It seems like Toyota has been constructing to this second for years – the launch of the brand new GR Corolla, a correct halo sizzling hatch for the Japanese firm that has been making an attempt to make “ever higher vehicles” with that “waku doki” vibe.
That push has been lead by trade legend Akio Toyoda – who, in case you didn’t know, goes by the identify Morizo when he’s behind the wheel… therefore the particular version mannequin’s identify.
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Now the declare that that is Toyota’s first “actual” sizzling hatch may sound derogatory to anybody who owns a GR Yaris, however no offence, that is what many will take into account to be an actual sizzling hatch.
It’s the fitting measurement, competing within the small automotive class slightly than the sunshine automotive market. And it’s up towards some severe rivals – the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R. That’s to say, it’s launching the place the competitors is at its greatest.
Plus, it has just a few factors of distinction in comparison with each of these fashions – it’s guide with all-wheel drive solely. And, it has a three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine!
So can it actually be a correct hot-hatch? Learn on to search out out.
How a lot does the Toyota GR Corolla price?
The GR Corolla just isn’t low cost, with an MSRP of $62,300 plus on-road prices for the mainstream GTS five-seat model.
In the meantime the track-focused Morizo model – which takes out a bunch of stuff to save lots of weight however provides some bits to enhance efficiency – is a $77,800 proposition.
You’re shopping for shortage with the latter, although, as – at the least within the preliminary 12 months of deliveries – the Morizo can be restricted to only 25 examples. The GTS can be going to be scarce, with solely 700 examples coming within the first 12 months.
For a little bit of context, the Toyota GR Corolla is a bit cheaper than a VW Golf R ($66,990), however its German rival has a extra highly effective four-cylinder engine, a dual-clutch auto transmission, and extra luxurious inside appointments. To not point out adaptive dampers and larger wheels.
It’s additionally extra inexpensive than a Honda Civic Sort R, which lists at $72,000 drive-away. That mannequin is guide solely just like the GR Corolla, however front-wheel drive. And, the order guide for it’s just about full, with wait instances blowing out until late-2024 final we checked.
Whereas I truthfully didn’t imply to slag off the Toyota GR Yaris within the intro, that mannequin does supply one thing very comparable however for an entire lot much less cash. The GR Yaris is $49,500 and the top-spec Rallye is $54,500, so it’s effectively value determining if you may make the three-door physique and unusual ergonomic quirks be just right for you.
What’s the Toyota GR Corolla like on the within?
It maybe isn’t as particular as you may anticipate that it’s going to be, particularly once you’re paying this kinda dough – or, one other method of placing that’s the Corolla ZR (like the one I tested recently) feels actually good for $25okay much less.
Certain, it does rating the GR bits that you’d anticipate, together with a GR steering wheel (leather-lined, three-spoke, heated) and GR sports activities seats (heated, manually adjustable, with a suede and pretend leather-based trim mixture), plus GR carpet flooring mats, and a darkish headlining just like the ZR.
In any other case, that is similar to different Corollas inside – that isn’t to say that there’s something unsuitable with the inside, it’s simply that it won’t really feel as particular as some patrons may want that it did.
The push-button starter has the GR brand on it, and so does the guide shifter and the important thing fob, however there’s nothing particular like ambient lighting or completely different finishes to assist carry the atmosphere even additional. Dare I say it – the ZR’s cabin in purple seems and feels heaps extra particular.
Storage is as you’ll anticipate; there are two cupholders between the entrance seats, bottle holders within the doorways, a storage tray with wi-fi telephone charger in entrance of the shifter (with the identical easy-to-accidentally-switch-on seat heater buttons once you drop your telephone in), plus a fantastic little glovebox.
Nonetheless, in contrast to the usual mannequin, there isn’t a coated centre armrest between the entrance seats, presumably to save lots of weight and give you a bit extra set off room in your elbow if you happen to’re piloting it on a observe and flicking the guide handbrake (extra on that quickly).
Clearly, there’s additionally the GR-4 all-wheel drive controller behind the shifter, which lets you alter the bias of the four-wheel-drive system, and similar to different Corollas there’s a drive mode selector, which incorporates Eco, Regular, Sport and Customized – the latter of which lets you alter the steering weight, engine response and air-con effectiveness.
