Tougher Baby Trims The Laptime, But At A Cost

Never under-estimate the potential for Australian car enthusiasts to get in a vocal lather when they believe they’re being denied what’s rightfully theirs.

- Scott Newman

TOYOTA YARIS GR RALLYE

When Toyota suggested that the regular GR Yaris delivered everything true petrol heads could want from a hot hatch, the response was unequivocal: Um, no it, actually doesn’t.

Which is how we arrive here, with this version of the pint-sized homologation special equipped with the Performance Pack, a model known locally as the Rallye.

The name is a nod to Toyota’s last homologation special, its last all-wheel-drive turbo model, and, really, its last real wholly-developed performance car, the Celica GT-Four (the 86 is a joint venture with Subaru and the Supra a partnership with BMW).

Each locally-sold GR Yaris Rallye will be individually numbered, though it’s not a limited production model per se; those numbers could go anywhere depending on demand. As for price, Toyota has continued its unusual but successful GR Yaris pricing strategy with the Rallye, with the first 200 cars being offered at $56,200 drive-away, which were quickly snapped up, before reverting to an RRP of $54,500 before on-roads, a $5000 premium over the standard model.

Drive-away pricing will obviously depend on your state, but Toyota’s website suggests drive-away pricing of $59,173 in Sydney, (the lowest) maxing at $60,724 in Perth. You can be confident in those prices, too, as there are no options, every car being painted in the same Rallye-specific Frosted White crystal pearl.