Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s performance vehicle skunkworks division, has been granted carte blanche to give the little Corolla hatchback a tuner makeover. And the finished product, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla, shows what fantastic work they did. It’s a little terror. The Toyota Yaris subcompact car, from which the GR Corolla takes its turbocharged 1. 6-liter three-cylinder engine, has already been made available in international markets. The power of the small triple is increased to 300 high-strung horsepower, and it is only offered with an all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual transmission.
Pros and Cons of the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla
| Pros | Cons |
| The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine provides quick acceleration. | inexpensive interior plastics given the cost |
| A firm grip is provided by all-wheel drive. | High interior noise levels |
| The excellent six-speed manual gearbox | For a hatchback, the cargo space is relatively limited. |
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
One of the most thrilling and captivating vehicles we’ve driven in recent memory, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is proof that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a good time. Its tiny 1. 6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine packs a powerful punch despite its small size. Our GR Corolla Morizo Edition test vehicle ran the quarter mile at over 105 mph in 13. 1 second at the Edmunds test track, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds flat. In light of such figures, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is faster than both the BMW 230i and the Honda Civic Type R. At any pace, the GR six-speed manual transmission, one of the best currently available, delivers gratifying, positive, and direct gear shifts.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The high-performance GR variation of the Corolla is solely focused on maximizing performance, in contrast to the present model, which is both one of the more fuel-efficient options in its class and totally somnambulant to drive. Due to its tiny 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, it still has pretty good fuel economy, although its EPA ratings of 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway are far lower than those of the standard Corolla hatchback.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla’s interior is substantially similar to that of the basic Corolla hatchback, so it has the same high build quality, soft-touch materials, and selection of options as the standard Corolla, but with racier accents and sportier seats. A push-button start, an adjustable driver’s seat with six positions, ambient interior lighting, and aluminum pedal covers are all included as standard features. On the Circuit Edition, which also has suede and faux-leather upholstery instead of the base model cloth, automatic climate control, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel are all standard features. The Morizo Edition has sacrificed functionality in order to save weight by removing the rear seat, the rear speakers, and even the window wiper that is mounted on the hatchback.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A standard 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, support for Amazon Alexa, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot will be available. Eight JBL speakers, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and in-dash navigation are all included in the Circuit Edition; these amenities are all part of the Technology package for Core variants.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is no exception to the trend of Toyota offering many of its driver-assistance technology as standard equipment throughout much of its lineup. Several attractive technological features, like as adaptive cruise control, pedestrian and bicycle recognition, and automatic high-beam headlamps, are grouped together across the portfolio. Important safety elements include:
- Pedestrian identification in automatic emergency braking standards
- Lane-keeping assistance and the standard lane-departure warning
- Conventional adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla, like other Toyota vehicles, will provide a standard warranty package that is supplemented with a comprehensive planned maintenance program for two years. Honda does not provide such a program for the Civic Si, but the Veloster N offers superior value in the form of extended warranty terms and an additional year of maintenance that is provided at no additional cost. Every 2023 Toyota GR Corolla comes with complimentary high-performance driving training and a year’s membership to the National Auto Sport Association.
- For three years or 36,000 miles, the limited warranty is in effect.
- The five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty is still in effect today.
- Two years or 25,000 kilometers is the duration of the free maintenance term.