As with the top-spec customary Corolla, you get an enormous 12.3-inch driver data display screen which gives loads of bespoke info that’s tailor-made to efficiency driving. There’s a bunch of various display screen choices, so you may control the vitals or simply take a look on the head-up show on the windscreen.
Now, let’s take into account back-seat area, which isn’t one of many Corolla Hatch’s greatest attributes usually – and the identical will be mentioned for this model. With the driving force’s seat set for me (182cm/6’0”), I had solely simply sufficient area to clear my knees and toes, whereas the headroom is tight too, and you will want to observe your noggin getting out and in as effectively.
You may match three skinny adults throughout, but it surely’s greatest left as a two-seater for again seat riders. If youngsters are a part of your crew, there are twin ISOFIX factors within the window seats, and three top-tether factors as effectively.
One factor this Corolla hatchback misses out on that each one different variations get in Australia is rear-seat directional air vents, as a result of that entrance centre console field has been axed. There’s entry to a flat storage tray there as a substitute, and two USB ports as effectively.
There are small bottle holders in each rear doorways, a pair of cupholders within the rear centre drop-down armrest, and map pockets on the backs of each entrance seats as effectively.
Now, this wasn’t supposed to be a overview of the Morizo Version, however I did see the automotive on the occasion, and it has no rear seats in any respect. As an alternative there are two thick physique bracing frames that run the width of the cabin behind the entrance seats, which let you safe a set of spare wheels for observe days. Or it might simply be the quickest courier panel van on the planet.
Now, boot area – one other problem for the Corolla Hatch – is even LESS on this GR model in comparison with core fashions.
Toyota states there’s 213 litres of cargo capability for GTS fashions, which is 4L fewer than the variations of the Corolla Hatch which have a spare wheel (the ZR Hybrid has a restore package and thus scores 333 litres).
As for this one? No spare right here, to save lots of weight, whereas the battery has been shifted to the boot space as effectively, simply beneath the false flooring.
Be aware: Apologies for the dearth of inside pictures. There have been subsequent to none within the Australian media package
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Three cylinders of absolute fury, that’s what!
The GR Corolla has the identical 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine because the GR Yaris, however on this iteration it’s much more potent.
Energy output is 221kW (6500rpm), whereas torque is a sizeable 370Nm (3000-5550rpm). That kilowatt determine, in response to Toyota, places the GR Corolla on par with the Bugatti Chiron hyper automotive for kW per litre of engine output.
The GR Corolla can be 21kW more healthy than the GR Yaris, and similar to it’s smaller sibling, it comes with a six-speed guide transmission as customary. There is no auto option available… yet.
It’s all-wheel drive, with Torsen restricted slip differentials at each axles. Select the Morizo Version and the engine energy output is identical (221kW) however the torque determine jumps as much as 400Nm. It additionally will get a revised six-speed guide with altered ratios.
A couple of extra figures for you right here – the GR Corolla GTS has a kerb weight of 1485kg, whereas the Morizo is notably lighter, at 1440kg.
The GTS model has a 0-100km/h declare of 5.29 seconds whereas the Morizo claims a barely faster 5.21s..
How does the Toyota GR Corolla drive?
Grrrrr may need been a fair higher identify for this variant, as a result of it’s like an indignant bull ant making an attempt to chunk at your ankles on a bushwalk.
The powertrain is seemingly consistently egging the driving force on to get extra out of it, and on public roads that would imply you’ve obtained to be very, very cautious. It has lots to offer – there’s a little little bit of low-rev lag, but it surely builds its energy fantastically from about 3000rpm by means of to the redline, and it sounds fairly grunty whereas doing it.
The trademark three-pot burble is clear, and you’ll hear turbo whistle and wastegate flutter on lift-off, too.
Nonetheless, it’s not too loud – in truth, I can foresee some potential complaints from lovers who subscribe to the “pop and crackle” mindset that this sounds a bit meek. I like pops and crackles. I heard perhaps one little fart from the exhaust, although I can’t ensure that wasn’t my co-driver.
