The Toyota GR Yaris is one of those rare performance cars that arrives from the factory with very little obviously wrong with it. Its compact footprint, GR-Four four-wheel-drive system, serious brake hardware and rally-derived engineering give it a remarkably strong starting point. That also means the best upgrades are not about replacing parts for the sake of modification. They are about sharpening the car for the way you actually use it.
For a road car, that might mean better pedal consistency, a more controlled chassis and carefully chosen tyres. For a car that sees regular track days, the priorities shift towards heat management, pad choice, fluid, suspension control and alignment. The key is to build the car as a complete package rather than chasing one headline number.
This guide looks at the best Toyota GR Yaris upgrades for fast-road and track use, with practical advice for both the original car and the updated model introduced for 2024.
Gen 1 vs updated GR Yaris: check fitment before you buy
Before ordering anything, make sure you know which GR Yaris you have. The original production car launched in 2020 with Toyota quoting 261 DIN hp and 360 Nm from its 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and GR-Four all-wheel drive.
The heavily revised GR Yaris introduced for 2024 brought a stronger body, revised suspension, a redesigned driving position and an optional eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic transmission. At launch, Toyota quoted 280 DIN hp and 390 Nm. Toyota also stated that the updated body used around 13% more spot welds and approximately 24% more structural adhesive than before.
Aftermarket suppliers often refer to the updated car as Gen 2, while many products for the earlier car are described as Gen 1 or pre-facelift. That distinction matters. Some components cross over, but others do not, particularly exhaust, suspension and vehicle-specific electronic parts.
Nineteen72 Performance already separates many applications accordingly, including BC Racing coilovers for the 2020+ GR Yaris and a dedicated BC Racing listing for the 2024+ GR Yaris. Never assume fitment purely because a part is labelled GR Yaris.
1. Brakes are the first place to look for repeated hard use
The factory GR Yaris brake package is already substantial. Toyota specifies 356 mm ventilated front discs with opposed four-piston calipers and 297 mm ventilated rear discs with opposed two-piston calipers. That is a much stronger starting point than most hot hatchbacks, so a road-driven car does not automatically need larger discs or a big brake kit.
For fast-road driving and occasional track use, the most worthwhile first step is usually the combination of the correct pad compound and fresh high-performance brake fluid. These changes target consistency and temperature capability without disturbing a fundamentally good factory system.
Choosing the right pad
For mixed road and performance use, the Endless MX72 front pads and matching MX72 rear pads are worth considering. Drivers who place more emphasis on track work can step towards more focused compounds such as MX72 Plus, ME20 or ME22, depending on the balance of road manners and circuit use required.
If you are unsure which Endless compound suits your driving, our Endless brake pad compound guide explains the range in more detail.
Do not overlook brake fluid
Brake fluid is easy to ignore because it does not change how the car looks, but it matters once the braking system is being worked repeatedly. A product such as Motul RBF660 Factory Line DOT 4 is a sensible part of a performance brake service, particularly before track use.
Read our Motul RBF660 vs RBF700 guide if you want to understand the differences, or see our track brake preparation guide before your next circuit day.
2. Suspension should add control without removing the car's compliance
The GR Yaris works because it can deal with imperfect surfaces. Making the suspension simply stiffer is not automatically an improvement. A good setup should support the tyre, control body movement and give the driver confidence without making the car nervous on real UK roads.
For owners who want a premium road and track solution, the Öhlins Road & Track DFV coilover kit for the GR Yaris is designed around that dual-purpose brief. Öhlins uses its DFV damper technology to combine chassis control with road compliance, which makes the kit particularly relevant to cars that are driven to and from track days.
BC Racing offers another route, with dedicated applications for the earlier and updated cars. That matters because a suspension upgrade should be selected for the exact generation rather than treated as a universal GR Yaris part.
Whatever hardware you choose, factor in a proper alignment afterwards. Ride height, camber and toe all influence how the car turns in, uses its tyres and behaves under braking. Fitting expensive suspension and then leaving the geometry wherever it happens to land wastes much of the benefit.
3. Tyres and wheels can change the car more than extra power
Toyota engineered the GR Yaris around an 18-inch wheel package. The Circuit Pack and updated European specification use 225/40 ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres on 8J x 18 wheels. That gives owners a useful reference point when choosing replacements.
For a road-biased car, wet grip, cold performance, steering feel, noise and durability all matter. For regular dry track use, a more focused tyre can make sense, but it also changes how the car behaves in standing water and low temperatures. The best tyre is therefore the one that matches the car's real use rather than the most aggressive option available.
Wheel choice deserves the same care. Lower unsprung mass can improve the suspension's ability to control the wheel, but width, offset, brake clearance and tyre shape all need to work together. On a GR Yaris, correct fitment is more valuable than chasing the widest possible setup.
