Review: Toyota GR Corolla – A Rally-Bred Hot Hatch For The Ages?

Sharp, angry, and menacing, the Toyota GR Corolla doesn't just look fast, it has the sound - and speed! - to match all that aggression with.

Wow, It Looks ANGRY!

Definitely. You don’t have to park it next to its modest Corolla Sport sibling – a local ‘recond’ (parallel/grey import) market favourite – to see just how much angstier it really is over said hatch it underpins. This somewhat ‘unchecked’ aggression isn’t just limited to the flared and widened wheel arches, added intake ducts, and its forged carbon roof, either.

A closer look reveals slotted brake rotors plus red-painted calipers grabbing each lurking behind the lightweight 18-inch multi-spoke alloys primed on each corner. Let's also not forget the triple tailpipes that dominate this hot hatch’s derriere – a sight it leaves many with. In short, the GR Corolla looks properly angry, even in its finer details.

These added vents and ducts aren't just for show - they actually function to provide enhanced cooling, ventilation, and contribute slightly to the GR Corolla's aerodynamics.

At the rear, there is no mistaking this GR Corolla for anything else thanks to its triple-pipes. Note the ultra-wide stance and sharp rear bumper design, the latter featuring a diffuser element in its lower half.

Lurking behind each Enkei 18-inch lightweight wheels are slotted brake rotors, each grabbed by red-painted calipers. The latter not only looks good, they provide ample bite to halt the GR Corolla on a dime.

Evidently, these are all perhaps expected traits of what Toyota positioned as its take on the hot hatch genre. Sure, it’s not exactly a rally homologation special as its smaller GR Yaris sibling that came before it, but much of said petite rally rep’s magic is carried over in this larger and more practical alternative.

Overall, as far as style and stance go, the GR Corolla effortlessly commands street-cred and presence, arguably more so dressed in the tasty ‘Precious Metal’ shade of grey as our tester does – one of just three available next to a signature ‘Super White II’ and an arguably more ravishing ‘Emotional Red II’ choice.

Of course, these pale in comparison to the GR Corolla’s fire-breathing three-banger heart, which is where much of this aggression actually stems from…

Yes, it may have one cylinder less than expected, but this blown 1.6-litre 3-cyl heart is as angry as they come with 296 HP and 370 NM, the latter being abundant in the low-to-mid rev ranges too.

Just THREE Cylinders? Really?

Yes, but being a cylinder short doesn’t make the GR Corolla any less of a performance hot hatch, let alone a proper car. This is one of several rally-bred hardware the GR Corolla borrows from the GR Yaris mentioned, but it has been fettled slightly to match with the Corolla hatch’s larger size – and subsequently heavier weight.

Sure, the 1.6-litre displacement and triple-cylinder pairing doesn’t sound convincing as a rivalling blown 2.0-litre four-banger, but that simply isn’t the case. With nearly 300 HP available, the GR Corolla’s – and, by default, the GR Yaris’s – heart is no slouch. Adding to which are the abundance of low- and mid-range torque – 370 NM – and the beastly, bass-rich soundtrack said triple-pipes sing.

Ultimately, what really set the GR Corolla’s drivetrain off are both its slick 6-speed manual transmission and trick GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive (AWD) – the latter is, again, ‘borrowed’ from the GR Yaris. Get your hand- and footwork synced right and fast, Toyota’s claimed 5.3-second century sprint time becomes easily achievable indeed.

Unsurprisingly, our only gripe on this front lies in how the triple-pipes’ rich bass note wanes off at the higher rev-ranges, which is exactly when the unmistakable ‘imbalanced’ three-cylinder engine sound becomes apparent. Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, you’ll either love or hate this sound. Nevertheless, the drama and theatrics here aren’t too shabby at all.

Predictably, both mechanical grip and traction levels are very high, which in turn births a car that not only carves corners brilliantly, but also dart in and out of bends rapidly.

Is It Nimble? Will It Slide?

Despite being widened significantly – up to 80 MM at the rear – over the base Corolla hatch, the GR Corolla doesn’t feel any more difficult to manage than any other mass market model with the same Toyota badge. In fact, said widening hides the fact that the chassis has been beefed up significantly to allow greater control and agility over said base Corolla hatch.

The latter is perhaps yet another testament to just how good Toyota’s current TNGA chassis architecture really is. And the GR Corolla enhances that fact well enough, more so after having sampled it on a circuit some time back. As you’d expect, the widened track, stiffer suspension and dampers, as well as the stickier tyres and sharper steering, all shined best here.

The result is a hot hatch that will easily carve corners, both easily on a whim and with high enough precision to appease trackday warriors. A lot of this also stems from the high mechanical grip and traction the trick GR-FOUR AWD suite grants, which boasts no less than three selectable torque-split modes, each offering its own unique fun nature.

The GR-FOUR AWD setup offers three selectable torque-split modes - F:R 30:70 or 60:40, and a 'Track' mode delivering an even 50:50 split. Each offers its own distinct dynamics too, depending on what you seek.

