2023 Toyota GR Corolla vs. the Competition

• The most potent Corolla the world has ever seen is here.
• It's packing 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual in a punchy little package.
• Here's how it stacks up against the competition.

While it might find itself in some very capable company, the new GR Corolla is packing plenty of heat. Its turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine produces 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with an all-wheel-drive system that allows you to divvy up the front/rear torque split in three different ratios. You can send 40%, 50% or 70% of the inline-three's grunt to the rear wheels. It also comes with a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching capability (there is no automatic transmission option), a beefy body kit and huge slotted brakes up front.

The GR Corolla's impressive specs match up closely with the new-for-2022 Volkswagen Golf R. The hottest Golf ever made sends 315 horsepower and up to 295 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. However, the Golf R will only shuffle up to 50% of the engine's maximum torque to the rear. The Golf R has a drift mode, but the Corolla's manual handbrake means a drift is just a quick yank away, whereas the Golf R has to do all the drifting by manipulating the rear differential. Another key difference is that the Golf R is offered with either a manual or a quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic, making it the friendlier choice for the daily slog through traffic-laden city streets.

Hyundai's Veloster N burst onto the scene with a potent turbocharged four-cylinder, a raucous exhaust, and a funky three-door layout. It's still one of the most entertaining hatchbacks out there, but it's down on power compared to the Golf and Corolla. Its boosted inline-four makes 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft, all of which flows to the front wheels. Adaptive suspension dampers are standard, and Hyundai's N mode allows you to adjust throttle response, steering weight, ride quality and even how aggressive the limited-slip front differential is to suit your liking. Like the Golf R, the Veloster N also comes with either a manual or dual-clutch automatic, and its compact dimensions make it easy to move through traffic and park in tight spots.

Perhaps the most appealing part of the Veloster N is its starting price. At $33,545, it's significantly more affordable than the Golf R, which starts at $45,085. As for the GR Corolla, Toyota hasn't yet set an MSRP, but we think it'll be higher than the budget-friendly Veloster N and luxurious, feature-packed Golf R. 

So what about the upcoming Civic Type R? Well, there are a few question marks. We think that it will make more than the 306 horsepower offered by the old car, and it very well could stick to its predecessor's front-wheel-drive setup. It should also retain the trick front differential that allowed the previous model to handle so well, along with high-performance Brembo brakes. Prices for the new Type R will likely start around the $40,000 mark.

Edmunds Says

The GR Corolla has the goods to put up a strong fight in the hot hatch segment. Check back later this year, when we'll put it to the test against the VW Golf R, Veloster N and (hopefully) the next-generation Civic Type R.