What’s the Difference Between the Corolla and Corolla GR?

The Corolla is not your budget-friendly, humble commuter anymore. If you want it to be, the new Toyota Corolla can be much more. With the new addition of the 2023 Corolla GR, the Corolla brand is changed and maybe forever.

Back in 1966, the first Toyota Corolla was released in Japan. Much time has passed, but the Corolla has become an American staple. The Corolla has been one of America’s best-selling cars for close to 20 years. Known for being low maintenance and reliable, the Corolla was everyone’s favorite starter car. The Toyota Corolla has never been known for being fast or particularly fancy, but all that is about to change. With the release of the Corolla Cross, but more importantly the Corolla GR, this classic is receiving massive updates and upgrades.

The Corolla GR is really something special. To find out more about it, and how it differs from the standard Corolla, keep reading.

Toyota’s Intent

The Toyota Corolla has been one of the world’s most popular cars. It is no surprise that they plan to release different versions of the car. First, it was the Corolla Cross, an SUV-styled Corolla, and now it is the Corolla GR, a street-legal rally car.

The Toyota Corolla has appealed to the masses and has been a massive success since before the 2000s. Toyota has never made any drastic changes to the vehicle, but now they have decided it’s time for the Corolla to evolve into something entirely different.

The Corolla GR a Fierce Speedster

As said before, the standard Corolla is not something to be revved or raced, but the new 2023 Corolla GR is a bonafide race car. Inspired by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing cars, especially the Toyota Yaris, the 2023 Corolla GR is not to be messed with.

The Corolla GR sports a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that gets 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. That is way more than any standard Corolla has ever had without modifications. Only available in a 6-speed manual transmission, Toyota shows the GR is geared toward those with a knack for speed. Some have compared this car to the Subaru BRZ, but it is speculated that the improved Corolla GR will surpass the Subaru.

Who is the Corolla GR For

The 2023 Corolla GR is not for the faint of heart. Don’t think of this car as a normal Corolla. In fact, the standard Corolla and the GR do not have a lot in common besides their size. The Corolla GR is slightly larger, has a rally-car-style body, and is much faster.

The Corolla GR is only for those who can truly handle it. Firstly, it is a manual, which means it must be handled by experienced drivers. Secondly, it is more powerful than the standard Corolla, so customers must take that into account. Thirdly, it is not going to be nearly as cheap as the standard Corolla. This is a specialty vehicle, and people are going to be paying higher prices to own one.