10 U.S. MARKET ALTERNATIVES TO THE FORBIDDEN TOYOTA GR YARIS

Hot hatches seem to have been fighting back for the attention of buyers in recent years. It's certainly like more of the small fun cars have been available to us in recent times. That's why it's disappointing that Toyota is unable to bring the GR Yaris to the U.S. especially when it is possibly the biggest market for such a car and seeing that other sport compacts are so popular.

Developed with the goal of rally competition by Toyota's motorsports arm, Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, the GR Yaris calls back to the days of homologation specials. Rally-bred rockets like the Mitsubishi Evos that found success in the mid- to late nineties, the Lancia Delta which to date is still the most successful rally car ever. And of course, Toyota's own two-time WRC champion, the Celica GT-Four. Admittedly a “pet project” of Mr. Toyoda himself and developed with none other than four-time world rally champion Tommi Makinen, quite literally at the helm serving as test driver alongside Akio Toyoda, the GR Yaris is undeniably unique.

As a four-wheel drive subcompact hot hatchback, the GR Yaris has no head-on rival. It packs more power than most performance hatches of its size and is four-wheel drive when other pocket racers stick to powering only their front tires. But with some bench racing, there are alternative hatchbacks available in the U.S. market that are equally fast and capable and could quench the yearning for the GR Yaris. From every price bracket, new and used, some options can entertain just as much in the meantime while waiting for the GR Yaris to turn twenty-five.

RELATED: The Current State Of Four Cylinder High-Performance Cars

2024 Volkswagen Golf R

Starting price: $44,740

Hot hatch granddaddy that it is, the Golf R is the most grown-up choice in the Sport Compact car class. Even as the Civic Type-R matures to a more subdued design, the Golf R and its more traditional GTI sibling go about their way more inconspicuously. That isn't to say that the Golf R has gone soft. As Volkswagen's translation of the ultimate sport compact, the Golf R matches its nearest contention when it comes to horsepower and is arguably given an edge by its 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

As a turbocharged, four-wheel drive hatchback, the Golf R is one of the GR Yaris' closest competition, even if it is larger and makes more horsepower. And considering the spirit of a hot hatch, larger just means more practicality and more power just means more fun.

Specifications

Where the R departs though is from the fundamentals of a Golf which since its beginning has driven only its front wheels and becomes the best interpretation of what the nameplate can be, tradition and history be damned. Just as refined and elegant as the Golf's styling outside, the R trades the GTI's iconic plaid seat upholstery for Nappa leather that matches the refinement of its exterior.

The Golf R does away with the complication of various trims and variants and comes fully loaded. It leaves you only two choices, color preference, and two- or three pedals. With its intelligent 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and 315 horsepower, the R turns the Golf into a sharply-dressed all-weather thug that's suited for the family man who's still a child at heart.

Honda Civic Type-R

Starting Price: $43,795

Even though the Civic has bloated as it aged, now in its eleventh generation, Honda engineers have done well to maintain the sports car-like capabilities of the Type-R without sacrificing its daily usability. In its FL5 iteration, the performance Civic is more of a liftback than it is a hatchback certainly offering more practicality than the diminutive GR Yaris.

Developed on racetracks like Suzuka, the Nurburgring, and the Tsukuba Circuit in Japan, the hot Honda is even more performance-oriented and razor-sharp. Despite moving to more contemporary styling versus its previous generation and split opinions about its serrated and angled looks, the new Type-R has improved cooling and aerodynamics. Its larger, more functional vents and openings neatly tie into its matured presentation.

Specifications

Hot hatch as it may be, the Civic Type-R is a front-wheel drive sport compact car and isn't in direct competition with the GR Yaris. But when considering its purpose as a fun, performance-oriented practical daily driver, the Type-R is aimed squarely at the same audience, delivering its flavor of pragmatic speed.

Yes, VTEC and turbo just kicked in yo, with the K20C engine FL5 Type-R, but it still is a Civic. This means it retains all the available passenger and cargo space as the regular Civic hatchback. The customary Type-R touches are all present, like the copious amounts of red upholstery and stitching, brushed aluminum shift knob. New for the FL5 is a line of shift lights accompanied by a rev limit buzzer when you get to its 7,000 RPM.

Toyota GR Corolla

Starting price: $35,900

Just when we thought we wouldn't be getting Toyota's three-cylinder performance hatchback, the GR Corolla is announced to be on sale in 2023. It may be a different hatchback entirely, but the GR Yaris' huskier brother is just as exciting. Producing an astonishing 300-horsepower, the turbocharged three-piston G16E-GTS engine found in the GR Corolla makes 43- more horsepower than its state of tune in the Yaris to make up for the additional mass of the inherently larger Corolla chassis.

