2024 Toyota GR Corolla Review

Following in the footsteps of its smaller GR Yaris sibling, the GR Corolla casts a familiar shadow to the regular hatchback but receives a heap of performance upgrades that make it a completely different beast.

Just how good is the latest Toyota GR Corolla, then, and how well does it compete in the world of hot hatchbacks? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Toyota GR Corolla Competition

Starting Price: $64,190

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Toyota GR Corolla range is priced from $64,190 for the base GR Corolla GTS, while the range-topping GR Corolla Morizo Edition is priced at $77,800.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Toyota GR Corolla (GTS) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Toyota GR Corolla Have?

The Toyota GR Corolla comes riding on 18-inch cast alloys wrapped in Yokohama Advan tyres and receives LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated front sports seats with a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a triple exhaust system, front & rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, an all-wheel-drive system a wireless smartphone charger and a subscription to Toyota Connected Services.

Opting for the GR Corolla Morizo Edition throws out the rear seats and luxuries like dual-zone climate control, parking sensors and the heated steering wheel to save weight.

It does, however, add things like a set of 18-inch forged BBS wheels, a carbon fibre roof, a bespoke gear lever, a GR badge on the intercooler and some Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The GR Corolla comes fitted with an 8.0-inch infotainment display that is paired with an eight-speaker JBL sound system, while you’ll also find a wireless smartphone charger sitting behind the gear lever.

It also picks up a 12-month subscription to Toyota’s Connected Services that allows drivers to check their driving information, fuel status, vehicle location, make SOS calls and make sure the doors are locked while parked overnight.

Does the Toyota GR Corolla have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Toyota’s latest infotainment system offers wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity, though Android users will still need to connect their phone via a USB cord to connect to Android Auto due to the wired connection requirement. 

Is the Toyota GR Corolla Fun to Drive?

Toyota has done a spectacular job while designing the GR Corolla, which feels nothing short of a road-going rally car.

Power for the GR Corolla comes supplied by a pint-sized 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that pushes out 221kW of power and 370Nm of torque, while the Morizo Edition pushes out 400Nm of torque.

Acceleration off the line is extremely impressive, with a 0-100km/h sprint time standing at 5.29 seconds, dropping to 5.21 seconds in the Morizo Edition.

To keep the purists happy, Toyota is offering the GR Corolla with a six-speed manual transmission only, which throws power to all four wheels via the adjustable all-wheel drive system.

Toyota allows you to change the amount of power being sent to the front and rear wheels, depending on your personal preferences, including a heavily rear-biased setup that makes it particularly tail-happy on loose surfaces.

When pushed, the GR Corolla bites the ground with a tonne of grip from the front axle, with the precise steering system offering a tonne of feedback that will keep driving enthusiasts engaged and grinning ear-to-ear.

What makes the GR Corolla even more impressive is that its hardcore nature hasn’t impacted the daily driving experience.

On a daily commute, the GR Corolla picks up speed effortlessly while the lively handling makes for a super agile companion to navigate the urban jungle.

While the suspension package has been designed to destroy corners, it remains balanced and composed on small to moderate bumps on the road and makes for a surprisingly great daily driver.

All up, the driving experience in the GR Corolla is fantastic - offering thrilling yet predictable high-speed dynamics that won’t rattle your spine to dust on a run to work.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Toyota’s 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder has been built primarily to tear the tyres to pieces, rather than break efficiency records - after all, that’s a job best left for the Corolla Hybrid.

As a result, the GR Corolla is quite thirsty for a small capacity engine, returning combined cycle fuel economy figures of 8.4L/100km in the GTS that increase to 8.6L/100km in the Morizo Edition.

How Much Fuel does the GR Corolla use Around Town?

• GR Corolla GTS City Consumption: 11.1L/100km

• GR Corolla Morizo Edition: 11.5L/100km 

How Much Fuel does the GR Corolla use on the Highway?

• GR Corolla GTS Highway Consumption: 6.8L/100km

• GR Corolla Morizo Edition: 7.0L/100km 

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The main difference between the GR Corolla and the regular small hatch and sedan is the finish of the cabin, rather than the layout itself.

This means that the GR Corolla offers a very familiar and ergonomic front cabin design with a heap of more premium touches, GR badges and some sporty finishes.

As a result, the GR Corolla’s cabin is capable of accommodating tall drivers and front passengers without an issue thanks to the particularly low-slung sports seats.

The driving position is fabulous, with the adjustable chunky steering wheel and lever for the short-throw six-speed manual sitting exactly where you’d want them.

Storage options are decent, though not ground-breaking, limited to a small wireless charger hiding behind the gear lever, a pair of cupholders, a passenger glovebox and bottle holders inside each door. 

Access into the second row is far easier than the smaller GR Yaris thanks to its five-door design, with enough legroom for adults to squeeze into the rear, though headroom is limited for tall rear passengers.

There’s no air vents for rear passengers, though you will find a pair of USB ports, bottle holders, a fold-down armrest with cup holders and a small storage tray.

Keep in mind that opting for the Morizo Edition throws out the rear bench seat entirely, making it far less practical than the GTS if you’ve got kids to accommodate.

For those wondering, the GR Corolla retains its existing pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts to accommodate a range of child seats, while installation is relatively easy thanks to the wide aperture rear doors.

How big is the Toyota GR Corolla’s Boot?

The GR Corolla has a boot measuring 213L in total, which is just 4L less than the regular Corolla hatchback.

Toyota hasn’t told us just how big the GR Corolla’s boot is with the rear seats folded, though we can confirm there’s a decent amount of volume for sports equipment and bulky cargo with the 60:40 split seats folded down.

Is it Safe?

Toyota has ensured that the pursuit of speed hasn’t come at the expense of active safety equipment, with a long list of gear packaged as standard.

The GR Corolla receives autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, emergency steering and intersection assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, seven airbags and traffic sign recognition.

Does the Toyota GR Corolla Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Toyota GR Corolla is yet to be tested by ANCAP, though its regular Corolla hatchback siblings have been given the five-star tick from testing in 2018.

In those tests, the Corolla scored the following marks:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 96%

• Child Occupant Protection: 83%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 86%

• Safety Assist: 76% 

What Warranty Does the Toyota GR Corolla Come With?

Toyota offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with the GR Corolla, on top of seven years of factory warranty for the driveline components like the engine, transmission, axles, driveshaft and differentials.

Service intervals are set at six months or 10,000 kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the GR Corolla Worth it?

The GR Corolla is a sublime hot hatch that is equally competent tearing corners to pieces as it is commuting from A-to-B on a daily drive.

The performance is thrilling while remaining predictable enough to offer something special for drivers new to performance motoring and enthusiasts alike.

As a complete package, it’s near faultless and has risen quickly to the top of the hot hatch where it remains one of the best driving packages without any major sacrifices on a daily drive.

Don’t forget that if you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find the best possible price on your dream car.

Five Toyota GR Corolla Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty
2. 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine
3. Adjustable all-wheel drive system
4. 8.4 - 8.6L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures
5. 213L boot space