2023 Toyota GR Corolla Review

Honestly, what happened to the Toyota of the early 2000s? My first ever car was un indestructible 2006 silver Toyota Corolla hatchback. It was the very definition of an automotive appliance, a car designed to move humans from A to B, reliably, over and over. But Toyota has been working hard to rebrand itself. Gone are the days of bland cars, with the Japanese brand flexing its muscle to deliver exciting cars across the brand’s lineup. Spearheaded by the wildly entertaining Toyota 86, the bonkers GR Yaris and GR Supra, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla adds a hyper-hatch to Toyota’s ever growing lineup of performance vehicles.

The new GR Corolla takes some very tasty ingredients and mixes them to deliver a truly brilliant hot hatch. Driving it, I had to pinch myself several times, as a reminder that I was in a performance Corolla worthy of the highest shelf. Sure, no car is perfect and the GR Corolla certainly isn’t, but it is another stunning addition to the ever dwindling hot hatch segment in Australia. It also costs more than any other Corolla to go before it, and it faces fierce competition from serious rivals. The Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R are some of the best hot hatches on the market. The Corolla is now priced right amongst them. So is the GR Corolla a worthy adversary and ready to start a cult following? Let’s find out.

Price & Equipment: 8.0/10

For now, there are two 2023 Toyota GR Corolla models in Australia: the “entry-level” GTS we tested here coming in at $62,300 plus on-road costs, of which Australia will get 700 units in the first year of production, and the higher-performance Morizo Edition ($77,800 +ORC), of which only 25 units will be sold. Think of the GR Corolla as a single spec lineup, with the Morizo a very exclusive (and sold-out) limited run version.

Standard equipment on the GTS includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing automatic all-LED exterior lighting, auto wipers, heated and auto-folding mirrors, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, keyless entry and start, synthetic leather and suede upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, satellite navigation, digital radio, an eight-speaker JBL sound system, a wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, rear privacy glass, a tyre repair kit, front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, three modes for the all-wheel drive system to change the power distribution split (60:40 front to rear, 30:70 or 50:50), a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and Toyota Connected Services for features like live traffic, automatic SOS calling and a smartphone app to locate your car. Oddly, there is no centre armrest or auto-dimming rear view mirror.

Safety kit includes seven airbags, automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection assist, auto high beam, a heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance with lane trace assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

For colour options, the GTS is available in ‘Glacier White’, ‘Ebony’, ‘Liquid Mercury’ and ‘Feverish Red’, while the Morizo Edition is available in ‘Frosted White Pearl’ and ‘Tarmac Black’ with ‘Matte Steel’ matte grey paint available for a further $2,500.

The GR Corolla doesn’t come cheap and there will be those that will scoff at a Corolla coming in at around $70,000 on the road. If you’re looking for a more sophisticated and plusher daily driver, a Volkswagen Golf R ($66,990 before on-road costs) might be a better bet. The mental Honda Civic Type R, priced from $72,600 drive away has blown many away with its performance and handling talent. The Honda matches much of the Corolla’s standard equipment but has a selectable exhaust mode system as well as much wider and sticker 265/30 ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

Performance & Economy: 8.5/10

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, which it shares with its GR Yaris sibling. In the Corolla however, Toyota has tweaked the engine to make it even more powerful and in this iteration, it’s even more potent. The engine is the most powerful three-cylinder engine on the planet.

Peak power is 221kW and comes in at 6,500rpm, while torque is a very decent 370Nm, accessible from 3000 to 5550rpm. This means the engine’s outputs are 21kW more than the GR Yaris, with power sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The engine’s power output also makes the GR Corolla one of the most powerful cars in the world when looking at the amount of power the engine produces per litre of displacement, roughly on par with the Bugatti Chiron.

All of this means that the engine propels the GR Corolla GTS’ kerb weight of 1,485kg to 100km/h from rest in just 5.29 seconds. How’s that for a Corolla! In the real world, the GR Corolla is biblically quick, with the drivetrain propelling the hatch at the horizon with poise. Thanks to the AWD system, wheelspin, even in the wet, is non-existent.

