Skip to main content

Sports car folks probably cringe at even the suggestion that the GR Corolla could be a sports car. And the best Toyota sports car at that? Well, hear us out: there may be more to this hot hatch than its humble Corolla roots suggest. Sorry, GR Supra and GR86 owners.

How much horsepower will the GR Corolla have?

The GR Corolla is what happens when you turn the folks at Gazoo Racing loose to tune a Corolla hatchback. This little monster gets the magical 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder from the GR Yaris. It makes a stunning 300 horsepower and only comes with a six-speed manual transmission hooked up to an all-wheel drive platform.

Toyota went far too long with boring cars in its lineup, and now it’s showing us that it, too, can bake some excitement into its cars. Sure, it goes up against the Volkswagen Golf R and the Honda Civic Type R. But, when compared to the GR Supra and GR86, this thing is quick. It beats the GR86 coupe to 60 mph by more than a second. It’s not nearly as quick as the 2023 Toyota Supra 3.0, but it’s also about $10,000 less.

How much is the GR Corolla going to cost?

Gray 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Hot Hatch - This car might have a marketing problem from its own company
2023 Toyota GR Corolla | Toyota

The GR Corolla starts at $36,995, or about $12,000 more than a base Corolla. It only comes in the hatchback configuration, while you can order other Corollas in a sedan configuration with a trunk. The Circuit Edition starts at $44,000 while the stripped-down Morizo edition starts at $52,000.

Speaking of prices, the GR Supra 3.0 may start at $45,000, but that’s for the dinky 255-horsepower  2.0-liter turbo four. To get the power that the GR Supra begs for, you have to step up to the 3.0 and that means you have to spend about $55,000. The GR86 on the other hand, starts at about $30,000. But its 228 horsepower doesn’t hold a candle to the GR Corolla. While were at it, the Supra doesn’t have a back seat and the GR86’s is pretty much useless for people.

What is the GR Corolla’s top speed?

A white Toyota GR Corolla doing a burnout
All-wheel drive burnouts are possible in a GR Corolla | Toyota

Toyota limited the GR Corolla’s top speed to 143 mph. That’s fast enough. It’s the acceleration, and the way it can handle a curve that makes this car a star. But, unlike the standard car, there’s no hybrid version.

Why is it the best Toyota sports car?

the interior of a Toyota GR Corolla | Toyota
This a Toyota sports car interior with a standard six-speed manual | Toyota

The best Toyota sports car, between the three, has to be the Corolla GR. It’s all-wheel drive, it has all of the good stuff that the Corolla has, and it’s a practical hatchback. It also looks sinister with lowered suspension, hood vents, and a spoiler over the rear window.

On the performance side, it can hold its own thanks to that punchy motor and all-wheel drive. If you order the Circuit Edition, you get limited slip differentials in front and back that help it stick to the racetrack. Also, it comes standard with a six-speed manual with rev matching, which means that it’s  not just quick, but fun. The best part, though, is that this is a sports car that use daily and even bring some friends along for the thrill ride. That alone makes it the best Toyota sports car.

Related

Is the 2023 Corolla SE a Good Replacement for the 2022 Corolla Apex Edition?

Best in Sedans & Coupes
Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.