Toyota GR Yaris

Ever since Toyota launched the fourth-generation Yaris in early 2020, it didn't take long before the Japanese automotive giant waved the green flag for their high-performance version of the Yaris, which served as the basis for their next rally car to follow the footsteps of its successful predecessor. With that, the first-ever GR Yaris was born.

2021 Toyota GR Yaris

The second JDM sports car of the Reiwa era, the GR Yaris, may be the template of Toyota's next rally car but it's more than that because it's the road-legal rally car speedo boys are longing for since the legendary Celica GT-FOUR of the '90s. So, what's so special about Toyota's newest rally car?

Starting with the design, the GR Yaris looks similar to the fourth-generation Yaris but it blows two extra doors off to make it three-door and pumped up with some steroids to add some muscle to the already sharp-looking hatch. With rally-inspired looks that have some street cred to it, looks like some speedo boys are going to think twice before taking on the GR Yaris. In fact, its short but rowdy character will give the now-axed Subaru WRX STi a run for its money.

2021 Toyota GR Yaris interior

2021 Toyota GR Yaris interior

On the interior, it still works like a normal Yaris and fits like one too but with the specially-made instrumental panel, the new GR-FOUR selector control, and dark interior theme, it really smells like it was being sprayed with AXE all over to give it a more macho feeling when you get it. Although you will not use it for TNVS purposes because it's a three-door hatchback with rear seats that are difficult to access, by all means, the GR Yaris barely works as either a family car or for quiet weekend road trips with friends. It's an all-rounder, well, almost.

2021 Toyota GR Yaris

As a JDM sportscar with rallying know-how, the performance is the GR Yaris's trump card and under the hood, it carries a brand new G16E-GTS 1.6L 3-cylinder intercooler turbo engine which produces 272PS of power and 370Nm of torque. Mated exclusively with a 6-speed iMT, fuel economy is a combined 13.6km/L in WLTP standards. It does 0-100kph in five and a half seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 230kph.

Aside from the engine, Toyota spent countless hours perfecting the GR Yaris on the inside and they festooned it with a new forged C-SMC roof, aluminum hood and doors, frameless windows, and more, giving it the end result in the curb weight of 1,280kg and in compliance with WRC regulations.

The GR Yaris is armed with Toyota's first-ever sports all-wheel-drive system called the GR-FOUR. This all-wheel-drive system can be driven in 50:50 track mode or for the more enjoyable one, 30:70 sport mode. This setup is where it gives most but not all of its rear wheels a moment to shine, making the GR Yaris a sliding rascal you want to get hooked on. 

Couple this with a rigid structure, dramatic braking setup, serious suspension setup made specifically for this hatch, and the TNGA platform, and you have yourself an awesome hot hatch that loves playing dirty in the woods and leaves it be when going back on the city center without all the drama.

Speaking of drama, there's a cheaper, slower RS version that weighs less than the four-wheel-drive one but it's front-wheel-drive and it comes with a modest 1.5L M15A-FKS engine, and a CVT which gives it about 18.2kmpl of fuel economy. Avoid that one, folks, unless you don't have enough money to afford the big guy.

The GR Yaris starts at 2,650,000 Yen for the front-wheel-drive RS variant, the one to avoid unless you're in a credit crunch, up to 4,560,000 Yen for the RZ High Performance variant. Due to compliance with WRC regulations, the GR Yaris, like any other road-legal rally car, is built on limited numbers and you can expect numbers are run out to the brink of sold out so get one while you can.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation