This time, a Porsche friend of mine was lucky enough to purchase a GRMN Yaris, so I had the chance to test drive it and would like to share my report.

What is GRMN?

Not just the usual “GR” but “GRMN”—this name holds an important place in Toyota’s motorsport world.
This series offered by GAZOO Racing is not just a sports model. It is a designation given to vehicles that have passed rigorous testing and development at the Nürburgring.

GRMN stands for “Gazoo Racing Meister of Nürburgring,” representing some of the highest-performing Toyota vehicles.
The engine, suspension, and weight reduction are all tuned to competition-level standards. You can think of it as the equivalent of Porsche’s “RS” models.

What is the GRMN Yaris?

Now, the GRMN Yaris. This car is in a league of its own compared to a regular Yaris.
The model I tested is the “GRMN YARIS CIRCUIT PKG.”

It comes fitted with 235/40R18 tires (Yokohama ADVAN A052) mounted on 18-inch BBS forged 8.5J aluminum wheels exclusive to the GRMN.
Additionally, it features Bilstein adjustable dampers exclusive to the “Circuit package.” This model, reborn under GAZOO Racing’s guidance, shows its true value not just on city streets but especially on the track.

The engine is a 3-cylinder inline intercooler turbo, boasting 200 kW (272 ps) at 6,500 rpm and 390 Nm (39.8 kgf·m) between 3,200 and 4,000 rpm.
The dedication to performance is evident in the GRMN Yaris’s exclusive features: Recaro full bucket seats, body reinforcement braces, twill-weave CFRP (carbon) parts, GR mechanical LSD, GR reinforced metal clutch & clutch cover set, plus the GR cross transmission & low final gear. It’s a car tuned by Toyota from the ground up.

The exterior is aggressive, fully embodying the aura of a sports car.

But it’s not just cosmetic upgrades. Weight reduction, improved aerodynamics, and an interior designed to maximize driving pleasure. The GRMN Yaris is a special breed, completely different from a standard Yaris.
As a Porsche driver, I couldn’t ignore its appeal. So I started the engine and got in.

First Impressions of the GRMN Yaris

First, I opened the door to get in.

At this point, I honestly felt a bit disappointed. “Ah, so this is how it is…” I thought.
The door felt light and thin with no sense of rigidity. I worried if such a cheap-feeling door could deliver the solidity and driving quality expected.

As I tried to get in, the bucket seat with large side supports radiated an aura that this was no ordinary car.
I carefully sat down to avoid rubbing against the seat.

The Recaro seats are excellent. They fit the body very well.

The interior feels very plain. It’s full of plastic and doesn’t look like a car costing over 8 million yen.
But for this car, that’s a minor issue.

When starting the engine, the sound is louder than a regular Yaris but still very quiet compared to European sports cars in general.

Once You Start Driving…

The clutch is on the lighter side but still slightly heavier than in the 992 or 718.
At low speeds, a rattling mechanical noise is audible. From this point, you can tell this is no ordinary car.

The suspension moves well even at low speeds. It’s unfair to compare due to the price difference, but even within the GR lineup, it’s worlds apart from the GR86.
Every tiny input is absorbed by dampers with very low friction moving up and down, smoothing out vibrations.

For such a serious sports car, the ride comfort is actually quite good. Of course, the suspension is stiff and the stroke short, so there is some body movement, but no lingering shakes or unpleasant jolts.

Still in break-in, I kept the revs low and focused on handling, and couldn’t help but grin at its athleticism.
Far from the typical Toyota image, the suspension moves well, and the tire contact and grip in corners are superb.

The short wheelbase adds to the nimbleness, allowing it to turn sharply. For a moment, I almost forgot this car is all-wheel drive and found myself wanting to push harder through curves.
The more you push, the more it turns, and the limits would be impossible to find on public roads.

While power and limits differ, when driving gently, the feel is similar to the ZC33S Swift Sport (with lowered suspension) I once had at home.
The sensation of tossing around a compact, light body is unique to this size.

Is This Toyota’s GT3, or Rather a Cup Car?

As I got more comfortable driving, I increasingly felt the car’s rigidity and excellent suspension.

The engine power and torque delivery are perfect. However, the sound is not sensual and doesn’t raise adrenaline much.

You can confidently push it, it turns astonishingly well, and there’s no disconnect between the driver’s intended line and the car’s path.
The faster you go, the more it feels like you’re driving a car one or two classes above.

At first, I thought it was like Porsche’s 991 or 992 GT3,
but after driving it, I felt it was closer in spirit to the 964 Cup Car or 997 GT3 I had driven before.

Its Spartan nature, which rejects half-hearted drivers, shows through here and there.
The car responds very faithfully to the driver’s steering and throttle inputs.
Unlike many modern cars that rely heavily on electronic controls, this car retains a strong analog feel, much like GT3s before the 997 generation.

Overall Impression

While it has enough versatility to enjoy winding roads on weekends, it’s impossible to fully evaluate its limits or specs on public roads.
Its potential is so high that mastering it truly requires considerable skill.

For those who buy it, I highly recommend trying it on a circuit first to fully appreciate the brilliance of this factory setup.

After driving the GRMN Yaris, I realized it has far greater potential than I initially imagined.
It’s impressive to see that Toyota can build such a car when they put their mind to it.

The car’s hardware is extremely well developed.

What would make it perfect is a bit more “hospitality” to entertain the driver.
That means improvements in interior quality, engine sound, and the feel of the engine and steering.

Such tuning might be impossible at the current cost, but as one of Japan’s representative sports cars, I hope these areas will be enhanced in the future.