2024 Toyota GR Corolla Hatchback

　　

2024 Toyota GR Corolla Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar., rating written byJosh JacquotSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Be amazed that the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla exists. In a market where electric cars are increasingly the only news, the existence of a gas-powered all-wheel-drive hatchback created for real drivers is like finding a pint of Ben & Jerry's in the dairy-free section at Whole Foods. And it comes from who? Toyota, you say? The same company that gave the world those bastions of appliance-like motoring called the Camry and Venza. The GR Corolla is the opposite. Boasting all sorts of performance upgrades over the regular Corolla Hatchback, the GR Corolla measures its success in smiles produced rather than units sold.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Smart optioning produces the best GR Corolla

For its second year on the market, the GR Corolla doesn't need many changes to still be outrageous. The lightweight, limited-production Morizo Edition has been discontinued, though there is a new midlevel Premium trim between the base Core and top Circuit trims. Toyota has also simplified the option packages. Now there's only one, available exclusively on the base Core trim. The Performance package adds front and rear limited-slip differentials — a major performance enhancer — to the least expensive version of the car. It creates a base trim that's both the lightest GR Corolla available and one that's equipped with the most important performance parts.

　　

Competitors to consider

There's nothing that's exactly like the GR Corolla. Subaru's WRX sedan is probably the closest in spirit and price to the GR Corolla, though its performance potential comes up short. For something more refined, check out the Volkswagen Golf R, which also has a hatchback body style and all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive competitors include the insanely capable and involving Honda Civic Type R and the value-leading Hyundai Elantra N. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more about the GR Corolla's performance, utility and more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Please note that this rating is based on testing of the Morizo Edition, which is no longer available for 2024. Most of our observations still apply, however. We'll update this rating once we test a different GR Corolla version for 2024.

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the GR Corolla drive? The GR Corolla is one of the most exciting and engaging cars we've driven in years and proves you don't need to spend big money to have a great time. Its diminutive 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine punches well above its weight. At the zzdcar test track, our GR Corolla Morizo Edition test car sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds flat and cleared the quarter mile in 13.1 seconds at over 105 mph. To put those numbers into context, that makes the GR Corolla quicker than both the BMW 230i and the Honda Civic Type R.

　　The GR's six-speed manual transmission is one of the best on sale today and returns satisfying, positive and direct gear changes at any speed. And despite the engine's high performance, the GR Corolla is a cinch to drive in traffic thanks in large part to the clutch's intuitive uptake and excellent feedback.

　　The Morizo Edition comes equipped with extra sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. These tires give the GR Corolla near supercar levels of grip and helped pull an impressive 1.1 g on our skidpad. Steering is on the heavy side but not excessively so. As for braking, our test car stopped from 60 mph in 110 feet. That's competitive for the class but perhaps a little underwhelming considering the Cup 2 tires. (The Civic Type R we tested stopped in 108 feet.) The antilock braking system during full braking was noisy; a few of our editors wondered whether Toyota had fully optimized it for the Morizo-specific Cup 2 tires.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the GR Corolla? To look at it, you'd think the GR Corolla would shake your fillings loose and leave you exhausted after a long drive. But Toyota has worked a bit of magic with the GRC. The ride is stiff but there's still decent compliance on rougher roads. The front seats in the Morizo are another bright spot. They're wonderfully supportive and easy to get in and out of.

　　The GR also benefits from the standard Corolla's climate control system. Though nothing special, it does handle interior temperatures well and provides good airflow even when you're driving enthusiastically for long periods of time. Interior noise, on the other hand, is higher than most buyers might be willing to tolerate. Tire noise is omnipresent, as is road and wind noise. But if you're in the market for a hot hatch, you know this is typical. On the plus side, the three-cylinder's growly exhaust note and distinctive turbo whoosh are evocative without being annoying.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below