Drag race: Toyota GR Yaris vs BMW M3 E46

Does twice as much engine result in double the performance? Our new BMW M3 vs Toyota GR Yaris will answer that very question…

Pitting a brand new Toyota GR Yaris and an old E46 BMW M3 may seem an odd match-up, but there’s method to the madness.

You see, powering the Yaris is a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, whereas the BMW uses a 3.2-litre naturally-aspirated straight-six. Or, if you’d prefer, twice the engine capacity — albeit with time and turbocharging working against it.

So, we’ll take a look at the M3 first then. Its engine produces 343hp and 356Nm of torque, dumped entirely to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

It definitely has a power advantage over the Yaris, as you may expect. But, the difference isn’t all that huge – the hatchback produces 261hp and 360Nm of torque. The Yaris also uses a six-speed manual, albeit delivering power to an all-wheel-drive system.

Crucially though, the GR Yaris weighs a fair bit less than the BMW M3 — tipping the scales at 1,280kg and 1,570kg.

Of course, numbers can tell a different story from reality sometimes, so you’ll have to watch to find out if half a new horse can keep up with an old stallion…

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