Toyota Yaris hybrid gets GR Sport variant for 2022

Toyota is adding a GR Sport version of its hybrid Yaris supermini for 2022. Not to be confused with the powerful, expensive (and non-hybrid) Toyota GR Yaris three-door, the Yaris GR Sport is simply another trim level to sit alongside the existing options of Icon, Design, Dynamic and Excel in the regular Yaris range.

It's intended to be a sportier and more youthful choice than those versions, however, and to that end features some visual tweaks to set it apart. There's a new design of 18-inch alloy wheel, a mesh-patterned front grille, a rear diffuser under the bumper and new paint-colour choice of Dynamic Grey with black accents.

Inside, you'll immediately notice the GR Sport logos on the headrests and steering wheel, as well as a silver finish on the centre console and doors and new seat trim. Heated suede seats are an optional extra.

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The Yaris GR Sport gets no more power than the rest of the range, and like the entire UK Yaris line-up, is only available with a 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine and a CVT gearbox. It does feature some mechanical tweaks designed to improve the handling, however.

These include extra underfloor bracing, reprofiled front and rear suspension and a new configuration for the electric power steering. We expect the difference from behind the wheel to be subtle at best, but will have to wait until we've driven the car to deliver a definitive verdict.

No exact price or UK launch date for the Yaris GR Sport has been issued yet, but Toyota says it'll be available to order across Europe "in the second quarter of 2022". It's likely to sit closer to the top than the bottom of the Yaris line-up, so expect a price tag around the £23,000 mark if you want to get your hands on one.