The Toyota GR Yaris is a three-door, four-seat hot hatchback with a 280 bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. This page explains what the car is like to live with and how to choose between the GR Yaris entry model and the Aero Performance.
The Toyota GR Yaris is a small, rally-derived hot hatchback with a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine producing 280 bhp, a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. It is 4.00 m long, seats four, and exists to be driven rather than to be sensible.
It sits apart from the rest of Toyota's line-up. Where most of the range is built around hybrid efficiency, this one is a three-door performance car developed by Toyota's Gazoo Racing arm, with motorsport engineering behind almost every part of it.
The choice is simple: one body, one engine and gearbox combination, and two versions - the GR Yaris entry model and the Aero Performance.
Toyota GR Yaris key facts
| Body style | Hatchback |
|---|---|
| Powertrains | Petrol (280 bhp) |
| Seats | 4 |
| Economy (WLTP) | 32.5 mpg |
| Manufacturer warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles |
Manufacturer data for the versions we currently offer. Last updated 19 September 2026.
The GR Yaris is a compact all-wheel-drive performance hatchback, related to the ordinary Yaris in name more than substance. It carries four people, measures 4.00 m long and 1.81 m wide, and comes with a 3-year / 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty.
Toyota developed it alongside its World Rally Championship programme, which is why it has three doors, a low roofline and a purpose-built three-cylinder engine. Reviewers consistently rate it among the best hot hatches of recent years for its steering, traction and short-throw manual shift.
The criticisms are just as consistent: a firm, noisy ride, cramped rear seats and an interior that puts function well ahead of plushness. At 1,280 kg with a 10.6 m turning circle, it stays small and light in a class that mostly hasn't.
Leasing suits a car like this because you take a fixed monthly cost on a specialised performance model and hand it back at the end, without worrying what it will be worth then. Every version is generously equipped, too.
Across the range you get adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, built-in navigation, a digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, DAB digital radio and dual-zone climate control. Safety and driver assistance includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beam, LED headlights and a rear-view camera.
Practicality is limited by design. Four seats, three doors, a 50-litre fuel tank and a tyre repair kit rather than a spare - it's a second car for many owners, or a first car for someone who lives alone and drives for the pleasure of it.
There's only one, so the decision is really whether it suits you: a 280 bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol with a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. No charging, no automatic option, no hybrid assistance.
Three cylinders, 345 Nm of torque, 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds and 143 mph flat out. WLTP economy is 32.5 mpg and CO2 is 197 g/km, so it's thirsty and it sits high for company car tax. You change gear yourself, and all four wheels drive.
| Petrol | |
|---|---|
| Power | 280 bhp |
| Seats | 4 |
| 0–62 mph | 5.2 s |
| Economy (WLTP) | 32.5 mpg |
Two versions share the same 280 bhp engine, all-wheel drive, 18-inch forged BBS alloy wheels and artificial leather upholstery, so the decision comes down to how you want the car to look and how available each one is.
The entry model is the complete car. It has the 280 bhp engine and all-wheel drive, 18" BBS 10 spoke forged alloy wheels, Toyota Touch 2 with Go navigation, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel, a heated steering wheel and a driver monitoring camera, with artificial leather upholstery.
Nothing about it feels like a starter version, and plenty of owners never look past it. Deals on this version come and go with supply, so ask our team what's available if you can't see one below.
The Aero Performance is a different look rather than a different level of equipment. Mechanically and on the equipment list it matches the entry model - same 280 bhp, same all-wheel drive, same 18-inch forged alloys and artificial leather - so choose it if you want the more overt, motorsport-styled appearance.
The Aero Performance is currently available from £691.20 a month.
Five paint colours are offered across the range: Platinum white pearl, Precious black, Precious metal, Pure white and Scarlet flare. Our guide to choosing your car covers the mileage and term questions worth settling before you order.
Specifications from Toyota's UK data; equipment, insurance grouping and availability vary by version, so check the individual deal before you order.
Page updated 19 September 2026 by First Vehicle Leasing. Prices and availability shown on this page are live and change as deals are refreshed.
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