Abarth 595 vs Toyota GR Yaris
What's the difference?

Abarth 595

—

2018 price

View pricing & specs

Toyota GR Yaris

$55,490 - $67,490

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2018 Abarth 595

2026 Toyota GR Yaris

By Tim Robson

By Laura Berry

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.4L

Turbo 3, 1.6L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.8L/100km (combined)

9.1L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Good engine/chassis combo
Surprising grip levels
Unusual

Aero package look superb and improves dynamics
So much fun to drive with big power and agility
Tiny! So finding a car space is easy

Dislikes

Terrible driving position
Ride not great around town
No reversing camera

Cabin storage could be better
Thirsty little thing
Warranty is short by mainstream standards

2018 Abarth 595 Summary

Since 1949, Abarth has been giving the venerable Italian brand, Fiat, a patina of performance, based largely on giant-killing feats in small modified cars like the Fiat 600 of the 1960s.

More recently, the brand has been revived to boost the fortunes of the smallest Fiat on sale in Australia. Known formally as the Abarth 595, the tiny hatch packs a bit of a surprise under its distinctive snout.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Toyota GR Yaris Summary

Thank the automotive gods cars like the GR Yaris still exist.

Not only are hot hatches the funnest way to drive, but in a world that’s obsessed with electric vehicles, these combustion-powered beasties remind us what we’ve got before it's gone.

The GR Yaris arrived in 2020 and won praise for its rally-car-for-the-road feel with Toyota’s high-performance division Gazoo Racing heavily modifying the docile Yaris hatch - while adding a bit of Corolla - to create this little monster.

In early 2025 Toyota added more power and torque, along with an automatic transmission for the GR Yaris and now a new variant has been launched - the GTS Aero Performance Package and this is what we are testing.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2018 Abarth 595 2026 Toyota GR Yaris

Verdict

It’s tough to be kind to the Abarth 595. Based on a platform that’s more than a decade old, the car has been left behind by its rivals in many ways, including basic ergonomics and its value equation.

The larger engine does work well in this smaller package, and its road-holding ability belies its size. However, only die-hard fans of the Abarth brand will be able to cope with the uncomfortable seating position and a complete lack of even the most perfunctory features that cars costing $10,000 less are able to offer.

Verdict

The GR Yaris GTS with the Aero Performance Package is a so wonderfully special with its brilliant engineering, mind-blowing dynamics and fun-to-drive nature. The new aero package makes an already angry beastie look furious, making it the perfect enhancement that's also functional.

The only lower marks here are for warranty, fuel use and practicality. But if there was a score for fun it'd be a 10/10.

Abarth 595 vs Toyota GR Yaris What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Abarth 595 vs Toyota GR Yaris
What's the difference?