Specifications

The “GR-Four” all-wheel drive system developed for the GR Yaris also carries over to the performance Corolla giving it an equal amount of flexibility. It also gets the same three drive modes that shift power bias between the two driven axles depending on the selected mode, and a six-speed manual as the sole means to change gears. The GR Corolla is no less serious about its performance capabilities, and its quicker zero to sixty time is evidence of that.

The GR Corolla is Toyota's peace offering to Americans for missing out on its homologation hatchback, and fittingly so. The Corolla is a long-established brand in the U.S. and has been tailor-fit over the years for the needs of its market. So it's hard to argue with the GR Corolla tasked to be Toyota's U.S. sport compact contender.

RELATED: The Coolest Hot Hatchbacks That Never Come To The U.S.

2023 Hyundai Kona N

Starting price: $34,950

Yes, the Kona is a subcompact crossover, we live in a strange world, but its platform is based on the Hyundai i30 platform. A hatchback sold in the European and Australian markets that, coincidentally, is Hyundai's WRC contender against the Toyota GR Yaris.

Intended as the replacement for the well-received Veloster N sport compact, the Kona N takes up the mantle. Using the same 2.0 turbo-four engine but this time, mated to a quick-enough eight-speed dual-clutch transmission forgoing the manual found in the smaller N-car.

Specifications

While the Kona N is taller and only front-wheel driven, its size and power are similar, which makes it an awesome alternative to the GR Yaris. The N treatment in the Kona isn't just more power, a re-tuned suspension and bigger brakes were also baked into the mix. “N” after all, stands for Namyang, where Hyundai's R&D HQ is located, and Nürburgring, where their N-cars are perfected.

Fun features in the Kona N are the over-boost button, giving the Kona a full 10-horsepower more for a twenty-second mad dash, contrast stitching in the signature blue of the N-division, and the same space as its more tame versions.

2022 Hyundai Veloster N

Average Used Price: $33,595

The Veloster was the first Hyundai with the N Performance treatment to arrive at U.S. shores, and it didn't fail to impress. Anyone fortunate enough to sample what the Hyundai performance division accomplished would attest that N Performance hit the ball out of the park from the get-go. Unsurprising when the man who used to run the BMW M division was taking the lead at the next letter over at Hyundai.

Specifications

After the success of the Hyundai i30N in Europe and Australia, Hyundai doubled on by releasing the Veloster N in the U.S. and went against the Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type-R. Although it was down on power compared to the two, it was more affordable which made it tempting to cut losses on the Type-R and opt for the Hyundai, which left the wallet thicker compared to the Honda.

The Veloster in regular trim was unusual, but its third door had made ingress and egress from its tight rear seats less cumbersome; still better than the Yaris. With such an attractive price and genuine performance, it's not hard to see why the Veloster N was considered good value for money even against the current Civic Type-R.

2016 Ford Focus RS

Average Used Price: $32,000

Even against the latest and greatest fast hatchbacks, the third-generation Focus RS packs way more punch than its closest contention, arguably providing more bang for the buck. Especially with its clever all-wheel drive system, which mimics rear-wheel drive slides in its "drift mode", already seems like better value for money versus the GR Yaris and even the FL5 Type-R which is widely considered the best sport compact in the market. Packing 350 horsepower and an equal amount of torque, Ford's rally rocket is properly rapid.

Specifications

As a five-door, four-wheel drive hatchback, the Ford maximizes its functionality and practicality while containing the savagery of its turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four and its stiffly sprung suspension. The insanity of its performance aside, the Focus is still able to seat four adults with enough space for the luggage of each one. So even as an older, used car option, the fast Ford is still persuasive in a tightly contested segment; massively capable, practical, and certainly remains a more entertaining driver than many in its class.

Developed in homage to Ford's rally roots, the Focus is one of the few in the class equipped with four-wheel drive which makes the Focus an even more potent performer, not picky about road surface and weather.

RELATED: Does The Toyota GR Yaris Even Stand A Chance Against The Honda Civic Type R?

2013 Mini John Cooper Works GP

Average Used Price: $32,000

One of two thousand ever made, one of five hundred in the U.S., track-optimized adjustable coilover suspension, 13-inch front brake discs with six-piston calipers, and functional aero improvements. If the for sale ad read a short description of what this special Mini is, some might think the description is mismatched with the photo, or that it was a joke. But those details are for this Mini Cooper. And they're all true.

