The list of Gazoo Racing-developed models in SA has grown to four this week with the addition of the GR Corolla. We attended the national ride-and-drive event to experience the newcomer first-hand.

Toyota South Africa now offers some of the most exciting drivers cars on the local at the moment. That is not a sentence we thought we’d be writing a while back. The brand’s GR performance portfolio has expanded to include the GR Yaris, GR86 and GR Supra at the top of the tree. The latest addition to the fast family is the GR Corolla, a car that arrives here on a wave of international hype.

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New Names

Most locals will know about the Corolla, a reliable family car in the three-box sedan mold. With the most recent generation the local subsidiary adopted international naming norms and called the five-door version a Corolla hatch; gone are the names Conquest, RunX, et al.

Many fans will recall performance versions of those models. Cars such as the RSi are the stuff of folklore although we’ve not had a performance Toyota hatch here (Yaris aside) in some time. However, the GR Corolla changes that.

Turbo Triple

The GR Corolla has the same 1,6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine that is found in the smaller GR Yaris. However, the G16E-GTS unit has been beefed up to deliver a maximum of 221 kW along with 360 N.m of torque. The best part (for keen drivers anyway) is that the engine is mated exclusively with a manual transmission. The six-speed unit is connected to a variable all-wheel-drive system. 

Click here to read our GR Yaris driving review.

Toyota SA says the GR Corolla has a top speed of 230 km/h. If your left foot and hand can operate in unison quickly enough you should get the GR Corolla to blast from rest to 100 km/h in a hair under 5,3 seconds. But to judge this car by those stats misses the point entirely.

Two Versions

Toyota SA is offering the GR Corolla in two flavours: Core and Circuit. These are near identical in terms of what they have to offer. Both versions comes standard with dual-zone climate control, wireless mobile phone charging, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. However, as the names denote there are key differences that make the Circuit more suited to certain scenarios.

The Circuit and Core have the same basic powertrain. However, the Circuit adds limited-slip differentials (LSD) to both axles. In an effort to reduce mass and lower the centre of gravity it also boasts a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof. A pair of functional vents on the bonnet are the easiest way to tell them apart.

On The Track

Toyota SA chose to introduce the GR Corolla at its GR HQ based at Zwartkops Raceway just outside of Pretoria. A track is a harsh environment for just about any road car, as it isn’t the natural environment for road-biased vehicles. However, in the windy and compact dimensions of the Big Z the GR Corolla shines.

The slick shifting transmission is a treat to use. We found ourselves slicing up and down the H-gate purely for the fun of it. The added power over the Yaris is noticeable as this tune of the engine subjectively feels a little less restricted. The noises from the engine and unique triple tailpipes are not melodious, but they are quite distinctive.

Power and noise aside. the GR Corolla’s party trick is the way it deals with corners. The AWD system can be dialed to send more power to either axle. A max of 70 per cent can be sent rearward at its most extreme. The AWD system requires an adaptation of one’s driving style to really be able to utilise all available grip. As we only drove Circuit versions we also got to lean on the LSDs for more traction out of the tighter corners.

While there is loads of grip and high-cornering speeds are the order of the day, this car also has a playful side. You can rotate it under braking but it never feels leery. Overcook your mid-corner speed and oversteer is well telegraphed and easy to gather up. It really is a blast to drive on track.

Unfortunately timing and logistical issues meant that we did not drive the latest GR on the highways and byways of Gauteng. Although, we’d much rather drive it on our favourite roads in the Western Cape.

Summary

The GR Corolla is a proper performance car, not a car made fast with more power. Its entire physicality feels shot through with a level of engineering that I’d say is Porsche-like. The strong brakes, reworked suspension and stiffened monocoque are quite evident, all signs that GR’s motorsport expertise is filtering through to their road-going namesakes.

A GR Corolla costs less than a new VW Golf R (R912 800), even in hard-core Circuit guise. The Honda Civic Type R costs even more at R979 000 (more info here). The VW is only available with a dual-clutch transmission, while the Honda has six-speed manual, it is front-wheel driven. In that regard the GR Corolla doesn’t really have a direct rival on the local listings, which makes it peerless in this class.

Toyota GR Corolla SA Pricing

Core – R841 000
Circuit –  R902 400