Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package review: now with extra wing

Your Toyota works-driver fantasy starts here. The GR Yaris is the smallest, least expensive Gazoo Racing road-car you can buy off the showroom floor in New Zealand. Many would argue it's still the best: a bespoke hot hatch originally created as a homologation model for the World Rally Championship, and almost nothing in common with the standard Yaris save the name.

This little ripper came along in 2020 and got a major update in early-2025, with more power (to match the GR Corolla), a new Direct Shift automatic-transmission option, "modularised" styling addenda designed for easier modification/repair and a new dashboard that absorbed some style from actual competition cars.

All that continues, but new for 2026 is an Aero Performance Package option that adds extra holes, wings... and $4k to the price of a standard GR Yaris. Our test car is a GR Yaris automatic-with-everything, totalling $68,990.

On the outside: what are the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package's main design features?

This car is all about the exterior design, although being a proper GR it's all functional too. Show and go.

You do have to pinch yourself occasionally to be sure that the GR Yaris really is a thing.

The Aero Performance Package comprises six individual components designed to work together to "enhance airflow, stability and overall control" says GR.

The roof-height rear spoiler is the standout visual element, and it's manually adjustable for high-speed road or track driving (which some buyers do actually use this car for).

There's also a "hood bulge" (okay, not sure about the aero-effect of that), a front lip spoiler, front fender ducts that sharpen the steering and braking at speed, aero add-ons to the rear bumper and a full-floor undercover.

GR says these additions "allow drivers to exert a more active influence over how the car behaves - moving beyond fixed, preconfigured upgrades, while preserving the car’s lightweight, responsive character".

And just to recap, fun-fact-style: the only things any GR Yaris has in common with the standard hatchback are the headlights, door mirrors and antenna.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package cabin like?

The one thing that's new across the GR Yaris range is a redesigned steering wheel, which looks like something out of a sim-racing setup. It's a perfect fit for the 2025-redesign dashboard, which has a slabby and driver-centric style that's supposed to look like a rally car but also looks like... something out of a racing-sim setup.

The GR Yaris cabin remains snug and purposeful, with properly supportive seats and a driving position that seems just-so.

A lot of cheeky style then, but not a lot of soft surfaces. There's a lot of hard plastic and the clever-looking steering wheel doesn't actually offer anything specifically performance-oriented: those cool-looking buttons (illuminated at night, too) are still just for boring stuff like audio and cruise control.

Don't come looking for the latest in entertainment tech: the infotainment screen is not much larger than a decent cellphone display, although you do get wireless phone projection. When Android Auto or Apple CarPlay are running, they do take over the whole screen, so if you want access to any other functions you have to click out if it again. But there are separate physical controls for climate, so that's all taken care of.

And none of the above really matters because the GR Yaris cabin remains snug and purposeful, with properly supportive seats and a driving position that seems just-so. That dashboard rejig dropped the line-of-sight by 50mm and allowed for a 25mm-lower driving position.

The important controls are still presented in physical for on the console: the drive modes on a rocker switch and the AWD adjustment for Normal, Gravel or Track.

Rear seats: it has some, but only for two small people. A boot: it has one, but it's tiny, with room for your helmet and some groceries.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package like to drive?

The Aero Performance Package is not going to greatly enhance your drive down to the shops, or probably even a spirited backroad bast. The aero effects start to kick in above 100km/h; it's all really designed for motorsport.

Your heart says manual, but the Direct Shift automatic is undeniably quicker in all driving scenarios and undeniably very clever.

And like we said, there are plenty of GR Yaris buyers who use their cars as weekend track or closed-road warriors, so the Aero Performance Package is for them. And also for people who just think it looks cool, and that's okay too.

Either way, the GR Yaris remains a uniquely entertaining enthusiast machine. The wait for the little 3-cylinder engine to come on boost and start braking is all part of the fun, and the terrier-spec chassis can genuinely make you feel like a rally hero. The powertrain gets very busy indeed in Sport and a you can adjust the torque split from 60/40 (Normal) to 53/47 (Gravel, but also handy for sporty road driving) and 30/70 (Track).

Your heart says manual, but the Direct Shift automatic is undeniably quicker in all driving scenarios and undeniably very clever. Each ratio has its own little clutches, enabling it to shift as fast as a dual-clutch unit... but with more durability.

You can have full manual control via the shift paddles (now 15mm longer), but GR says the concept of this two-pedal transmission is really to enable ordinary drivers to leave it in D and access as much of the GR Yaris's performance and handling potential as possible. It's packed with adaptive software and even uses the forward-facing driver-assist camera to scan the road/track ahead to help predict the next gearchange. Recommended.

The GR Yaris has a fairly comprehensive suite of driver assists, including "all-speed" adaptive cruise control, although it's a somewhat old-school system that can't hold once stationary: once you've stopped you'll get a quick warning to brake and then it clicks off.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package warranty and servicing situation?

The vehicle is covered for 3 years/100,000km, but extended to 5 years/150,000km if it's serviced at an authorised Toyota agent ("Platinum Warranty"). The high-voltage hybrid battery is covered for 8 years/160,000km.

Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package?

You do have to pinch yourself occasionally to be sure that the GR Yaris is really a thing: it's pretty much a rally car for the road, and more importantly a car that makes you feel like a much more accomplished driver than you really are.

It's purist thrills in a tiny package and while it has the virtuoso dynamics to respond beautifully at the limit, it's also one of those rare performance cars that feels exciting and engaging even at urban speeds.

Oh, right: the Aero Performance Package. In functional terms it's not for everybody, given it's really only useful at competition speeds. If that's you, go right ahead.

If you have no intention of taking your GR Yaris on track but still think this looks awesome, go right ahead as well. Cheeky hot hatches can pull this stuff off. Although at least one young person and confirmed Japanese performance-car fan thought our test car's addenda was "a bit much". Kids, huh?

Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package FAQs

What kind of car is the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package?

A 3-door, 4-seat hot hatch.

Does the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package have hybrid or EV technology?

No, it's a turbo-petrol 3-cylinder.

What’s the fuel economy of the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package?

The engine is tiny, but highly tuned: it returns 9.1l/100km under NZ's 3P-WLTP standard.

Is the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package safe?

The GR Yaris has not been tested by ANCAP, but it gets 5 stars under NZ's VSRR protocol.

What safety and assistance features does the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package have?

What are the Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance Package's main rivals?

• Honda Civic Type R ($77,000): Still a go-to for Japanese performance... and even more leery looking.
• Hyundai i20 N ($53,990): Not as sophisticated (or expensive), but another hot-hatch with a track focus.
• Toyota GR Corolla ($69,990): Same powertrain, not as specialised, but similarly awesome. 
• Subaru WRX Spec.B ($72,490): Japanese performance with a strong flavour of rally-ability.
• Honda Super-One ($41,900): Extremely small, extremely slow. But still quirky Japanese fun!