Move over VW Golf 8 R: Toyota’s Corolla GR has plenty to offer for the price and can take on the best of its competitors.
We love the Toyota Yaris GR — it’s an exciting, punchy little hot hatch, which appreciates the art of driving.
Upon its release in 2021, I was disappointed to hear we weren’t going to get the Corolla GR, as its wider and lower body, aggressive angles and three tailpipes had me sold. To our delight, Toyota SA has had a change of heart and has brought the model to South Africa.
The exterior of this Corolla is eye-catching, to say the least, providing you those three tailpipes, a menacing black-front grille, black hood vents, raw carbon-fibre roof and boisterous styling. In addition, its widened fenders provide a more planted appearance with a clear design focus coming from the racetrack.
I love how it looks.
The interior, although plain, is practical, closely resembling the interior of the standard Corolla.
The dash is fitted with a 12.3-inch display, which supports your creature comforts and musical needs. The driver’s display is designed for quick and efficient information feedback, which keeps you aware of your engine’s behaviour during more dynamic driving.
A few extras in the cabin which come with the GR Corolla include a driving mode toggle and the torque distributor switch, allowing you to send power to the front or rear wheels, depending on your preference.
The torque distributor switch is a useful tool, if used correctly. If you prefer front-wheel torque, then 60:40 would assist that need.
The 50:50 mode accommodates those who enjoy a more balanced vehicle for better control and, if you prefer to drive looking out of your side window, the 30:70 setup provides more power to the rear to help you achieve the drift you need to impress your friends.
You are also provided with supportive, comfortable bucket seats.
If you have a penchant for the good old handbrake turn, the Corolla GR comes with a disconnecting rear axle, allowing you to pull up the brake to initiate a slide without fear of breaking or stalling your motor and other components.
Now the most important aspect of the Corolla GR — its performance. I think we all expected it to be a pleasure to drive but I wasn’t expecting just how composed it is on a track.
An incredibly responsive steering and throttle input, paired with its wide 215/40R18 tyres, makes cornering in this car a joyous experience.
It is a point-and-shoot tool with plenty of grip. The engagement you feel when driving the Corolla is inspiring, as you must be really overzealous to lose control of this car.
It’s quick too, with the same 1.6-litre inter-cooled turbo inline-three engine as the Yaris, just slightly up- tuned to 221kW and 360Nm.
The benchmark 0 to 100km/h sprint takes 5.3 seconds which, out of a three-cylinder, remains impressive.
It comes with a six-speed manual box which has a short throw and feels good in hand.
On the road, I found the ride rather firm, however, the car deals well with smaller bumps and rougher roads.
The only issue I had with the Corolla is that it is loud. To many, this won’t be a problem but even the slightest throttle input feeds back into the cabin the rowdy roar of an inline-three motor.
The exhaust doesn’t have a valve system so the roar remains, whether you’re in comfort or sport mode.
That said, the three exhausts not only look particularly cool, they provide an aggressive, yet not unpleasant, sound. With the occasional crackle here and there.
Pricing for the Corolla GR starts at R841 000 for the Core model and R902 400 for the Circuit model. It is fairly steep but matches its competitors, such as the Golf 8 R at R912 800, and there is a chalk-and-cheese difference in the driving experience.
The Core model is impressive but it does lack a few features which more technical drivers might like, such as a limited-slip differential, raw carbon-fibre roof, hood vents, a head-up display, seat-back pockets, a glossy black radiator lower grille and leather-and-suede seats.
The Corolla GR is a driver-focused vehicle, with every second in it a thrill — as long as you know what you’re doing.