The six-speed guide gearbox’s shift motion is okay. It’s not Porsche-like, and admittedly not whilst slick because the final Honda Civic Type R I drove, but it surely does have a brief throw and shut gates to make it really feel sporty. The clutch is pretty weighty, so in stop-start site visitors it may be a bit of bit annoying, but it surely’s not too heavy to stay with.
There’s an clever guide mode that can rev-match for you – if you happen to’re not nice at heel-and-toeing, you’ll impress your folks as a result of it does a bloody good job of blipping and rev-matching on the downshift.
The steering is fairly candy, with a pleasant quantity of weight and good accuracy to the wheel as effectively, though like most electrical energy steering techniques there’s not that a lot really feel to the driving force’s fingers – as in, you’re not going to get a Lotus Elise-like drive right here, however you truthfully wouldn’t need that in a automotive like this.
I additionally seen a tiny little bit of understeer by means of tighter corners, which isn’t uncommon in an all-wheel-drive automotive, however I used to be anticipating just a bit bit extra chunk and tightness on the nostril by means of a set of actually tight bends.
I ought to level out right here that this was my testing on a public highway, with digital stability management on, and I used to be taking part in with the AWD bias at instances. I discovered that the default 60:40 mode allowed for a greater ‘slingshot’ out of a nook, whereas the extra tail-happy 30:70 setting was undoubtedly extra catered in the direction of sliding the automotive round in cornering.
It doesn’t squirm just like the GR Yaris does (I’m okay with that) underneath throttle, and it feels actually properly planted and secure at velocity.
There’s a neat trick, although, as I discovered on the skid pan at Sydney Motorsport Park. The aforementioned guide handbrake works otherwise to in most guide vehicles, in that you just don’t have to depress the clutch as drive is lower to the rear axle once you fling the handbrake up.
It means you may plant your left foot (so that you keep extra secure and accountable for the drive), carry the handbrake to let the back-end fling, after which energy out on the throttle. It took some perfecting, however this was lots of enjoyable – I attempted it in 30:70, however discovered it was a bit too tail-happy, whereas in 60:40 it actually did have that front-drive slingshot-style acceleration out of the slide.
What impressed me, irrespective of the mode, was the physique management within the bends – the GR’s suspension gives a agency really feel on the highway, however nonetheless a stage of consolation as effectively. It’s going to maintain its line properly and in addition, there’s little or no physique roll to cope with.
Now, about that firmness… it isn’t as plush using or cosseting as a Golf R. The VW is an excellent sizzling hatch as a result of it manages to mix the consolation you need with the management you want. This automotive does that too, it simply doesn’t have the smarts of adaptive chassis management to help you alter issues to be extra snug, if you need them to be.
They’re very completely different vehicles – even Toyota admits that – however the Golf R, in my view, can be a a lot simpler automobile to have as a every day driver, and never simply because it has the wonderful DSG auto fitted as customary.
For individuals who will every day their GR Corolla, there’s a slight penalty to pay in relation to tyre noise. At most speeds, there’s fairly a little bit of noise intrusion into the cabin, so in case you are somebody who values tuning into their favorite podcast on the highway, you may discover that the amount on the stereo will should be a bit of increased than traditional.
All advised although, this can be a particular automotive. It’s not simply good for a Corolla, it’s a great sizzling hatch, full cease.
What do you get?
The Toyota GR Corolla is a fairly effectively specified automotive, with all the most effective stuff you may get in a regular Corolla, and extra extra gear to assist justify the fee.
