One of the new cars we’re most excited about this year is the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla. With its 300-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, adjustable torque-split all-wheel drive. And three available limited-slip differentials. The GR Corolla is one of the few hot hatches that can make us forget about the next generation. Honda Civic Type R, which is coming out soon. Even though we haven’t driven the GR Corolla yet. A professional hot-shoe showed us what it can do at Eagles Canyon Raceway north of Dallas, Texas. We also got to ride in both the Circuit model and the recently announced Morizo Edition.
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla hasn’t even been sold to customers or driven by journalists yet. But it’s already being talked about as one of the most exciting and promising new performance cars.
Recently, Toyota shared a sponsored video on AutoGuide that showed Ken Gushi. One of the company’s Formula Drift drivers, driving a prototype GR Corolla. In the video, Gushi shows how to get the most out of GR Corolla’s performance by giving some helpful tips on how to drive the hot hatch.
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Overview
Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s performance car skunkworks, has been given free rein to give the compact Corolla hatchback the tuner treatment. And they’ve done a lot of work: the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is the result, and it’s a little scary. Toyota has already put a GR-tuned version of its small car, the Yaris, on the global market. The GR Corolla gets its turbocharged 1.6-liter, three-cylinder engine from the GR Yaris.
The little three-cylinder engine has been turned up to 300 horsepower and is only available with an all-wheel-drive six-speed manual transmission. Toyota has been on a mission in recent years to make its cars more exciting by making them sportier and more stylish. For example, it brought back the Supra sports car. This rally-racer-inspired hot hatchback should help with that. We think the GR Corolla will be in Toyota stores by the end of 2022.
What’s New for 2023?
2023 Toyota GR Corolla will be a new model for Toyota in 2023. It will compete with popular sport compacts like the Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Veloster N, and the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Jetta GLI, both of which have won the 10Best award. Given its price and horsepower, the GR Corolla is likely to compete with the Volkswagen Golf R and the soon-to-be-released Honda Civic Type R, which are at the top of the hot hatch market.
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2023 Toyota GR Corolla Highlights
Performance
The GR Corolla has a 1.6L turbocharged engine with 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and a 6-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT). Its GR-FOUR AWD system automatically sends power from 50/50 to 30/70 between the front and back wheels for the best traction in rain or shine. This shows how well it can put power to the ground. And with Normal, Sport, and Track Modes to improve the way you drive, this hot hatch is more than ready to rally.
Design
With an aggressive front grille, flared fenders to fit a wide track, a rear diffuser, and functional vents to improve aerodynamics and cooling, the GR Corolla doesn’t have to try hard to get noticed. Inside, a GR leather-wrapped steering wheel and a unique cluster of gauges make any track more exciting. With its forged carbon-fiber roof, vented hood, gloss-black 18-inch wheels, and upgraded Ultrasuede® and synthetic leather-trimmed seats, the GR Corolla Circuit Edition adds even more details.
Handling
2023 Toyota GR Corolla circuit-tuned suspension and Michelin® Pilot® Sport 4 tires won’t let rough roads ruin your day, no matter where you go. Front and rear Torsen®* limited-slip differentials give the GR Corolla Circuit Edition a better grip, and better performance brakes help you dig into corners. It’s time to find a new place where you feel at ease.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The current Corolla is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its class and is very easy to drive. The high-performance GR version, on the other hand, is designed for maximum performance. It should still get pretty good gas mileage, thanks to its small 1.6-liter, three-cylinder engine. We expect an EPA highway rating of around 30 mpg, which is right between the Veloster N (29 mpg highway) and the Golf GTI (32 mpg highway). Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about the GR Corolla’s gas mileage.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Most of the GR Corolla’s interior is the same as that of the standard Corolla hatchback. This means that it has good build quality, soft-touch materials, and a lot of features, but it also has sportier trim and seats. Standard features include ambient lighting inside the car, a driver’s seat that can be adjusted in six ways, a push-button start, and aluminum pedal covers. The Circuit Edition comes with automatic climate control, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. It also has a suede and fake leather upholstery instead of the cloth that comes with the base model.
The Morizo Edition promises even more excitement, but at the cost of being less useful. To save as much weight as possible, Toyota took out the back seat, the rear speakers, and even the hatchback-mounted window wiper. Less weight makes lap times faster. The red and black upholstery on the front seats is unique, and the faux-suede on the shift knob, parking brake lever, and steering wheel rim is stylish.
Infotainment and Connectivity
An 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will come standard, as will the ability to use Amazon Alexa and a Wi-Fi hotspot inside the car. The Technology package on Core models adds an eight-speaker JBL stereo system, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and in-dash navigation. All of these features come standard on the Circuit Edition.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Toyota hasn’t said how much the GR Corolla will cost yet. But we think the Core trim will start at a little over $30,000 and the Circuit Edition will be closer to $40,000. We’d go with the Core and spend a little extra on the Performance package. Which adds limited-slip differentials to the front and back. The top-of-the-line Morizo Edition trim will only be made in very small numbers. Only 200 will be made in 2023 and it won’t have a back seat or many other parts to make it lighter and speedier.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Most of Toyota’s cars come with a lot of driver-assistance features as standard, and the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is no different. All of the cars in the lineup come with a bunch of nice tech features, like adaptive cruise control, detection for pedestrians and cyclists, and automatic high-beam headlights. Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to find out more about how the GR Corolla did in crash tests. Some important safety features are:
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection comes as standard.
