“You can’t have your cake and eat it too” is a common expression that basically means you can’t have it all. In the context of cars, you’d have to make a trade-off between getting a family car and a sports car.
| Overview: Toyota GR Corolla | |
|---|---|
| Price | RM 355,000 |
| Segment | C-segment Mega Hatch |
| Engine | 1.6L turbo 3-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT |
| Power | 300 PS @ 6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 370 Nm @ 3,000 – 5,550 rpm |
| Origin | CBU, Japan |
Plenty of cars have attempted to prove it wrong and mostly succeeded. We’re talking about the Subaru WRX STIs, Mitsubishi Lancer Evos, or even the German execs.
Today however, they’ve all but disappeared. The German execs have become more akin to luxo-barges that happen to be really fast, and we know what happened to the Evo.
Also read: Yours for only RM 355k: Toyota GR Corolla launched in Malaysia – 300 PS/370 Nm, 6MT
Subaru, on the other hand, said that the company will not produce an STI version of the current-generation WRX. But Toyota, the brand so many have viewed or still are viewing as a company that makes boring cars, brought out the Toyota GR Corolla.
It shares many similarities with the limited-production GR Yaris, which for this writer, was the best driver’s car in 2022. It gets the same G16E-GTS 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine paired to an old-school 6-speed manual, and the same GR-Four AWD system with Torsen limited-slip differential on both axles.
The engine makes more power in the GR Corolla but it is almost 200 kg heavier, coming in at 1,475 kg (GR Yaris weighs 1,280 kg). Plus, the GR Corolla is larger in almost every dimension except height. In practice, the GR Corolla does feel like a matured GR Yaris.
Let’s start with acceleration. The GR Corolla is quick, clocking 6.6 seconds from 0-100 km/h during our drag race session on our track day event.
We achieved an identical time with the GR Yaris in our instrumented test. Note that these were conducted on different locations, with different drivers, and different equipment.
Also read: Review: Toyota GR Yaris – Drive this, and the Golf R or A35 becomes a distant memory
Nevertheless, it does give an idea of the GR Corolla’s pace, which isn’t too far off the GR Yaris. Behind the wheel however, the GR Corolla’s acceleration feels less explosive in the mid-range. It’s still a boost-y mill where it really starts to pull above 3,000 rpm or so and then it goes like a train.
Unlike the GR Yaris, there’s no synthesized engine noise in the GR Corolla’s cabin but the exhaust is noticeably more audible than the GR Yaris. If you ask me, I prefer the GR Corolla’s more organic way of achieving auditory pleasure.
As for the driving controls, the weight of the steering, pedals, and clutch feel – to the best of my memory – ironically lighter than the GR Yaris. In that regard, the GR Corolla feels closer to the FK8 Civic Type R in its control weights. Though a back-to-back test is needed to confirm this.
The steering feel itself and gearshift action are broadly similar to the GR Yaris – linear steering response and mechanical shift feel with zero rubbery-ness. But I would still give the best shifter to the FK8 Type R, it’s not the heftiest but the throws and accuracy are just sublime.
Anyway, with those nuances out of the way, what’s left is how it handles at the track. In a word – stable. The GR Corolla puts stability and predictability above the rest.
Push it around a corner, it defaults into a slight understeer and as you ease off the steering input just a touch, it enters a more neutral behaviour. From there, it’s just a matter of how early you can get on the throttle and slingshot yourself out of the corner.
That being said, the GR Corolla was left in Track mode with a 50/50 split front-to-rear power distribution. Perhaps Sport mode with its rear-biased distribution would elicit a more playful character.
Brakes are just as confidence inspiring as in the GR Yaris with a strong bite early in the travel and a reassuringly firm pedal.
As for the interior, it feels identical to the regular Corolla in terms of material and build quality. By extension, the GR Corolla would also be lacking in storage spaces and interior space.
But the GR Corolla addresses pretty much all of the GR Yaris’ drawbacks – poor forward visibility from obstruction of the rear-view mirror, plasticky interior, and a slightly perched driving position. None of those are an issue in the GR Corolla.
Admittedly, the GR Corolla doesn’t feel as special as the GR Yaris. The GR Corolla isn’t as sprightly and agile, but flipside is that the GR Corolla is a practical five-door hatchback, one that has a mechanical handbrake in this day and age.
As someone who goes to the local ‘gymkhana’ and autocross events, having a mechanical handbrake is a godsend. Plus, it can do RWD things (i.e., donuts) to an extent. For that reason alone, I can’t think of better option to be in the one-car garage.
This is a car that can do it all; track days, gymkhanas, rallying, school runs, grocery runs, etc. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
The GR Corolla turned out to be Akio Toyoda’s last gift to enthusiasts before taking on chairman role. Once again, thank you, Toyoda-san.
Source: Review: Toyota GR Corolla – The enthusiast option for a one-car garage