The new Toyota Yaris GR Sport was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and it showed its finely built body, GRMN-tuned suspension and courageous face that looks for trouble. Limited edition Toyota Yaris GRMN was met with great enthusiasm from the car community, but that was just a highly limited car. The Yaris GR Sport isn’t. It also isn’t as special as the Yaris GRMN.

Not Exactly A Super-Powerful City Car

Yes, this is a hybrid and it develops rather disappointing 99 horsepower. Just like a normal Yaris Hybrid then. Instead of focusing their efforts on increasing the power, Toyota and the GRMN team aimed to improve the suspension. Reading about this car, one cannot help but imagine that something like this can be done using aftermarket parts.

The GR Sport trim will get you Sachs Performance shocks, a stiffer anti-roll bar, and 17-inch wheels with 205/45 R17 Bridgestone Potenza RE50 tires, the same as on the Yaris GRMN.

The new model is 0.43 inches lower compared with the stock version. Furthermore, it is far stiffer and more precise. Sure, Toyota should have done even more for the suspension, but I guess this will be a really affordable way to get into spirited car driving.

The Cabin Received More TLC Than The Exterior

Luckily, the Toyota Yaris GR Sport looks the business. Its 17-inch wheels are important for a makeover, but I think the black roof, massive rear spoiler, piano black trim all around the car (but especially around the lights), as well as the new grille transform this thing into a fun city dweller. Red decals can be fitted on the front, and the rear windows are tinted as standard.

However, I can see that the interior received much more TLC than the exterior.

The graphic on the digital display is different compared to what one may find in the standard Yaris. GR logo dominates it. As one of the nicest touches, the Yaris GR Sport comes with the same Toyota Yaris GRMN steering wheel. It is a three-spoke unit that's smaller compared with the standard unit in another car. Even the carpets are new in the cabin.

Conclusion

Although lacking the main ingredients of the Yaris GRMN and sporting a propulsion system that has less than half the power of the limited-edition model, the Yaris GR Sport feels like a neatly finished city car. It takes the small, nifty Yaris and tries to make it a bit tougher on the eyes and angrier in the heart. Presented at the Paris Motor Show, it clearly demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to making its cars far more entertaining than ever before. This fun, raspy and happy Yaris GR Sport is just that - entertaining.

Further Reading

Read our driven review on the 2015 Toyota Yaris.