Not everything is perfect, however. In upping the power from the GR Yaris to account for the heavier Corolla, Toyota had to rely on the turbocharger to force more air into the engine. This means there’s a little lag, and some moderate vibration under 2500rpm, with the engine only really coming on song past 3000rpm. From there, power builds beautifully through to the redline, and the GR Corolla’s three pot thrum is matched by the rush of air coming from the exhaust. Sure, it doesn’t sound as civilised and hushed as the EA888 engine in the Golf R, or as vocal as the hilariously loud as the Hyundai i30 N, but it has an honest edge to it, without any fake trickery. All of this adds an analogue edge to the GR Corolla, completely at odds with the instant responses we often expect and see in performance cars. Toyota’s philosophy of waiting and being rewarded means that keener drivers will rarely be left wanting more when they stick the right foot into the accelerator.

The gearbox is a gem, with a slick and light throw between gears and well spaced gears. Truly, it’s a delight and had us smiling from ear to ear. Swapping gears just for the hell of it. That’s what it’s all about. With Toyota’s auto rev-matching function, downshifting through the gears is a smooth affair, even for the super lazy.

Speaking of drive modes, the GR Corolla’s feel as if they don’t really do all that much. They barely change the throttle response, and without electronically controlled dampers or a switchable exhaust they really don’t serve a purpose. There’s also auto rev-matching, though the pedals are so well-placed that you probably won’t need it.

Where things get more interesting however, is the GR Corolla’s ability to choose where the engine’s power gets sent to. By default, the GR Corolla has a 30:70 front to rear power split, Track mode is 50:50 and Sport encourages some tail out action with a 30:70. Clever stuff, especially coming in useful on the racetrack.

Now, fuel consumption might not be the most important thing for a car such as the GR Corolla but with a combined fuel consumption figure of 8.4L/100km, it ought to be relatively frugal. We managed to keep things around the 10L/100km mark around town with bursts of spirited driving. The GR Corolla’s claimed CO2 emissions are rated at 191g/km and it needs minimum 98RON premium unleaded fuel. It has a 50-litre fuel tank.

Ride & Handling: 9.0/10

Driving on public roads with electronic nannies enabled means it’s difficult to exploit some of the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla’s hidden talents or the ability to change where the engine’s power is sent to. What we do know however, is that the GR Corolla turns in sharply, grips well and then slingshots out of tight corners in a polished, almost clinical way which will leave other FWD hatches frantically scrambling for traction.

The GR Corolla’s suspension works really well to give the hot hatch excellent body control in the bends. Where the GR Yaris feels a little smaller on the road, the GR Corolla has a substantive feel going through corners, even if it feels a little less darty. Bumps don’t upset the suspension – sure it’s firm and sometimes potholes jar into the cabin, but the damping feels slack enough to allow the GR Corolla to hold its line through corners, with body roll kept at bay. Sure, we would have liked to see adaptive dampers at this price point, like in an i30 N or even the Golf R, to give the ride a little more contrast between comfort and sportiness, but Toyota’s engineers have done a decent job of making the passive suspension setup work well. In may ways, the GR Corolla keeps things civil, surefooted and engaging all at the same time.

Grip itself is decent thanks to the high-performance 235/40R18 Yokohama Advan Apex V601 tyres wrapping all four wheels, but we feel that Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S might have been an even better tyre to plonk onto the GR Corolla. The steering feels pretty sharp too, with quick reflexes and a natural, yet solid feel. Ditto to the brakes, which are well sorted for road use, and should do well on the track, too.

As a daily driver, the GR Corolla actually fares pretty well with a ride which isn’t too harsh around town. Road noise is a big problem though, with significant noise intrusion into the cabin on course chip road surfaces. Your passengers will know they’re in a performance car, where those in a Golf R will merely see it as another Golf.

On the active safety front, the GR Corolla’s active safety systems work really well. The lane assistance technology is subtle, yet effective, and we’re glad to see a full safety suite of inclusions on board too. Our only gripe is with the rear view camera – the image on the 8-inch screen is a little pixelated.

