Ford Focus vs Toyota GR Yaris
What's the difference?

Ford Focus

—

2021 price

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Toyota GR Yaris

$55,490 - $67,490

2026 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz A45

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Summary

2021 Ford Focus

2026 Toyota GR Yaris

By Peter Anderson

By Laura Berry

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 3, 1.5L

Turbo 3, 1.6L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.4L/100km (combined)

9.1L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Great chassis
Well-equipped
Surprising engine

Aero package look superb and improves dynamics
So much fun to drive with big power and agility
Tiny! So finding a car space is easy

Dislikes

Optional advanced safety
Better tyres would be nice
Too many optional colours

Cabin storage could be better
Thirsty little thing
Warranty is short by mainstream standards

2021 Ford Focus Summary

Ford's small hatch, the Focus, is criminally under-bought in Australia. The latest model is one of the best hatchbacks on the road and when you chuck in the decent price, impressive equipment and absurdly powerful engine for its size, it's a winner.

But you lot? You don't buy it in nearly the kinds of numbers it deserves. Partly because there isn't a bait-and-upsell boggo model to lure you in, partly because it's got a badge that is not exciting Australians any more and partly because it's not a compact SUV.

Or is(n't) it? Because alongside the ST-Line warm hatch is the identically priced and therefore technically a co-entry level model; the Focus Active. Slightly higher, with plastic cladding, drive modes and a conspicuous L on the transmission shifter, it's a little bit SUV, right?

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2026 Toyota GR Yaris Summary

Thank the automotive gods cars like the GR Yaris still exist.

Not only are hot hatches the funnest way to drive, but in a world that’s obsessed with electric vehicles, these combustion-powered beasties remind us what we’ve got before it's gone.

The GR Yaris arrived in 2020 and won praise for its rally-car-for-the-road feel with Toyota’s high-performance division Gazoo Racing heavily modifying the docile Yaris hatch - while adding a bit of Corolla - to create this little monster.

In early 2025 Toyota added more power and torque, along with an automatic transmission for the GR Yaris and now a new variant has been launched - the GTS Aero Performance Package and this is what we are testing.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Ford Focus 2026 Toyota GR Yaris

Verdict

Ten years ago, the idea that the higher-riding version of a hatchback would be a good city car would have been laughable. The Focus Active is pitched as a kind of SUV with its different low-grip driving modes, which you'll never touch if you stick to the city.

The Ford Focus is genuinely a brilliant car, no matter where you take it. The Active takes a terrific chassis, tweaks it for comfort but, ironically, doesn't lose much of the speed.

Verdict

The GR Yaris GTS with the Aero Performance Package is a so wonderfully special with its brilliant engineering, mind-blowing dynamics and fun-to-drive nature. The new aero package makes an already angry beastie look furious, making it the perfect enhancement that's also functional.

The only lower marks here are for warranty, fuel use and practicality. But if there was a score for fun it'd be a 10/10.

Ford Focus vs Toyota GR Yaris What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Ford Focus vs Toyota GR Yaris
What's the difference?