Specifications

As silly as the idea of a fast Mini might be, let's not forget that the Mini cut its teeth on tight circuits in Europe as well as the Monte Carlo Rally back in the first Mini's heyday. What's silly though is the performance the John Cooper Works GP is capable of. It isn't anywhere near the numbers of the GR Yaris but what the Mini manages with its relatively humble 211-horsepower is no small task.

At the expense of practicality, the Mini GP is tuned to halfway becoming a fully-caged and stripped track car, losing its rear seat and its cruise control in the process. If a multi-role fun car is the objective, the JCW GP is the wrong car. But if a factory-tuned, track-focused toy is what you're looking for, the John Cooper Works GP is one of the best front-driven performers that packs fun with its spectacular performance.

2019 Ford Fiesta ST

Average Used Price: $16,000

As a sport subcompact, the Fiesta ST is the entry-level option in the same class the Yaris occupies but in GR trim, the Fiesta ST is nowhere near capable of what the GR Yaris is. But its shortcomings against the GR Yaris aren't saying the Fiesta has none. What the Fiesta ST proposes is raw fun in place of its limitations when it comes to pure speed.

Specifications

Powered by a 197-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter the Fiesta ST sprints to sixty in 5.9 seconds. It won't break any records, but it is quick for the tiny hatchback that it is. Even with a horsepower figure that almost makes it to 200, the smaller Ford Hot Hatch is a rewarding and entertaining drive because it has a playful chassis and communicative steering.

The Fiesta ST is a reminder that fun and performance don't have to be expensive or complicated. At eight years old, the Fiesta ST still has a lot of life and fight left in it. While its interior may be just as basic as non-fast Fiesta variants, the eagerness of the Fiesta to please and perform is like a poodle at a dog show and is a driving experience that will influence what you look for in a performance car in the future.

2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

Average Used Price: $12,000

If the Fiat 500 Abarth escapes you, you're forgiven. It is a micro car built by Fiat for the narrow and congested city roads of Europe tracing its first generation back in 1957. The original Fiat Abarths were built by Karl Abarth and his team in 1964 and were called the 695 Esse Esse. Just like the originals, the newer 500 Abarths are wider, massaged for more power, and take design cues from the originals including the red accents and Abarth's iconic scorpion logo just a few.

Specifications

Old-school tuning tricks like a larger carburetor, better-flowing cylinder head valves, and performance-oriented camshafts and pistons were ingredients that gave the original Abarths more power. In the newer 500 Abarth, 18-PSI of boost via a quick-spooling turbocharger is what triggers its temper. 160 horsepower may not be much in today's heavy and ungainly cars, but it's enough to motivate the Supermini 500 to spin its tires and take it around a racetrack or a mountain road with exuberance, inducing fun or fright.

Its turbocharged 1.4-liter four is coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels. Even as a powerful front-drive sport hatch, the 500 Abarth is zealous to rotate in corners given its short wheelbase and optional 17-inch wheels allowing for 205-section width performance tires. While practicality is compromised by its small dimensions, fun is never in short supply in the Fiat 500 Abarth.

RELATED: GR Corolla vs. GR Yaris Power-To-Weight Ratio Compared

2008 Mazda 3 MazdaSpeed

Average Used Price: $8,000

Back in the 2000s, Mazda wanted a piece of the booming sport compact market pie further popularized by the first The Fast and The Furious film that was released in 2001. The market was flooded with fast versions of cheap pedestrian cars and eventually gave way to the automotive aftermarket industry's explosion. Mazda's first attempt at building a sport compact car was the Protégé.

Although it was a commendable effort, it wasn't as popular as the Honda Civics that graced the front cover of many tuning magazines of the time. That's why the Mazdaspeed 3 was all the more a pleasant surprise when it was introduced to tuner car enthusiasts in 2007.

Specifications

With just over 260 horsepower in 2007, the Mazdaspeed 3 is properly quick. Not just for a hot hatch but in general. For perspective, the NA1 Honda NSX which is considered a true sports car, makes 270 horsepower weighs 3,010 pounds, and hits sixty in 5.2 seconds, so the fast 3 as a hatchback was a front-wheel drive riot.

The Mazdaspeed 3 was so fast that the biggest complaint of owners was its horrendous torque steer under hard acceleration. With such blistering performance from a five-door practical hatchback, the Mazdaspeed 3 may even be a better embodiment of a hot hatch compared to the GR Yaris; even if it is older.

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