Everyone knows that the Toyota Corolla has been a wise choice if you want a practical and reliable car, but it hasn’t really been that exciting since the 1980s. Now the Corolla has gotten its mojo back with the arrival of the 2023 GR Corolla, a true hot hatch that finally brings some excitement back to the Corolla lineup.

Compact sport models have been making a come back with recent introductions, like the GR Corolla, Hyundai Elantra N and of course the hard to ignore Honda Civic Type R. The GR Corolla also rivals the Golf R and easily out powers other models, like the Civic Si and VW GTI. The GR Corolla might be one of the best, with its combination of a sporty powertrain, the practical hatchback layout and a price that’s easy to swallow.

Under the hood the GR Corolla is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of Torque, that’s mated to a six-speed manual and all-wheel drive. See right there, the GR Corolla already has a leg up on the Civic Type R or Elantra N, since those two models only send their power to the front wheels. The GR Corolla is quick off the line with a respectable 0-60 mph time of 4.99 seconds. It also has a top track speed of 143 mph.

The engine gets the Corolla moving fast, but it’s easy to feel that it could use a bit more power once you reach the upper revs, since the engine loses some steam once you get close to the red line. Fortunately there’s a slight fix if you want more, the Morizo Edition. The limited edition Morizo Edition bumps up the torque rating to 295 lb-ft., which is definitely noticeable. It shaves a few ticks off the 0-60 mph time, since it can do it in 4.92 seconds. The Morizo Edition also gets stiffer springs, improved gearing and a 100 pound weight reduction, since it deletes the rear seats, rear wiper, rear speakers and rear window motors. After driving a base Core trim level and the Morizo Edition, it’s easy to see that the small modifications that the Morizo Edition makes it the one to choose to fling around a track. Sadly you’ll have a hard time finding the Morizo Ediiton, since only 200 units are planned for production.

No matter which version you choose, the Core, Circuit Edition or the Morizo Edition, the GR Corolla’s six-speed manual and adjustable torque split make this hot hatch a joy to drive. The GR Corolla has manually-adjustable torque splits that let you decide how much power you want to go to the front and rear wheels (60/40, 50/50, or 30/70). The 50/50 even torque split is great for the track, but the 30/70 mode is the most fun with more of that power going to the rear wheels.

The GR Corolla rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires which do a great job of grabbing the asphalt and getting the GR Corolla through corners with ease. Compared to the more hardcore Civic Type R, the GR Corolla’s suspension provides a smoother ride around town, while at the same time keeping body roll to a minimum. Our only complaint is that we wish there was more feedback from the electric power steering.

Moving inside, the interior is mostly the same as the standard Corolla hatchback, but there are a few upgrades, like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and sportier seats. The interior of the base Core version does feel a bit drab with its black cloth seats, but the Circuit Edition and Morizo Edition versions feel more upgraded with its red and black Ultrasuede and leather sport seats. The interior will easily fit four passengers, but it’s not nearly as spacious as the Civic Type R.

The pricing for the 2023 GR Corolla Core starts at a very reasonable $36,995, which is considerably cheaper than the Civic Type R. The Circuit Edition is priced at $43,995 and the Morizo Edition is priced at $51,420.

At the end of the day, Toyota has succeeded with creating hot hatch that is a great option for buyers that can only have one car, since it’s incredibly fun to drive and at the same time its practicality makes it perfect for running errands or taking a road trip.

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