Toyota GR Yaris vs Volkswagen Golf R
Verdict
At RM315,600, the Toyota GR Yaris is the cheaper, smaller and more specialised car here: a 1.6-litre manual AWD hatch with four seats, 174 litres of boot space and a five-year warranty. The RM338,812 Volkswagen Golf R is the quicker, roomier C-segment choice, using a 2.0-litre dual-clutch AWD drivetrain to do 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, with five seats and 341 litres behind them. The Toyota keeps road tax to RM207; the Volkswagen asks RM372 but gives you 329 hp and 420 Nm.
Pick the Toyota GR Yaris if you want the cheaper manual AWD hatch and can live with four seats and 174 litres of boot space.
Pick the Volkswagen Golf R if you want the quicker, roomier AWD hatch with five seats, 341 litres of boot space and a dual-clutch automatic.
Key differences
- Price: Toyota GR Yaris RM315,600; Volkswagen Golf R RM338,812
- Engine and output: Toyota 1,618 cc, 296 hp, 400 Nm; Volkswagen 1,984 cc, 329 hp, 420 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Toyota 5.2 seconds; Volkswagen 4.6 seconds
- Size: Toyota 3,995 mm long with a 2,560 mm wheelbase; Volkswagen 4,296 mm long with a 2,629 mm wheelbase
- Cabin and boot: Toyota 4 seats and 174 litres; Volkswagen 5 seats and 341 litres
- Warranty and road tax: Toyota 5 years and RM207/year; Volkswagen 2 years and RM372/year
GR Yaris
- Lower RM315,600 price
- Manual gearbox with all-wheel drive
- Five-year warranty and RM207 road tax
- Only four seats
- Small 174-litre boot
- Slower 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time
Golf R
- Quicker 4.6-second 0-100 km/h sprint
- Higher 329 hp and 420 Nm outputs
- Five seats and 341-litre boot
- Costs RM23,212 more
- Shorter two-year warranty
- Higher RM372 annual road tax
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 315,600✓ | RM 338,812 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | B-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Dual Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,618 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 296 hp | 329 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 420 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 87 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 6MT | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 6 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Toyota | BorgWarner |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.2 seconds | 4.6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,995 mm | 4,296 mm |
| Width | 1,805 mm | 1,789 mm |
| Height | 1,455 mm | 1,454 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,560 mm | 2,629 mm |
| Weight | 1,280 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 50 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 174 litres | 341 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R18 | 235/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/40R18 | 235/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Continental MaxContact MC6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut with Stabiliser | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbone with Stabiliser | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Estoril 2-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Estoril 2-tone Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated and Slotted Discs | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated and Slotted Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Torsen Front and Rear Limited-slip Differential, Performance-tuned Springs, Dampers and Steering, User-selectable Torque Split, Rev Matching | 4Motion AWD with Torque Vectoring |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Pre-collision Braking | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector | IQ.Light Matrix LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with 3-person Memory, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 7" Touchscreen Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, AUX and 6 Speakers | 12.9" Digital Cockpit Pro with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 9-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 207✓ | RM 372 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
GR Yaris vs Golf R FAQ
Is the Toyota GR Yaris or Volkswagen Golf R better?
The Volkswagen Golf R is the better all-rounder: it is quicker to 100 km/h, has five seats and offers nearly double the boot space. The Toyota GR Yaris fights back with a manual gearbox, lower price and longer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Golf R costs RM338,812, which is RM23,212 more than the RM315,600 Toyota GR Yaris.
Which one is more practical for daily use?
The Volkswagen Golf R is more practical. It has five seats, a 341-litre boot and a 55-litre fuel tank, compared with the Toyota GR Yaris’ four seats, 174-litre boot and 50-litre tank.