GR Corolla GTS highlights:
- 18-inch Enkei light-weight alloy wheels
- 235/40 R18 Yokohama ADVAN tyres
- AWD modes (60:40, 30:70, 50:50)
- Entrance and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials
- LED headlights with auto high-beam
- Triple exhaust suggestions
- Toyota Related Companies
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 8.0-inch touchscreen
- Heated leather-based steering wheel
- Heated entrance seats
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 8-speaker JBL audio system
- 1x USB-C port in centre console
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Handbook seat adjustment
- Rear privateness glass
- Energy-folding and heated exterior mirrors
- Tyre restore package
GR Corolla Morizo version provides:
- Carbon-fibre roof
- GR badge on intercooler
- 18-inch BBS cast alloy wheels
- 245/40 ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Join Tyres
- Distinctive Morizo Version shift knob design
- Carbon-fibre clean plates for rear window switches
- Entrance sports activities seats with harness holes
- Slots within the carpet to permit harness fitment
- Extra bracing within the cabin incl. harness-rated high bar
- Mounted rear home windows
- 2-speaker audio system
- Removes dual-zone local weather management
- Removes heated steering wheel
- Removes wi-fi telephone charger
- Removes rear seats
- Removes parking sensors
- Removes satellite tv for pc navigation
- Removes electrical rear home windows
- Removes Rear windscreen wiper
What’s lacking? You’ll be able to’t get it with a sunroof, and the media display screen is a bit small by present requirements, at 8.Zero inches.
Additional, European variations of the Corolla rating a bigger media display screen (10.5-inch) accessible regionally in different fashions, but it surely’s not on the playing cards for right here – at the least not but.
Colors
Right here’s a rundown on the color choices and paint costs.
GR Corolla GTS
- Glacier White: $NCO
- Ebony (black): $NCO
- Liquid Mercury (gray): $575
- Feverish Purple: $575
GR Corolla Morizo Version
- Frosted White Pearl: $NCO
- Tarmac Black: $NCO
- Matte Metal (unique): $2500
Is the Toyota GR Corolla secure?
There’s presently no score particular to the Toyota GR Corolla, nevertheless, in response to ANCAP’s web site “all variants” of the Corolla Hatch put on a five-star ANCAP security score from 2018 testing.
Toyota Australia made it clear that simply because the GR Corolla has a distinct intent to the usual Corolla vary, it’s designed to supply the identical superior security options accessible to different house owners.
It additionally has the Toyota Related Companies system, which may name emergency providers within the occasion of an accident.
GR Corolla GTS options:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Intersection help
- Emergency steering help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane Hint Help (lane centring)
- Velocity signal recognition
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing digital camera
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
Select the Morizo mannequin and also you lose the parking sensors, and there’s additionally no rear wiper.
How a lot does the Toyota GR Corolla price to run?
The GR Corolla nonetheless scores the corporate’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, which is extendable to seven years for the powertrain if the logbook servicing is finished on time.
Toyota spokespeople did state that whereas observe driving is roofed, it is going to be assessed on a “case by case foundation”. So be sure to work out what that may imply for you, if you happen to’re contemplating shopping for one and monitoring it.
The servicing intervals are shorter than most different Corollas, however according to the GR Yaris, at each six months or10,000km. There’s a capped value plan for 3 years/60,000km, with these first six visits pegged at $300 a pop.
The official gas consumption figures are affordable for a hot-hatch, at 8.four litres per 100 kilometres for the GTS and eight.6L/100km for the Morizo Version. The latter is lighter, however has some changes to the gear ratios and in addition extra aggressive tyres, which might be the explanation it has a better official quantity.
For those who’re out on a rustic drive you may see near that, supplied you’re obeying the foundations. However throughout my highway drive on the launch, I noticed a displayed 10.2L/100km by means of a mixture of city operating, freeway testing and spirited driving on nation again roads.
Each fashions have a 50-litre gas tank, with a thirst for 98 RON premium unleaded juice. Clearly, you’ll see a lot increased on observe.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota GR Corolla
For those who can stay with the manual-only proposition, and may cope with the smaller boot and fewer comfortable experience than its rivals, then the Toyota GR Corolla will make you very, very completely satisfied.
I feel it’s secure to say there’s by no means been a greater Corolla than this, at the least in relation to efficiency.
And “waku doki”? Yep. Nailed that, too.
Toyota – and certainly, grasp driver Morizo – can relaxation assured that this automotive isn’t just a correct sizzling hatch, however a full-on efficiency automotive that simply occurs to be in a hatchback physique.
MORE: Everything Toyota Corolla
Professionals
- Nice enjoyable to drive
- Heaps of character
- Appears to be like imply as
Cons
- Inside isn’t that particular
- No auto choice but
- Far much less sensible than most hatches