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
As with other Toyotas, the GR Corolla will come with a standard warranty package and a free maintenance plan for the first two years. Honda doesn’t have a plan like this for the Civic Si, but the Veloster N is a better deal because it has a longer warranty and a year of free maintenance. All GR Corollas come with a one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association, which gives drivers free access to a high-performance driving class.
- The warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- The warranty on the powertrain lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
- Maintenance is free for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Circuit Edition
The Circuit Edition is only available for the first model year of the GR Corolla. It has lots of fast parts, like front and rear Torsen mechanical limited-slip differentials, a carbon-fiber roof and hood, and an AWD system that lets you split the power 60/40, 30/70, or 50/50 between the front and back wheels. The 50/50 configuration was set on our car, which was made for driving on a track.
Eagles Canyon Raceway is a bumpy, slow-moving track with few straightaways. Since we were given out-and-back laps, the main straight was not used at all, and our rides were set up in the pit lane next to it. As soon as we left the pits, our driver, Ryan Tuerck, rolled on the gas and went straight into a 90-degree right turn. From the passenger seat, we didn’t notice much body roll when we took this corner, and the following squiggles quickly. Even though the tires squealed more than expected at the start of our run, they had good grip even though they were cold. Power came on quickly, and the suspension felt firm.
Looking at the tachometer, we could see that the engine speed was going up quickly as we sped around the corners of Eagles Canyon. The digital instrument cluster changed from white to orange to red to let us know when it was time to shift the six-speed manual. Tuerck said that the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla feels stable when you’re driving it. He also agreed that the tires are a good fit for the car, even though it’s easy to drive them too hard. Tuerck also said that the third gear ratio might be a little too high, but you’d only notice that at a racetrack.
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition
If you want a step up from the GR Corolla, you should get the Morizo Edition. The Morizo Edition is named after Akio Toyoda’s racing persona, “Morizo.” It doesn’t have a back seat and gets an extra 22 lb-ft of torque from its turbo triple by tweaking the software, for a total of 295 lb-ft of torque. Also gone are the speakers, window lifts, rear wiper, and motor for the rear wiper. Overall, the Morizo is the slimmest GR Corolla you can get. Compared to the Circuit Edition, it saves about 100 pounds.
Even though an extra 22 lb-ft of torque doesn’t sound like much (especially when you already have close to 300 lb-ft). It made a big difference on the track. It felt like the GR Corolla Morizo put the power down faster and had more power. Maybe it was the combination of a stronger engine and the Morizo’s shorter-ratio gearbox. Or maybe it was the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, but this GR Corolla had a little more sass. It will only be made in limited numbers. But it will still be on the market after the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla model year (unlike the Circuit Edition).
Or it could have been Castro’s driving skills and willingness to take risks. The Dominican driver didn’t leave anything on the table. Castro flew up and down the track’s hills and sped through its many turns without the help of the stability and traction control systems. However, Castro said the GR Corolla Morizo Edition is simple and easy to drive. The exhaust note is loud for a three-cylinder engine. Every time Castro stepped on the gas, the wonderful, guttural sound filled the cabin.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) about 2023 Toyota GR Corolla
Is 2023 Toyota GR Corolla coming?
The GR Corolla will be a new model for Toyota in 2023. It will compete with popular sport compacts like the Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Veloster N. The Volkswagen Golf GTI, and Jetta GLI, both of which have won the 10Best award.
How much does it cost to buy a 2023 Toyota GR Corolla?
The best thing about the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR is how much it costs. Even though it has more power and looks better, it still costs around $30,000.
How much will it cost to buy a 2022 Corolla?
The base model of the 2022 Corolla is the L trim. It starts at an MSRP of $20,175 plus a destination charge. It also comes with two years of free maintenance and roadside assistance. But the LE trim is only $450 more, and we think that’s a better choice.
When will the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla be available?
The 2023 GR Corolla will be sold at Toyota of Orlando later this year. It will be offered in two grades: Core and Circuit. The circuit will ONLY be for sale in 2023, the year it comes out.
Will there be a cap on the GR Corolla?
The number of 2022 GR Corollas made was limited on purpose to boost demand.
Will it have an all-wheel drive?
The GR Corolla’s 300-hp turbo three-cylinder engine has, six-speed manual transmission. And all-Wheel drive makes it easy to forgive Toyota for not giving us the GR Yaris.
Will the US sell the GR Corolla?
The Core trim will come out first, and the Circuit Edition won’t come out until 2023. The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla will be sold at Toyota dealerships all over the U.S. and in some international markets.
What kind of engine will it have?
G16E-GTS turbo I3.
Is there going to be a new Corolla?
The long-awaited 220kW hardcore Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is coming to Australia. The first cars are to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Where do they make Corolla Cross?
Toyota says that the factory where the Corolla Cross is made is in Alabama. This plant is in the city of Huntsville, which is also home to the other Toyota plant in Alabama.
Is Australia getting GR Corolla?
2023 Toyota GR Corolla is set to come to Australia in the fourth quarter of 2022. It will be the fourth GR sports car model to be sold there. After the GR Supra, GR Yaris, and the soon-to-be-released GR86.
