The GR Corolla’s distinctive front end, with its wide grille and GR badge. – Image by PB Photo
After 13 years with Toyota, I've made the difficult decision to leave the company and move on to the next chapter of my career.
With that decision came another one: what to do with the GR Corolla? I had the option to buy out the car and keep it, or simply return it.
Short answer: I gave it back.
As I've written in my previous impressions, there was a lot to like about the GR Corolla. The powertrain was fantastic, it was practical enough for everyday duties, and it offered an impressive amount of performance in a relatively unassuming package.
On paper, it checked nearly all the boxes for a fun daily driver that could double as a track car.
But ultimately, it couldn't provide me with the one thing my old FR-S had delivered so well:
Reliable track duties, right out of the box.
The Track Reliability Problem
The AWD overheating warning that interrupted the track-day experience.
As I covered in my previous track impressions, the GR Corolla's AWD system had a frustrating tendency to overheat during track use.
And unfortunately, I experienced it firsthand.
Having to manage the AWD system's temperature, backing off for cooldown laps before I could push again, wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I got the car.
I wanted something I could take to the track, drive hard, and enjoy without constantly having to manage a drivetrain limitation.
The FR-S had spoiled me in that regard. It wasn't particularly powerful or sophisticated, but it was a remarkably capable and reliable track platform right out of the box.
And while there were potential solutions to the GR Corolla's overheating issue, the idea of having to invest additional money and effort just to reliably complete a track day was difficult to accept.
Especially on a car that already cost over $40,000.
That was ultimately the biggest deal breaker for me.
The Engine Had Its Limits, Too
As much as I enjoyed the G16E-GTS powertrain, I was also becoming less enthusiastic about its modification potential.
Coming from my Supra days, I had high hopes for another turbocharged Toyota engine. Not that I expected the little 1.6L three-cylinder to have anywhere near the overall power potential of the legendary 2JZ, but I was hoping it would respond similarly well to basic modifications.
Back in the Supra world, we called them BPU, or Basic Performance Upgrades. Simple bolt-on modifications like an intake, exhaust, downpipe, and perhaps an intercooler could yield some pretty substantial power gains without ever having to open up the engine.
That's what I was hoping for with the GR Corolla.
I wasn't expecting 700 horsepower out of the little three-cylinder. I was hoping for something in the neighborhood of 350–400 bhp with a few straightforward bolt-on modifications, without having to open up the engine.
Unfortunately, as the aftermarket began exploring the G16E-GTS, reports of valve float and limitations with the factory valve springs were already emerging, even with relatively modest increases in boost and power.
The prospect of having to upgrade valve springs just to reliably support relatively modest performance gains was disappointing.
Now, there's no denying that Toyota had already extracted an impressive amount of power from just 1.6 liters. And perhaps that was part of the challenge.
It wasn't the engine's ultimate power potential that concerned me. It was how quickly basic modifications appeared to turn into a more involved project.
And at least from what I was seeing at the time, the G16E-GTS wasn't quite delivering the modification potential I had hoped for.
And Then There's the Value
The Toyota GR Corolla's driver-focused interior, featuring a straightforward dashboard layout, sport seats, and functional controls. While the performance-oriented design suits the car's character, the materials and overall finish reflect its economy-car origins. - Image credit: Toyota Pressroom
At over $40,000, the GR Corolla also occupied an interesting position.
While the performance hardware certainly went a long way toward justifying the price, the interior was a constant reminder of its economy-car roots.
The materials and overall interior quality simply didn't feel like those of a $40,000-plus car. Compare it to something like the Civic Type R, which occupied a similar price range, and I think Honda did a considerably better job of making the interior feel special and worthy of the price tag.
Now, I'm certainly not expecting luxury-car materials in a performance-focused hot hatch. I'd much rather have the money spent on the things that actually make the car perform.
But at this price point, I think it's reasonable to expect a little more.
And perhaps I could have overlooked all of that if the GR Corolla had delivered exactly what I wanted on the track.
But once I began questioning its suitability for that purpose, the value proposition became harder to justify.
A Great Car, Just Not for Me
A great-looking hot hatch, even if it wasn’t the right fit for my priorities. – Image by PB Photo
I still think the GR Corolla is a great package for someone looking for a fun, practical daily driver with some serious performance capabilities.
The engine is full of character, the AWD system provides tremendous traction, and there's something undeniably appealing about a small hatchback with this much performance.
But my priorities were a little different.
I wasn't simply looking for a fast daily driver that I could occasionally take to the track. I wanted a car that I could reliably take to the track, enjoy, and continue developing without having to spend considerable money addressing its shortcomings first.
The FR-S had given me exactly that, and I had hoped the GR Corolla would do the same.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
That doesn't take anything away from what Toyota created. The GR Corolla does a lot of things very well, and for the right owner, I think it's a fantastic car.
It just wasn't the right car for me and what I was looking for.
And at over $40,000, I couldn't justify keeping something that didn't quite meet my priorities.