2024 Toyota GR Corolla

The 2024 Toyota GR Corolla is the Superman to Clark Kent. In other words, yeah, it’s got “Corolla” in the name, but the GR (which stands for Gazoo Racing) is a far different animal than Toyota’s best-selling compact car. It’s a little beast. Specifically, it’s a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive hatchback with 300 horsepower that only comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. That last sentence had one of two strong effects, depending on who you are. If you’re just looking for a cheap commuter, you’re likely already tapping or clicking away from this review. If you’re an enthusiast – and trust us, we hear you – you’re currently running the numbers in your head to find room in your budget and garage.

Thankfully, unlike other quirky, high-performance cars, the Toyota GR Corolla doesn’t command extraordinary amounts of money or room. Its starting price is palatable, and it’s still a Corolla hatchback at heart, meaning it doesn’t take up much space yet still offers loads of practicality. In a world where every new car seems to be either an SUV or a truck, vehicles like the GR Corolla are becoming as rare as hen’s teeth. We’re over the moon that it even exists and further impressed that it comes from Toyota, a brand with reliability, quality, and value baked into its name. Now, about that space in the garage.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of performance cars, including the Toyota GR Corolla.

After just arriving last year in limited quantities, the GR Corolla returns for 2024 with the new Premium trim that slots between the base Core and track-ready Circuit Edition. Blue Flame exterior color is now available for the Circuit Edition.

The GR Corolla isn’t exactly swimming in a sea of direct competitors, but if you’re reading this review, you likely also have the VW Golf R on your radar. That all-wheel-drive German hatchback with 315 horsepower — just 15 more than the GR Corolla — starts at $45,455, quite a premium over the Toyota. And if you want one with a 6-speed stick, this is your last year. That also goes for the VW Golf GTI, with front-wheel drive and a starting price of $31,765. It’s not a hatchback, but the Subaru WRX sedan comes standard with three pedals and a starting price of around $31K. The front-drive Civic Type R hatch rings in around $44K. Also only available in sedan form and with front-wheel drive is the Hyundai Elantra N in the mid-$30K range.

Before buying, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying for the GR Corolla. We should also note that, due to the specialness of this car and its relative scarcity, you might be hard-pressed to nab one for the MSRP.

The GR Corolla’s residual value hasn’t been estimated yet, but the standard Corolla is a leader in the class.

It rips. It’s an absolute riot. Buy one if you can.

We could probably end this section right there, but you’re here, so let’s add more detail from our time in the GR Corolla. For further context, that time came on the track and on public roads.

The GR Corolla exceeded our expectations in both environments, leaving us literally giggling with delight. Thrust comes fast, and torque is heady from 3,000 rpm as it pours from the turbo 3-cylinder engine. Don’t smirk. At 1.6 liters, this is a big 3-cylinder, and keep in mind that it produces 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Remember when those were V8 numbers?

The throttle is responsive, and we didn’t notice a ton of lag as we put the GR Corolla through its paces at the Utah Motor Sports Complex. The 6-speed manual transmission feels great, and the throws are short. Plus, there’s a rev-matching feature to make you further feel like a hero.

The GR Corolla has an all-wheel-drive system, and even that aspect is special. Thanks to a small rotary knob just south of the gear lever, you can vary the amount of power going to which set of wheels. Twist the knob to the left, and it sends more torque to the front wheels in a 60/40 split for daily duties. Then there’s a 50/50 setting for track driving or 30/70 for when that mountain road beckons.

Base models have standard open differentials, while the Premium and Circuit get front and rear Torsen limit-slip diffs. You can upgrade to those for $1,180 on the Base model via the Performance Package, which also brings red brake calipers.

The GR Corolla feels planted and secure on the track, even with some of the electronic nannies defeated. Switching to the 30/70 split allows for drifting shenanigans. The brakes also performed admirably in our track sessions, yielding little fade even after many laps.

Out on the open road, with the AWD system set for the 60/40 torque split and the suspension set to normal mode, we found the GR Corolla surprisingly pleasant and perfectly capable of handling daily driving duties without jarring our spine out of place. Heck, it even has adaptive cruise control. In a manual transmission car. Bonus: The seat is more comfortable than expected. The Toyota GR Corolla truly is a complete package.

Fuel Economy

The Toyota GR Corolla returns 24 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. That’s one mpg better than a manual transmission VW Golf R and two mpg better than a manual transmission Subaru WRX. If somehow you stumbled on the review of this high-performance GR Corolla and are simply seeking an efficient Toyota Corolla for your commute, a standard hatchback earns up to 35 mpg, while a hybrid all-wheel-drive Corolla sedan gets up to 48 mpg.

More fuel economy information can be found at the EPA’s website.

Another great thing about the GR Corolla? Despite its performance focus, it’s still a Toyota hatchback. That means there’s seating for five and good cargo room in back. It’s one of the reasons enthusiasts love a hot hatch – you get grin-inducing performance mixed with everyday practicality. And the GR Corolla is a nice place to be. All models include a slick 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an 8-inch central touchscreen. We found the 6-way adjustable driver’s seat a comfortable place to be. With just 29.9 inches of legroom, however, the rear seats are tight.

But you’re not necessarily buying a GR Corolla to be a family car. We like the upgraded synthetic leather-trimmed upholstery in the Premium and Circuit models, which also have heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The premium JBL audio system in those models is also a boon.

The GR Corolla looks like an appropriately buffed-up standard Corolla hatchback. Check out those flared fenders that accommodate the wider track and 18-inch wheels, triple exhaust outlet, and matte black accents. Circuit Editions go even further with a hood bulge and functional air vents. Otherwise, the GR Corolla has similar dimensions to the standard Corolla hatch. Interestingly, it has a hair more ground clearance: 5.3 inches versus the standard Corolla hatch’s 5.1.

Selectable AWD

The ability to choose which set of wheels receives more or less power is a game changer for drivers seeking the most control in various environments.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

Yes, it might be a performance car, but the GR Corolla is still a Toyota, so that means it includes a full roster of active safety tech. This suite brings everything from adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist to road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring is also standard.

Wireless phone connectivity

The GR Corolla comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto flowing through its 8-inch central touchscreen.

Standard manual transmission

Talk about knowing your audience. Toyota and its Gazoo Racing division were purposeful in creating a true hot hatch, and they understand that enthusiasts crave three pedals and a stick. An automatic transmission isn’t even optional for the GR Corolla.

Creature comforts

Despite its focus on performance, the GR Corolla still offers easy and wireless phone connectivity and amenities like heated front seats, heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, and a JBL audio system.

NASA

Not the space agency, but the National Auto Sport Association. You get a year’s membership with the purchase of a GR Corolla and, perhaps more importantly, one free high-performance driving session.

The 2024 Toyota GR Corolla uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. Small but mighty, it makes 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. These figures are near those of the VW Golf R and Honda Civic Type R. All GR Corolla hatchbacks are all-wheel drive and come exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission.

3-Year/36,000-mile Warranty

The GR Corolla has a 3-year/36,000-mile new-vehicle warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile coverage for the powertrain. This is the same as the Honda Civic Type R. The VW Golf R comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Safety Ratings

The GR-specific Corolla hatchback has not been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the standard Corolla Hatchback receives its Top Safety Pick honor. Similarly, the GR has not been rated by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the standard model earns the 5-Star top score.