Top five compact Toyota performance cars

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla has just been launched in the US and the all-new hot hatch is an absolute belter, as you can read here.

But the 221kW all-wheel drive Corolla won’t come cheap and will be limited to just 500 units in the first year of sales Down Under, where it will arrive later than expected in early 2023.

In the meantime, we thought we’d take a quick look back at five of the best and most significant compact Toyota driver’s cars to date. In the interest of historical accuracy and to prevent mass debate over which model is better or more iconic, we’ve compiled the list in chronological order.

1. Toyota AE86 Sprinter

Of all the cars on this list, the Toyota AE86 Sprinter easily has the biggest cult following on account of its light weight, rear-drive layout, buzzy twin-cam engine and immense tunability.

The AE86 Sprinter as launched globally in 1983 sporting a rev-happy 1.6-litre twin-cam four-cylinder petrol engine good for 96kW/149Nm. That doesn’t sound like much, but it was paired to a five-speed manual transmission as standard and the whole car only weighed around 950kg.

A limited-slip differential was optionally available in some markets and combined with a near-perfect weight distribution to create a balanced, dynamic and engaging little driver’s car that would go on to enjoy huge success in the international drifting, touring car and rally scenes.

Clean examples today are becoming increasingly hard to find and, as their collectability increases, so too are the asking prices.

2. Toyota MR2

Mid-engine layouts are most commonly associated with supercars, but in 1984 Toyota opted to bring that exotic configuration – and its unmistakable design proportions – to a lightweight sports car in the form of the Toyota MR2.

The first-generation MR2 looked a bit like a photocopied Fiat X1 with an angry body kit and a fat spoiler, but it was powered by the same twin-cam 1.6 as the Sprinter, meaning it was significantly faster.

The performance factor was elevated even higher with the release of the Mk2 MR2 in 1989 and its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, but the increase in speed was accompanied by infamously prickly handing, so much so it became synonymous with the term ‘snap oversteer’.

3. Toyota Celica GT-Four

While the Sprinter is undoubtedly a cult hero, few would challenge the Toyota Celica GT-Four’s place at the top of the tree when it comes to iconic small Toyota performance cars, especially when referring to the ST185 and ST205 iterations.

Built primarily as homologation specials, these turbocharged all-wheel drive performance cars were two of the most formidable rally and street cars ever to grace public roads in the 1990s, quite comfortably challenging the original Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Evo and Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

The quietly styled ST185 launched in 1989 with an engine packing up to 164kW (153kW/274Nm in Oz) and could dispatch the 0-100km/h sprint in less than seven seconds.

The manic-looking ST205 replaced it in 1994 and elevated the game to a whole new level with its 178kW/302Nm outputs netting a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds, but the GT-Four’s real party trick was the way they dispatched tight and technical roads, combining huge (for the time) turbo power with tenacious AWD grip and composure.

4. Toyota 86

Following the demise of the ST205 Celica GT-Four in 1999, Toyota’s performance stable was nigh on empty for more than a decade before the brand teamed up with Subaru and launched the Toyota 86 in 2012.

The legacy of the AE86 Sprinter was back and immediately apparent for all to see and feel; here was a sub-$30,000 manual sports car with a modest free-breathing boxer engine driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

Designed form the outset to be fun, engaging and affordable rather than a performance monster, the first-gen 86 and its Subaru BRZ twin have garnered countless fans around the world and ultimately spearheaded Toyota’s return to the sports and performance car market.

Just like its spiritual ancestor, the 86 has become a staple of the aftermarket and tuning scenes and present in just about every form of four-wheeled motorsport.

5. Toyota GR Yaris

Toyota repeated the 86’s instant success when it launched the Toyota GR Yaris in 2020; the first product released under its new Gazoo Racing performance umbrella.

Here was a lightweight, pint-size all-wheel drive hatch riding on a bespoke platform with carbon-fibre body panels and a turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine packing 200kW/370Nm.

The only transmission choice is/was a six-speed manual while the Rallye version throws in lightened alloys, stickier tyres and a pair of limited-slip differentials.

The 0-100km/h sprint is done and dusted in a claimed 5.2 seconds and the top speed is 230km/h.

Unfortunately, Toyota Australia is fresh out of Yaris GRs for the foreseeable future, so your best bet to see one in the metal is to pop down to your local Targa sprint or autocross event.

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