4. Exhaust upgrades: choose the system for your generation and use
An exhaust is one of the most popular GR Yaris modifications because it can add character without changing the basic balance of the chassis. The important point is that the earlier and updated cars should not be treated as identical.
For the pre-facelift 2020 to 2024 car, Nineteen72 Performance lists dedicated Scorpion GPF-back systems in both resonated and non-resonated configurations.
For the updated car, there are separate resonated Gen 2 and non-resonated Gen 2 systems. That separation is exactly why checking the vehicle generation before ordering matters.
For a road car, a compliant GPF-back system is usually the cleanest place to start. Sports catalyst, decat and emissions-control changes can have road-legality, emissions and inspection implications, so those modifications should be considered carefully for the intended use of the car.
5. Intake upgrades can make sense, but do not expect them to transform the car alone
An intake can improve induction character and form part of a wider performance package, but it should not jump ahead of tyres, brakes or chassis setup on a car that is being built for fast-road or track work.
The Infinity Design Carbon Fibre Intake for Toyota GR Yaris is listed for both Gen 1 and Gen 2 applications, making it useful for owners looking for a vehicle-specific solution across both versions.
If power upgrades are planned later, intake, exhaust, cooling and calibration should be viewed as a system. Adding parts independently without understanding how the car is being tuned can lead to unnecessary spending and a less coherent result.
6. Driver controls are a later-stage upgrade, not a first modification
Once the fundamentals are right, track-focused owners may want to change the driving interface. Products such as the Zestek Racing SCX steering wheel control panel for the Gen 1 GR Yaris are aimed at a much more specialised build.
This type of modification makes sense when the car already has the braking, tyre, suspension and seating setup to justify it. It is not where we would start on a standard road car.
Best GR Yaris upgrade order by use case
Fast-road car
- Start with excellent tyres and make sure the alignment is correct.
- Upgrade pads and fluid if the car regularly sees hard braking.
- Add suspension only when you have a clear goal, such as more body control or greater adjustability.
- Choose an exhaust or intake for sound and character once the fundamentals are sorted.
Fast road with occasional track days
- Use a performance pad compound suited to repeated higher-temperature work.
- Run fresh high-performance brake fluid.
- Choose tyres that can tolerate circuit use without becoming impractical on the road.
- Consider quality coilovers and a performance alignment if you want more support and adjustability.
- Inspect pads, discs, tyres and fluid condition after each event.
Regular track use
- Prioritise the braking system, fluid condition and pad choice before adding power.
- Use a suspension package that gives repeatable control and meaningful adjustment.
- Set geometry around tyre behaviour and wear rather than copying somebody else's numbers blindly.
- Keep generation-specific fitment at the front of every buying decision.
- Treat maintenance and post-track inspection as part of the setup, not an afterthought.
What should you avoid changing first?
The GR Yaris does not need a shopping list of modifications to become enjoyable. In many cases, the biggest mistake is adding power before understanding the standard chassis or fitting very stiff suspension because it feels more obviously modified.
More power can increase the load on tyres, brakes and cooling. Excessively stiff suspension can reduce grip on broken surfaces. Aggressive track pads can be frustrating on a car used mainly for short road journeys. The right build is not the one with the longest parts list. It is the one in which every part has a purpose.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best first upgrades for a Toyota GR Yaris?
For most owners, start with tyres, alignment and the braking consumables that match your driving. If the car sees harder road use or track days, performance pads and fresh high-temperature brake fluid are usually more useful than immediately chasing more power.
Do Gen 1 GR Yaris parts fit the updated 2024+ car?
Some components may cross over, but many do not. Suspension, exhaust and vehicle-specific electronic parts should always be checked against the exact generation. Nineteen72 Performance separates several Gen 1 and updated-model listings for this reason.
Are coilovers worth fitting to a GR Yaris?
They can be, particularly if you want improved damping control, ride-height adjustment or a more track-focused setup. The key is choosing a quality kit with a clear purpose and following installation with a proper alignment.
Does a GR Yaris need bigger brakes for track days?
Not necessarily. The factory hardware is already serious, with 356 mm front discs and four-piston front calipers. For many cars, the first track-focused changes should be suitable pads, fresh performance brake fluid and careful inspection rather than larger calipers or discs.
Should I add more power first?
For a standard or lightly modified car, usually not. The GR Yaris responds extremely well to chassis, tyre and brake optimisation. Building those foundations first generally produces a faster, more consistent and more enjoyable car before additional engine output is considered.
Build the GR Yaris around how you actually drive it
The Toyota GR Yaris is already an unusually complete performance car. That is exactly why modification needs a measured approach. Improve the areas you can genuinely exploit, keep the package balanced and make sure every component suits the exact generation of your car.
Whether you are building a fast-road GR Yaris, preparing for occasional circuit days or developing a dedicated track setup, you can browse the full Toyota GR Yaris performance parts collection at Nineteen72 Performance. It includes braking, suspension, exhaust, intake and chassis options from specialist performance brands.