Personally, this writer found the GR Corolla to be at its sharpest when GR-FOUR is set into its rear-biased (F:R – 30:70) mode. This easily lets you slide the car in and out of corners, provided you have enough talent to induce such a manoeuvre that is. 

Unless you’re name is Tengku Djan Ley and you shred rear tyres for a living, we’re certain many will appreciate the more familiar predictability of the front-biased (F:R – 60:40) mode that’s also available. We found this mode perfect for both daily driving and spirited B-road jaunts alike during our test.

A third ‘Track Mode’ is also available, and this supplies an even 50:50 torque split instead. When paired with the powertrain’s ‘Sport’ driving mode available, it really turns the Corolla into the rally racer it badly wants to be – just like the GR Yaris, in fact…

You'll have to row your own gears in the GR Corolla, but it felt sensationally snatchy thanks to its short-throws.

That Stick-Shift Looks Daunting Though…

There aren’t any workarounds to this as the GR Corolla doesn’t have an automatic option available, at least not yet – the smaller GR Yaris recently got this update. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be a deterrent, especially if you call yourself an avid performance car and driving enthusiast.

The fact that Toyota made the GR Corolla a manual-only offering is perhaps a sign of the automaking giant’s agreement of said transmission type’s importance amongst performance cars. This also perhaps explains why things like the GR86 and GR Supra continue to see a stick-shift option available alongside an automatic choice.

Though presented as a friendlier and more practical daily than the GR Yaris, you wouldn’t exactly want put the GR Corolla through the tumultuous torture of daily urban traffic. There are other more affordable, more reliable, and much easier-to-drive Toyota-badged cars (like this, this, this, this, and this) for that – and you really should have one of those first before adding the GR Corolla in your driveway. 

Typical of Toyota, its covered all the basics with the GR Corolla's cabin by furnishing it with dual-zone automatic climate control, USB charge ports, keyless entry and ignition, not forgetting a rather familiar 9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit.

Though said infotainment does offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, it does lack in resolution for its reverse camera. Perhaps the biggest sin here is the absence of any performance displays or readouts.

Are There Any Other Quirks?

Yes, some more glaring than others. Chief amongst which is the absence of performance displays or readouts in the centre infotainment. No. Instead, you get the same bog standard 9-inch touchscreen unit you’ll find in more ‘modest’ Toyota models (like this, this, this, this, and this), which still has the less-than-stellar resolution for its reverse camera display.

That absent party trick aside, the other quirks are somewhat predictable to say the least, like how the stiff springs and dampers make for a very bumpy ride. Speaking of which, we’ll also add how this is perhaps not the most quietest of cars around – wind noise and tyre roar makes for a tiresome drive, especially on long journeys.

Thankfully, Toyota didn't forget trackday warriors in the hot seat, thus explaining the added heads-up display (HUD), plus the highly interactive and customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.

The GR aesthetics primed in the GR Corolla's cabin does appear slightly muted, but there are enough theatrics abound.

The semi-bucket front seats are well-bolstered and highly supportive - just what you need in a performance special. All seats also feel rather posh thanks to its leather and alcantara upholstery, but  rear seat - and boot - space isn't abundant. 

Whilst this is, theoretically, a larger and more practical car over the GR Yaris, let’s just say you won’t see any backseat volunteers, whilst the 213-litre boot space might just be a tad too tiny for most. In fact, there’s just enough space here for you to lug your trackday essentials.

Then there’s also the nearly unquenchable thirst for premium RON97 that the blown three-banger demands. Depending on how heavy your right foot application usually is, this can be a very taxing affair, especially towards your wallet and bank account balance. These aside, there isn’t much to nitpick on, other than price that is…

Could this be a hot hatch for the ages? We'd like to think so given how the GR Corolla has taken up the mantle to fill the void that's been left long dormant by the likes of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

Is This Still A Worthy Buy?

Honestly, it is perhaps a tad far-fetched to hail the GR Corolla as an ‘ultimate’ hot hatch – a certain German with an added three-lettered badge rightfully owns that crown. It also isn’t the most outrageous Japanese trackday monster money can buy today, evident by how it is easily overshadowed by a certain R-badged Honda too.

Putting those aside though, we’re certain you’ll agree that the GR Corolla has carved its own niche instead. In fact, one car argue how the GR Corolla now fills the void that’s been left long dormant by the likes of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX STI that came before it.

Surely, to be mentioned in the same breath with that ensemble of rally-reps, is a big plus indeed. Perhaps that ought to make the GR Corolla’s RM355,000 price tag (sans insurance) seem both justified and somewhat of a bargain.

Yes, fun-to-drive rally-bred heroes like this aren’t extinct yet, and Toyota might have just saved this sub-genre single-handedly through things like the GR Corolla. Certainly, this itself ought to seal its place in history and become a hot hatch for the ages…

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TOYOTA GR COROLLA

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