2026 Toyota GR Yaris Brings Aero Game Strong With New Performance Package

Toyota’s little rally monster is getting sharper for 2026. The freshly updated 2026 Toyota GR Yaris, which also previews changes likely coming to the next GR Corolla, is stepping things up with both mechanical and aero upgrades—and the new Aero Performance Package might be the biggest visual giveaway.

This new package, available in Japan starting this fall for the RC and RZ trims, means business. It adds a proper front lip spoiler, new fender vents, a ventilated aluminum hood, an adjustable rear wing, a redesigned rear bumper to help with cooling, and even a fuel tank cover that helps smooth out the underbody airflow. It’s clearly been in the wind tunnel—and it shows.

Even without ticking the Aero box, the updated GR Yaris sees plenty of improvements. The automatic transmission has been reworked to deliver better timing and more aggressive response, which should make spirited driving more rewarding. For the manual faithful, Toyota hasn't forgotten about you either—there’s now a larger dead pedal for better foot placement during hard driving.

Under the skin, there’s a noticeable focus on making the car feel more dialed in. Toyota’s bolted down the suspension more securely with larger fasteners to enhance both steering precision and straight-line composure. The shock absorbers have been re-tuned, and the electric power steering has been updated too, so the feedback loop should feel a bit more connected than before.

Toyota Safety Sense now comes standard across the board, so features like pre-collision braking and lane keeping assist are no longer limited to top trims. And one small but nice touch: the vertical handbrake (yes, the cool rally-style one) is finally available on every variant, not just the RC. That’s a win for those who appreciate a good handbrake turn.

Pricing in Japan starts at just under ¥3.56 million, which translates to about $24,800. At the top end, the RZ High Performance trim asks for ¥5.33 million (roughly $37,100), but you’re getting the full-fat 300 horsepower from that little turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine. Torque sits at a healthy 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), and all-wheel drive is standard, as you'd expect. Buyers can still choose between a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic.