Toyota GR Corolla GTS 2024 Review - carsales.com.au (2024)

Following on from the sell-out success of the tiny (yet mighty) rally-derived Toyota GR Yaris that arrived in 2021, the larger (and just as formidable) 2024 Toyota GR Corolla has enjoyed much of the same fanfare.

Despite the ’Rolla arriving later in the piece – just over 12 months ago – the hot hatches, developed by the Japanese arm’s Gazoo Racing branch, have since captured the hearts of Aussies.

And it’s easy to see why.

But like most things even mildly enjoyable these days, the Japanese brand’s high-performance five-door has been subject to company-wide price increases, and what arrived as a (just over) $62K offering last year has now crept up to $64,190 plus ORCs (+$1890).

With all 25 examples of the even more hard-core track-honed Morizo Edition spoken for, the GR Corolla is now only available from showrooms in GTS guise.

In terms of equipment, the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla GTS carries over much of what you’d find in the range-topping ZR variant of the regular Corolla range.

That includes LED headlights with auto high beam, LED front and rear fog lights, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, a heated steering wheel and heated – albeit manual-adjust – front seats.

But the GR adds 18-inch Enkei alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan rubber, red brake callipers, triple exhaust outlets, a pair of Torsen limited-slip differentials and leather- and suede-accented GR sports seats.

It’s worth mentioning that our tester’s premium ‘Ebony’ paintwork adds $575 to the total cost.

Toyota covers the GR Corolla with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with an additional two years’ coverage on the engine and driveline.

Meanwhile, servicing is due more often than a regular ’Rolla, at every six months or 10,000km, with capped-price servicing offered for the first three years (or 60,000km) at $300 per visit.

The good news is Toyota hasn’t cut any corners when it comes to the safety of its 2024 Toyota GR Corolla GTS.

A standard suite of safety shared with the regular Corolla range brings seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, lane departure warning, speed sign recognition and blind spot monitoring.

You also get a rear-view camera, parking sensors at both ends and rear cross traffic alert.

The only downfall is that the GR isn’t covered by the regular Corolla range’s five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Unlike some of its similarly-priced performance rivals (ahem, Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai N range) with fancy lap timers and data-logging systems, the tech offering in the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla GTS is a little more casual.

Still, you get all the gear you’d expect in a modern-day vehicle, including an 8.0-inch central touch-screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, satellite navigation, Bluetooth, AM/FM/DAB (digital) radio and an eight-speaker JBL audio system.

Ahead of the driver, a fully digital 12.3-inch display offers an array of customisation and can be configured to display G-force, boost and other performance parameters.

Other welcome inclusions are a head-up display, inductive phone charging and a pair of USB-C ports – one up front and another mounted at the rear of the centre console, within easy reach for second-row passengers.

If you’re familiar with the smaller – yet just as exciting – Toyota GR Yaris, you may be glad to know the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla GTS utilises the same powerplant… but better.

Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing healthy outputs of 221kW and 370Nm.

While peak torque is the same in the Yaris, the Corolla gets an additional 21kW from the same engine, courtesy of a larger fuel pump and oil cooler capacity, extra boost (25psi) and reduced back pressure from the triple-exit exhaust system.

Toyota says that’s enough to hit 100km/h from standstill in 5.3 seconds (just 0.1sec behind the lighter GR Yaris, for reference).

The heart of the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla might be small, but she can be a thirsty little unit depending on how you drive, with Toyota claiming an average fuel consumption of 8.4L/100km on the combined cycle.

Our week with the GR ’Rolla consisted mostly of sedate kilometres around town with a few mandatory squirts on quiet back roads.

As a result, our average fuel consumption was a commendable 8.8L/100km, a figure we don’t expect many owners to achieve on a regular basis.

Although it carries the enduring Corolla nameplate, the angrier 2024 Toyota GR Corolla is nothing like the rest.

It’s a proper performance car and in case you somehow missed its pumped guards, menacing stance, bigger brakes and extra air intakes, you’ll realise how far removed it is from a regular Corolla as soon as you set off.

That 1.6-litre triple fires to life and while it’s relatively tame on start-up and at idle, its tri-outlet exhaust is full of character on the boil, with loads of theatre across the rev range.

It’s difficult to believe there’s a tiny three-cylinder under the bonnet at times because it’s just so powerful. Keep it in the upper echelons of the tachometer and the GR Corolla feels its best, picking up pace effortlessly every time you ask more of its razor-sharp throttle.

The steering set-up here is just as good. It’s well-weighted and there’s a distinct immediacy to the way it reacts to every minor input, so direct it almost feels twitchy.

Compared to a hot hatch like the Honda Civic Type R, the ’Rolla’s six-speed manual gearbox doesn’t offer the same sharp, notchy, short throw. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if our test car’s occasional reluctance to select a new gear was a symptom of its hard (press loan) life.

Elsewhere, the GR Corolla does without adaptive dampers, but despite the reasonably stiff underpinnings it’s surprisingly compliant on the right road. That is, one that’s smoothly surfaced.

It’s notably less forgiving on rougher B-roads ridden with potholes and imperfections, though most will happily overlook any discomfort in favour of its incredibly capable chassis.

It’s nimble and playful, yet offers so much grip from sticky Yokohama Advan rubber and its trick all-wheel drive system that you can wrestle it around with nothing but confidence.

There are several drivetrain split options – 60:40 (Normal), 30:70 (Sport) and 50:50 (Track) – but those are probably best left for the racetrack because there isn’t a great degree of difference felt on-road.

Clearly, it’s not designed to be a tourer, and while NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels are acceptable around town, be prepared for a fair bit of tyre noise inside the cabin if you frequent coarse-chip surfaces.

When you think about the interior of a hot hatch, you probably think loud colours, edgy designs and an array of switchgear. But, truth be told, there isn’t a great deal of excitement to the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla’s cabin.

Beyond the faux suede and leather-accented sports seats, manual gear stick and a few GR badges, it still feels very much like a Corolla, with dark, hard-wearing plastics and a sensible layout.

But the lack of possible distractions is a positive in our books because it allows the driver to focus on the task at hand.

The manually adjustable driver’s seat provides generous flexibility for people of all sizes, as do the steering wheel’s tilt and reach adjustment options. Another big tick is how low the driver’s seat can bury into the cabin – that is, compared to the high-riding GR Yaris’ pews – making it a more involving ride.

As has been the case in previous drives of both this and the GR Yaris, the high-mounted infotainment screen and low-mounted rear-view mirror can hinder forward vision, but it’s unlikely to be a deal breaker.

The rear seat is spacious enough for two adults, with decent legroom and headroom for average-sized adults. Anyone taller than 180cm, however, will likely feel the pinch.

There are not a lot of amenities in the second row, either, which is the case for the regular Corolla range, too; no air vents and very little in the way of storage. However, you do get small pockets and a cup holder in each rear door, as well as a centre arm rest with another pair of cup holders.

Rear passengers also get access to one 12-volt and one USB-C power outlet at the rear of the centre console.

With just 213 litres of boot space, the boot might prove too small for some, but for the average weekly grocery run it’s just fine.

The 2024 Toyota GR Corolla GTS is so easy to love. Its combination of decent practicality, generous standard equipment and compliance make it a lovable daily driver.

Obviously, it’s loads of fun to drive, too.

Even still, the GR Corolla feels much too accomplished and potent to be kept on-road and owners willing and able to use theirs on a racetrack will no doubt get the very most of their $65K-plus outlay.

2024 Toyota GR Corolla GTS at a glance:
Price: $64,190 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 221kW/370Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 8.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 191g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

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