2021 Toyota GR Yaris

Highlights

• Genuine low mileage GR 

• Less than 9,000 miles

• Full Toyota service history

• Over £7,000 of extras

• Milltek non-resonating exhaust system

Overview 

Back in the 1980s, a series of madcap cars shook the world, as manufacturers clamoured to outdo each other on the World Rally Championship stage. Known as ‘Group B’, they were specifically developed for rallying and were subject to much slacker homologation rules than Group N cars, which had to be homologated with a larger number of road cars to compete in what was a ‘factory’ class. 

Group B, though, was bonkers. It gave us such gems as the Ford RS200, MG Metro 6R4, Peugeot 205 T16 and Lancia Delta S4 – cars that, even 40 years on – are spoken of in hushed tones by rally enthusiasts all over the world. Sadly, Group B cars became so extreme that they were deemed dangerous, and after three tragedies in a year in 1986, were outlawed by the FIA. 

In 2020, though, Toyota turned things on its head. The company decided it wanted to go rallying again and employed some reverse psychology. The GR Yaris is the closest thing to a Group B car since 1986 – unlike some of the rally legends of the post-Group B era, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo models, the GR was conceived as a rally car first and a road car later.

It’s a Yaris in name and name alone, for the supermini that shares its name is only available as a five-door. The GR – which stands for Gazoo Racing, after the Japanese firm’s motorsport arm – is a super-stiff three door, with an alloy bonnet, alloy doors and carbon fibre roof panel. Under that body is a bespoke four-wheel-drive chassis, powered by a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine that develops 20bhp more than the original Subaru Impreza WRX. 

For a rally car, that light weight, compact footprint and peaky, powerful powerplant are perfect. But in order to meet Group A regulations, it has to be offered as a road car as well – bummer, eh?

What we ended up with, then, was a car that was developed from the ground-up as a rally car, but was turned into something roadworthy – and what a brilliant little thing it is. A soulful, screaming supermini, the GR Yaris is a car of a breed we’ve not seen for years, and we’re delighted to have it.  

This one is a first-generation car, first registered in 2021 and cherished by enthusiastic owners since new. It has had over £7,000 spent on extras, too, including a Milltek stainless-steel non-resonating sports exhaust and a lowering kit. It’s a great-looking little thing, guaranteed to make you grin from ear-to-ear. 

History and documentation

• First registered in the UK on January 15th 2021 and supplied new by Motorline Toyota in Worcester 

• UK V5C in the name of the vendor

• Invoices for lowering kit and exhaust system

• Three previous owners 

• Cherished registration number included

• MOT until January 14th 2026 – No advisories 

• Two keys

• Service history recorded as follows: 2021 PDI (main dealer), 2022 @ 2,317 miles (main dealer), 2023 @ 4,734 miles (main dealer), 2024 @ 6,056 miles (main dealer), 2024 @ 7,527 miles (main dealer), 2025 @ 8,525 miles (main dealer)

• Toyota Certificate of Conformity

Interior

• Leather and Alcantara sports seats

• Alcantara rally-style steering wheel 

• SW Motorsports driver’s lowering seat bracket – lowered seat by 30mm

• Drilled alloy pedals

• Red rally-style start/stop button

• Gravel/road/track button

• Original GR Yaris carpet mats

• Factory infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility

• Electric front windows

• Climate control

 Exterior

• Superb Platinum White paintwork with no evident blemishes

• 18-inch factory alloys

• Matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres

• Toyota Gazoo Racing mudflaps

• No evidence of previous accident damage

• Appears superb underneath

• Paint protection film – full front end including A-pillars

• Maxton front splitter

• Maxton front canards 

• Toms Rear Air Vents 

• Maxton Spoiler Lip  

Mechanical

• Completely stock engine

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• 260bhp 

• Always run on Shell V-Power fuel by current owner

• Milltek (Non-Resonating) Exhaust

• String Theory STG spring kit and fast road set-up

• Reported by the vendor to drive very well indeed, with no declared faults

Summary

There aren’t many cars around that offer quite as much fun in such a small package as the GR Yaris. From its howling three-pot engine to its short-shift gearbox, allied to that agile four-wheel-drive chassis and multiple drive modes, it’s a car that guarantees to leave you giggling after every journey – even if it’s just nipping down to the local shops. 

 That means it’s in huge demand – which on the one hand makes finding one a bit of a challenge, but on the other means it holds its value like no other car on the market. You could buy it, enjoy it for a year, and get almost all of your money back. That’s a great idea in theory, but in reality, you’ll not want to give it back. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Caldicot, Monmouthshire.