The Toyota GR Corolla is loved by many worldwide, and for valid reasons. It looks good, it has the power, it is fun to drive, and it won’t necessarily murder your bank balance.
The GR Corolla is also the only GR model in the Japanese marque’s line-up that is actually practical enough for everyday use as it comes with four doors, as well as a boot that is more than enough for your shopping spree. So does it still deserve the badge on its tailgate? Watch our review video to find out.
This review is brought to you by Petronas Primax 97 with Pro-Race – the premium fuel engineered for unbeatable power, better responsiveness, and fuel-efficient performance. Experience Petronas’ best fuel today with Setel, and earn up to 3X Mesra Points. Find out more about the latest Mesra Rewards loyalty programme here.
Take a look at it and it is obvious that the Toyota GR Corolla is based on the regular Corolla hatchback. However, Toyota did not just simply take the regular model and slap a bunch of GR badges on it. It is 30 mm wider at the front and rear fenders, which gives it a broader stance. It also gets a more aggressive-looking GR front bumper, along with a different hood with air vents, and a sportier headlight cluster. To reduce weight, Toyota has also fitted the GR Corolla with a roof made of forged carbon fibre.
Under the hood of the Toyota GR Corolla is a 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. With power sent to all four wheels via the brand’s GT-Four 4WD system, this setup pushes out 304 hp (metric) and 370 Nm.
Inside the hot hatch is a familiar-looking interior, albeit with some GR treatment. It is equipped kits such as with a GR steering wheel, a full TFT meter, and GR bucket seats.
Safety-wise, the Toyota GR Corolla is kitted with the Toyota Safety Sense advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This includes features such as Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), and Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA).
RELATED: 2023 Toyota GR Corolla launched in Malaysia, RM355k 6-speed manual hot hatch