Interior & Practicality: 7.5/10

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla might cost in excess of $70,000 to get onto the road, but its interior feels very much like any other Corolla model which has gone before it, save for some sportier details and some figure hugging seats. Materials used are high quality, and match those seen on the Golf R, but the design is a little plain to our eyes. Things are fine, without being great, or even notable.

Luckily, sporty touches abound, with a smattering of GR logos on the starter button, the manual shifter, the front bucket seats and the key fob. There’s no mood lighting or special trim finishes to be seen anywhere which will please purists, but for those after a little more ambiance wise from their hot-hatch, a Golf R offers a more visually appealing interior.

Up front, you’re immediately greeted by figure hugging and supportive front seats. They’re trimmed in suede and artificial leather, and feel decently made. The driving position is spot on, with the ability to really drop the seat towards the floor. Unlike the GR Yaris, the GR Corolla’s driving position is much lower. You sit in the seats, not on top of them. Right off the bat, this makes piloting the GR Corolla a more natural fair than in the WRC-inspired Yaris. We wish the passenger’s seat had more adjustability as it’s set too high.

Oddly, there is no covered centre armrest between the front seats meaning front occupants will have nowhere to rest their elbows. A solid feeling handbrake is nestled on the passenger’s side of the centre console. Otherwise, the centre console has two cup holders, and a small wireless charging tray which just about accommodates even larger phones.

On the tech front, the GR runs the same infotainment system as the other updated models of the Corolla lineup. The 8-inch touchscreen is clear and sharp, and no longer has the hazy film we’ve experienced in Toyota models of yesteryear. Even the software is decent, but we’re still thankful wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto feature. The 12.3-inch digital driver’s display features a new skin for the GR Corolla and in Sport mode, replaces the traditional circular tacho for a sporty strip looking one.

The Toyota Corolla’s back seat has always been a tight environment, but it feels a world away from the cramped GR Yaris. There’s not a great deal of leg and head-room for taller occupants but anyone up to 6-foot shouldn’t be too squashed. There’s no rear air vents or charging ports, just a centre arm rest with cup holders, seat pockets and cupholders in the doors.

The Corolla hatch’s boot has always been one of the smallest in the class, but the GR’s is something else at a very petite 213L. The boot is rather shallow, no bag hooks or power point, but it does have four tie-down hooks. Under the boot floor, there is no spare tyre, but there is a battery. It’s clear that the AWD system has eaten into the Corolla’s already small boot even more. Having said this, the boot is 50 per cent bigger than that of the GR Yaris, even if it is way down on the 341L boot on the Golf R.

Service & Warranty: 7.5/10

As with other Toyota products, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty with an extra two years’ mechanical warranty if it’s serviced at a Toyota dealership. No roadside assistance is offered with new Toyotas.

The servicing intervals are shorter than most other Corolla models, but they do match those of the GR Yaris. That means the GR Corolla will need a service every six months or 10,000km, which is well below the industry norm. Toyota offers a capped price servicing plan for three years or 60,000km, with each of the first six visits coming it at $300 each. Three years of servicing will set you back $1800.

A Volkswagen Golf R might have once yearly/every 12 months service intervals but due to higher servicing costs, three years of ownership will set owners back $1,976. Still, it’s twice as convenient.

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla DiscoverAuto Rating: 8.1/10

For so many years, the idea of a performance Corolla seemed so foreign. Sure, the early 2000s saw the limited run of South-African made Corolla Sportivo models with their uprated engines, but the Corolla always remained a reliable staple in the small-car crowd. Here, Toyota has truly done something exceptional, pulling out an AWD hyper-hatch that is decidedly grown up, and capable at the same time.

Sure, it isn’t perfect with a small boot, cramped cabin and odd spec missions for the price, but it counters with an exceptional drivetrain and handling talent in drives. It’s also much more usable than the rally-bred GR Yaris with its even smaller dimensions. The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla will go down as one of the most unexpectedly good cars in history, and its cult status is just getting started. If you can afford one, buy one. Old-school manual hot-hatches are all but a dying breed these days. Go save one.