2023 Toyota GR Corolla First Drive

This hot hatch boasts bold styling, all-wheel drive, and the automaker’s latest safety features

Toyota is getting wild with some of its latest models, starting with the engaging Supra, the bargain-priced GR86 sports coupe, and now the GR Corolla. This latest creation from the in-house motor sports group known as Gazoo Racing pushes the Corolla hatchback to rally extremes, with 300-hp, all-wheel drive, and a brash body kit.

It is essentially a factory-bred tuner car, aimed at drivers weaned on PlayStation Gran Turismo video games and educated by World Rally Championship races. It targets the robust enthusiast culture centered around modifying compact cars—elevating their performance and customizing their appearance.

Rather than a random assemblage of go-fast parts, the GR Corolla is a crafted sports car, backed by a traditional three-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. And it can be bought, financed, and serviced at your local Toyota dealership, where owners will appreciate the two years of free maintenance.

Plus, buyers receive a free one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association, a motor sports organization that is focused on driving education, along with expert driving instruction at a high-performance driving event.

The GR Corolla is a turnkey dream machine for driving enthusiasts, developed by race engineers at Toyota and blessed by Akio Toyoda, the company’s namesake president who is known for his driving prowess.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the Toyota GR Corolla is available to you below.

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What we rented: 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Circuit EditionPowertrain: 300-hp, 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine; six-speed manual transmission; all-wheel drive MSRP: $42,900Options: Heavy Metal paint, $425Destination fee: $1,095 Total cost: $44,420

Photo: Toyota Photo: Toyota

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