Toyota wins double honours in the 2021 UK Car of the Year Awards

The all-new Toyota Yaris and its performance-focused sibling GR Yaris have won double honours in the 2021 UK Car of the Year Awards (UKCOTY).

The fourth generation Yaris has taken the title of Best Supermini, while GR Yaris continues its exceptional run of awards success, collecting the Best Performance trophy. By winning their categories, both cars are now in the running for the overall UK Car of the Year award, to be announced on 8 March.

The awards are judged by a group of 29 motoring journalists from across the country. In choosing the Toyota models as winners, they were lavish in their praise, describing the new Yaris as “an excellent evolution” and “well-styled, reliable and ideal for an urban environment.”

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Matt Robinson said Yaris clinched its success thanks to “attractive styling, a quality interior… and a hugely improved hybrid drivetrain.” Tom Sharpe noted how the car continues “Toyota’s transformation into a brand that is a whole chunk more desirable and dynamic.”

The chorus of praise was even greater for GR Yaris, with Robinson explaining: “The GR Yaris is not just the best performance car I’ve driven this year; it might be the best performance car I’ve driven this century.” Tom Ford added: “Democratisation of the homologation special here. And who isn’t into a tiny Tarmac terror?”

Agustín Martín, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director, commented: “These awards are warmly received. They demonstrate how Toyota is bringing exciting design and performance to its new models – and not just our special sports cars such as GR Yaris – while at the same time greatly increasing the efficiency and capabilities of our electrified powertrains. This is how we are able to offer cars that are genuinely rewarding to own and drive across the full performance spectrum, from everyday motoring to the challenges of the racetrack and rally stage.”