Toyota GR Yaris and Honda e VZ Kit Guide
Tamiya's Toyota GR Yaris (item 18097) and Honda e (item 18095) are two of the most recognisable licensed-body kits on the VZ chassis, and they were released only a few months apart in 2020 — the GR Yaris on 30 June, the Honda e on 5 October. Both share the same VZ platform underneath, but the bodies themselves differ in more than styling: wheel type, height and colour scheme all change between the two boxes. This guide compares the two kits directly, spec against spec, so you know exactly what's identical and what isn't before you build. For VZ chassis fitment and part compatibility in general — not specific to these two bodies — see the separate VZ chassis compatibility guide.
Two licensed bodies, one chassis platform
Both kits are numbered in Tamiya's Racing Mini 4WD series — No. 95 for the Honda e, No. 97 for the GR Yaris — and both sit on the VZ chassis, a compact, single-shaft rear-motor platform with an 80mm wheelbase. The GR Yaris depicts the Toyota GR Yaris 4WD rally homologation car announced for the WRC in 2020; its body is molded in match grey ABS with black fin-type wheels and carbon-fibre-pattern and metallic detail stickers to pick out the grille, rear fenders and roof spoiler. The Honda e depicts Honda's 2019 production EV in the car's real "Charge Yellow", with black dish-type wheels and metallic stickers for the headlights, rear lights and black-finished roof. Both include a Type 130 motor, snap-together assembly with no glue or paint required, and both need two AA batteries bought separately.
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Toyota GR Yaris (18097) | Honda e (18095) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis | VZ | VZ |
| Release date | 30 June 2020 | 5 October 2020 |
| Length | 158mm | 158mm |
| Width | 98mm | 98mm |
| Height | 49mm | 53mm |
| Body material / colour | ABS, molded in match grey | ABS, molded in Charge Yellow |
| Wheel type | Fin-type, black | Dish-type, black |
| Gear ratio | 3.5:1 | 3.5:1 |
| Motor included | Type 130 | Type 130 |
Chassis-level VZ specs — 80mm wheelbase, roughly 108g with batteries fitted (62.3g bare), 2.5mm ground clearance, 59.5mm front / 65.5mm rear tread — are published for the platform itself, not per-body, and apply to both kits identically. The wheelbase, tread and chassis material (ABS chassis and A-parts, POM 620 low-friction bearings) don't change between the two; only the body shell, its stickers and its wheel style do.
Fin wheels vs dish wheels, and the height gap
The most concrete built-in difference between the two kits, beyond the obvious body shape, is wheel type: the GR Yaris ships with fin-type wheels, the Honda e with dish-type wheels. Both are the small-diameter, low-profile wheel-and-tyre design standard to VZ, but the open fin design and the solid-faced dish design are visually and structurally different parts — if you want to swap one kit's wheel style onto the other for a look, check the wheel's bore and offset against your specific stay and roller setup rather than assuming a straight swap, since a wheel choice made for looks can still affect balance. The 4mm published height difference (49mm for the GR Yaris vs 53mm for the Honda e) comes entirely from the body shape — GR Yaris's low hatchback roofline against Honda e's slightly taller five-door EV silhouette — not from any chassis-level change, since ground clearance and wheelbase are identical on both.
What's shared, what's body-specific
Because both kits sit on VZ, the chassis, gearbox, motor mount and battery layout are common ground: a stay, brake set or roller kit rated for VZ will mechanically fit either car. What isn't interchangeable without checking first is anything that touches the body — the body catches, the sticker positions, and the clearance around wheel arches and spoilers are specific to each shell. A wide roller stay that clears the GR Yaris's lower, sportier body line may rub the Honda e's rounder rear haunches, or vice versa; always test-fit before committing to a modification. For the general rules on what VZ parts are safe to mix and match across the whole VZ family — not just these two kits — see the dedicated VZ chassis compatibility guide; for tuning direction once you've picked a baseline setup, see VZ chassis tuning. If you're comparing VZ kits more broadly before choosing one, the Neo-VQS VZ chassis guide covers a third body on the same platform.
Building either kit for racing vs. display
Neither body decides class eligibility by itself — official Mini 4WD regulations judge the finished car's dimensions, weight and modifications, not whether the shell depicts a rally homologation special or a production EV. If you plan to race either kit, build it stock first: seat the body fully, true the wheels, check the motor terminals and run a baseline pack before changing the motor, gears or rollers, exactly as you would with any other VZ kit — see the chassis guide for a general build-up sequence and the motor guide for what to fit once the baseline is confirmed. Keep the original wheels, stickers and hardware aside if you plan to swap parts later, since reversing a build back to stock is far easier when nothing was cut or glued. Regulations and event classes change over time and organiser tech inspection has final say on the day, so confirm current rules against the official Mini 4WD regulations and Stock Class regulations before entering a sanctioned event — this guide is not a substitute for either.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put the GR Yaris body on a Honda e chassis, or the reverse?
Both use the same VZ chassis, so the mounting points are the same platform, but check body-catch position and wheel-arch clearance before assuming a direct swap — the two shells were tooled separately and the fin vs dish wheel and sticker layout differ between kits.
Why is the Honda e taller than the GR Yaris in the spec sheet?
The published height (53mm vs 49mm) reflects each car's real-world body shape — Honda e's rounded five-door EV roofline sits higher than the GR Yaris's low rally-inspired hatchback line. The chassis underneath, including ground clearance, is identical.
Does either kit come pre-assembled or painted?
No — both are snap-together kits requiring no glue or paint, with stickers included for the detail work (carbon-fibre accents on the GR Yaris, headlight/roof detail on the Honda e). Two AA batteries are required and sold separately for both.