, LED headlamps (with auto high beams), adaptive cruise control, a reverse-view camera, parking sensors (fore and aft), a 6-speaker sound system, tyre-pressure monitoring, a lane-keeping system, a limited-slip differential, a CFRP roof and a rear spoiler.
The auto variant, meanwhile, additionally features active noise control, along with “intelligent clearance sonar” plus rear cross traffic alert (including braking). In Mzansi, 5 exterior paint colours will be available: Glacier White, Fierce Red, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Black and Midnight Grey.
We suspect Toyota SA Motors will again receive only a small allocation of GR Yaris units. For reference, the Japanese company registered just 11 examples of this little hot hatch in Mzansi in 2024, with another 8 units sold locally in 2025’s opening quarter.
How much does the updated Toyota GR Yaris cost in SA?
Toyota GR Yaris 1.6T GR-Four Rally 6MT – R897 400
Toyota GR Yaris 1.6T GR-Four Rally 8AT – R925 300
The prices above include Toyota’s 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-service/90 000 km service plan.
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