Toyota GR Yaris vs Hyundai i20

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 i20 in South Africa

Hyundai i20

1.0T Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 328,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 74 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance GR Yaris
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality i20
🔑 Ownership i20
i20 starts ZAR 897400 cheaper GR Yaris from ZAR 897,400 · i20 from ZAR 296,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec GR Yaris i20
Engine Power 200 74
Torque 370 172
Engine Size 1618 998
Claimed Mileage 11.5 18.2
Ground Clearance 180 195
Boot Space 174 352
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1280 1135
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

i20

57
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

GR Yaris

56
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both GR Yaris and i20 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GR Yaris +10 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality i20 +3 pts
Ownership i20 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

i20

Performance 7/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

GR Yaris

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR Yaris

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

i20

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

GR Yaris

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

i20

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR Yaris i20
Ground Clearance 180 195
Wheelbase 2560 2580
Length 3995 4040
Width 1805 1775
Height 1455 1505
Kerb Weight 1280 1135
Gross Vehicle Weight 1620 1610
Seating Capacity 4 5
Boot Space 174 352
Towing Capacity Not Available 600 kg (Unbraked)
Turning Radius 5.2 5.2
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1165
Front Track Width 1550 1551
Rear Track Width 1540 1565
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 i20
Engine G16E-GTS 1.0 T-GDI Turbo
Engine Type Inline 3 Turbocharged Petrol
Displacement 1618 998
Cylinders 3 3
Compression Ratio 9.8:1 10.0
Power 200 74
Torque 370 172
Fuel System Direct Injection Direct Injection
Turbocharger Yes Yes
Top Speed 230 185
0-100 km/h 5.5 11.0
Power @ RPM 6500 rpm 5500
Torque @ RPM 3000 rpm 1500
Valves per Cylinder 12 12
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard G3LE
Cylinder Bore 82.0 Available
Piston Stroke 92.0 Available
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Engine Position Available Front
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.6
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6500
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?

🏆 Hyundai i20 wins with 57 pts vs 56 pts for GR Yaris

In structured scoring, i20 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, GR Yaris may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the i20 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 i20 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, i20 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, i20 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, i20 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: GR Yaris 17, i20 7. 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 i20 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The i20 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 i20 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: GR Yaris scores 17 vs 7.

Efficiency: GR Yaris scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: GR Yaris scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: GR Yaris scores 9 vs 12.

Ownership: GR Yaris scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives i20 the advantage in this comparison.