Porsche guy drives a Toyota GR Corolla

Toyota GR Corolla — Summary

The reviewer enjoys the GR Corolla as a lively, practical sports hatchback and says it reflects Toyota’s return to making interesting cars.

Main Features and Driving Experience

• Engine: A 1.6-liter, three-cylinder turbo producing about 300 hp. The reviewer sees roughly 25–26 psi of boost on the gauge.
• Power delivery: Boost builds strongly around 3,000–3,500 rpm. The engine pulls best from roughly 3,000 to 6,000 rpm, then runs out of steam fairly quickly above 6,000–6,500 rpm.
• Sound and performance: The reviewer likes the engine’s sound and says the car accelerates well and has plenty of character.
• Manual transmission: Easy to drive, with a light clutch and smooth shifts. The owner has made the gearbox feel a little stiffer and shortened its shift travel.
• Driving aids and modes: The car has an iMT feature that automatically rev-matches downshifts, plus Normal, Gravel, and Track all-wheel-drive settings. The reviewer also tries a custom mode set up by the owner, but admits he doesn’t know exactly how the AWD settings work.
• Practicality: It is a hatchback with room for four, useful rear space, and road noise the reviewer finds reasonable. Visibility and ergonomics feel like those of a regular Corolla.
• Appearance and cabin: The interior is mostly Corolla-like, with red stitching and accents. The reviewer jokes that the car has an excessive number of GR badges—he counts about 25—and notes that the car he inspected was exceptionally dirty.

Pros

• Strong, engaging performance from a small engine.
• Enjoyable engine sound and character.
• Light clutch, easy shifting, and effective rev matching.
• Hatchback practicality and seating for four.
• Reasonable road noise and familiar Corolla ergonomics.

Cons and Caveats

• The turbo needs revs: below roughly 3,000 rpm, the car has less drive; power also fades noticeably beyond about 6,000–6,500 rpm.
• The reviewer finds the quantity of GR branding excessive.
• This was an informal drive, not a detailed technical review, and the reviewer may misunderstand some of the car’s settings.

Comparisons and Verdict

The reviewer compares the GR Corolla’s delayed surge of turbo power to a Porsche 930 Turbo, noting that the 3.3-liter 930 also made about 300 hp. He also compares the iMT rev-matching feature to similar systems in Porsche cars.

Overall: The reviewer gives an enthusiastic, informal recommendation. He had fun driving it and considers it a great, distinctive sports car that combines performance with the practicality of a hatchback. No numerical rating is given.

Different Contributions

• Reviewer: Provides the driving impressions and comparisons.
• Owner: Recommended the custom driving-mode setup and made minor gearbox changes.