AUTONEWS

Toyota Aqua GR Sport

The second generation of the Toyota Aqua hybrid hatchback debuted in 2021 as a product intended exclusively for the Japanese market, although its predecessor enjoyed a very wide sales geography and was known as the export Toyota Prius C. Nevertheless, the Aqua model continued its evolution in the domestic market and last year underwent a planned restyling. After the update, the range temporarily lost the sporty GR Sport version, which has only now been returned to the offer.

The main visual difference between the Toyota Aqua GR Sport and its “regular” brothers is the aggressive body kit, which includes a new front bumper with larger air intakes and black side sills. At the rear is a sports bumper with a simulated diffuser, but it is unchanged from the pre-reform Aqua GR Sport. Of course, the recognizable GR emblems are present at the front and rear. Optional accessories are available, such as window deflectors or carbon fiber license plates.

The rear bumper is very similar to the pre-facelifted Aqua GR Sport, with decorative honeycomb inlets around the diffuser. The facelift does add a black garnish mounted between the taillights. Despite the GR badge and an electrified ICE under the hood, the exhaust pipe stays hidden from view.

The color palette for the GR Sport is limited to white, gray, black, and red. The optional GR Parts add extra fins on the fenders to reduce turbulence, window visors, branded discharge tape, carbon license plate holders, door stabilizers, and more, serving as an alternative to the Modellista upgrades.

Staying true to tradition, the GR Sport benefits from handling upgrades. Extra underfloor bracing improves rigidity, while the revised suspension and retuned steering sharpen the driving experience. There are no changes to the 114hp 1.5-liter self-charging hybrid setup. And while the Aqua is available in AWD (E-Four) form, the GR Sport can only be had with front-wheel drive.

Alongside the GR Sport’s return, Toyota rolled out a handful of updates for the regular Aqua. Every E-Four variant now comes with a heated steering wheel as standard, upgraded fabric seats, and a rear center armrest housing two cupholders.

Inside, the GR Sport's main features are its comfortable seats with combined details, integrated headrests and improved lateral support. The decorative inserts are dark grey, and the pedals have aluminium caps. Logos from Toyota's performance division Gazoo Racing are found on the steering wheel and headrests, and can be added to the floor and boot mats for an additional fee.

The chassis of the Toyota Aqua GR Sport has been modified with chassis reinforcements designed to increase body rigidity. The suspension and steering have been retuned for a more dynamic driving experience. The hybrid powertrain, however, remains unchanged from the standard versions. The system includes a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine (91 PS, 120 Nm), an electric motor with 59 kW (80 PS) and 141 Nm of torque, and an electromechanical CVT transmission. The maximum system output is 116 PS.

Although the standard Aqua can be optionally equipped with E-Four all-wheel drive, with a separate electric motor on the rear axle, the GR Sport comes exclusively with front-wheel drive. That's why the GR Sport boasts red brake calipers with recognizable logos, along with 17-inch wheels. In Japan, the minimum price of the Toyota Aqua GR Sport hatchback is 3,238,400 yen (17,495 euros). For comparison, standard versions cost from 2.8 million yen (15,130 euros).