Toyota upgrades the GR Yaris (again)

As the rest of the world apparently gives up on hot hatches, so Toyota perseveres, fighting the good fight and using competition to make its Gazoo Racing cars even better. Good on them. Even in smaller numbers and at more money than ever, the GR Yaris is a beacon of hot hatch hope in a rather sombre landscape. Having blown everyone away as the GR Yaris Type 20 almost six years ago, what you’re looking at here is the GR Yaris Type 26, a ‘partially upgraded’ model that ‘incorporates improvements derived from insights gained from competing in motorsports.’

And when they say partial, they really do mean partial, but the GR Yaris is also PH’s greatest hot hatch since 1998. When Toyota tweaks it, however incrementally, we write about it. The steering wheel is probably the most significant change, seen on a few recent special editions and now making it to the series production model. As well as looking like something from a retro GT1 racer, complete with illuminated switches for nighttime stages (or whatever you call after dark petrol runs), it’s said to be more functional as well. See Toyota had feedback suggesting that the old wheel made it too easy to press buttons while hurling lock this way and that; they also weren’t happy about having to change grip when steering up to 180 degrees. So this wheel is a smaller diameter than before (now 360mm, a similar trick as once used on the GT86), with redesigned grip sections that ‘fit comfortably in the palms when on the wheel during cornering’. Always thinking of something, those GR folk. 

The steering system itself has also been revised, specifically the assist function of the electric power steering. Seemingly because there was nothing else left to fiddle with, the torsion bar rigidity in the torque sensor has been ‘optimised’ and the assist software has been tweaked so it can help out more often. Specifically when thrashing a Yaris, it sounds like, or ‘cornering under extremely high loads’ as Toyota calls it. The changes should also mean the EPS assist works regardless of rubber, from rally tyres to semi-slicks. 

Speaking of which, there’s a new tyre option on the more expensive GR Yarises in Japan. The RZs and the Aero Performance car will now be fitted with Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres, the kind of thing typically seen on Lamborghinis and promising even more grip from the famously limpet-like Yaris. The dampers have been modified to take advantage.

As for the options, buyers of the latest GR will be able to get the vertical handbrake that looks so at home in the little Toyota. There’ll also be a heated wheel and seat offered. Annoyingly a driver monitor camera, the kind of thing that was so irksome in a Land Cruiser, will be standard fit. But you can’t have everything. And if ever there was a car that’s gonna keep you awake, the GRY is certainly it. 

In Japan, there are five models in the 2026 range, and they’re up to 304hp. And a GR Yaris is less than £20k. But there is good news for UK customers of sorts, because this update will come here; as mentioned at the top, something is absolutely better than nothing when it comes to hot hatches in 2026. Expect prices to follow later in the year. In the meantime, the classifieds are chock-a-block…