If you’re not all that familiar with small hot hatchbacks, something like the 2020 Toyota GR Yaris might seem a bit odd to you. On paper, it’s exactly the type of car you’d want to throw at the Fiesta ST, except a lot more hardcore.
Here’s a funny analogy that in a weird way actually makes sense. The GR Yaris is the Challenger SRT Hellcat of the small hot hatch world. Both are absolute brutes, and you can slide them around real easy.
Need proof? How about this footage courtesy of the drift-happy Corners CZ YouTube channel. They went all out on this one, but only because that entire segment of road was closed off due to construction, and they even used spotters, as per the video’s description.
Watch: Toyota GR Yaris Wipes The Floor With New Honda Civic Type R
This Japanese supermini weighs just 2,822 lbs (1,280 kg) and packs a power-to-weight ratio of 4.9 kg per 1 HP. According to Toyota, it will hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in under 5.5 seconds, aided by its 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder unit, with 257 HP (261 PS) and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) on tap – the Japanese variant gets 268 HP (272 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm), for the record.
The engine is mated to a six-speed manual and a bespoke four-wheel-drive system, plus you can also get Torsen limited-slip differentials if you opt for the Circuit Pack.
Once conditions allow (hopefully you use a race track instead of a public road, closed or otherwise), you can then play around with the three available modes (Normal, Sport, and Track), which split the torque between the front and rear axles by 60:40, 30:70 or 50:50, respectively.