Toyota GR Yaris vs Hyundai Grand i10

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Toyota GR Yaris in South Africa

Toyota GR Yaris

1.6T GR-Four Rally 6MT Petrol Manual
ZAR 897,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 200 kW 🔧 370 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
VS
Hyundai Grand i10 in South Africa

Hyundai Grand i10

1.2 Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 242,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance GR Yaris
⛽ Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Grand i10
Grand i10 starts ZAR 897400 cheaper GR Yaris from ZAR 897,400 · Grand i10 from ZAR 218,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec GR Yaris Grand i10
Engine Power 200 61
Torque 370 114
Engine Size 1618 1197
Claimed Mileage 11.5 16.5
Ground Clearance 180 170
Boot Space 174 235
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1280 975
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

GR Yaris

56
/ 100
+4
pts
#2

Grand i10

52
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both GR Yaris and Grand i10 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GR Yaris +12 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Equal
Ownership Grand i10 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

GR Yaris

Performance 17/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 12/20

Grand i10

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

GR Yaris

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Grand i10

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

GR Yaris

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Grand i10

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR Yaris Grand i10
Ground Clearance 180 170
Wheelbase 2560 2385
Length 3995 3665
Width 1805 1660
Height 1455 1520
Kerb Weight 1280 975
Gross Vehicle Weight 1620 1410
Seating Capacity 4 5
Boot Space 174 235
Towing Capacity Not Available 300 kg (Unbraked)
Turning Radius 5.2 4.9 m
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 Available
Front Track Width 1550 1435 mm
Rear Track Width 1540 1420 mm
Load Bed Length Available Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Available Not Applicable
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec GR Yaris Grand i10
Engine G16E-GTS 1.2 MPI DOHC
Engine Type Inline 3 Turbocharged Petrol
Displacement 1618 1197
Cylinders 3 4
Compression Ratio 9.8:1 10.5:1
Power 200 61
Torque 370 114
Fuel System Direct Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection
Turbocharger Yes No
Top Speed 230 171
0-100 km/h 5.5 12.8
Power @ RPM 6500 rpm 6300
Torque @ RPM 3000 rpm 4200
Valves per Cylinder 12 12
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard Available
Cylinder Bore 82.0 Available
Piston Stroke 92.0 Available
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Engine Position Available Front
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Inline
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota GR Yaris wins with 56 pts vs 52 pts for Grand i10

In structured scoring, GR Yaris emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Grand i10 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the GR Yaris edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: GR Yaris 0 vs Grand i10 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: GR Yaris 18, Grand i10 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: GR Yaris 12, Grand i10 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: GR Yaris 9, Grand i10 9. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: GR Yaris 17, Grand i10 5. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The GR Yaris edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The GR Yaris scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between GR Yaris and Grand i10 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: GR Yaris scores 17 vs 5.

Efficiency: GR Yaris scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: GR Yaris scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: GR Yaris scores 9 vs 9.

Ownership: GR Yaris scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives GR Yaris the advantage in this comparison.