Toyota GR Corolla Shows The Importance Of AWD Against Its FWD Rivals

Toyota GR Corolla Shows The Importance Of AWD Against Its FWD Rivals

Now that the Toyota GR Corolla has finally arrived in the hands of reviewers, we now get to see just how it stacks up against the hot compact competition. In their latest video, Throttle House decided to compare it against its two main rivals, the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Elantra N, to see how it fares.

Comparing specs, the GR Corolla makes 300 hp (305 PS / 224 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque and weighs 3,285 lbs (1,490 kg). The Elantra N is a bit lighter at 3,186 lbs (1,445 kg), but it makes less power at 276 hp (276 PS / 203 kW) and 289 lb-ft (392 Nm) of torque. On the complete opposite end is the Civic Type R, which is the lightest at 3,121 lbs (1,416 kg), and also the most powerful with 306 hp (306 PS / 225 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. By the numbers, it looks as though the GR Corolla should perform squarely in the middle of its competitors, but that’s not the case.

Read More: The New Toyota GR Corolla Proves Itself On Track Against The VW Golf R

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See Also: Driven: The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Is The New King Of Hot Hatches

In the drag race, the Corolla pulled away handily and stayed ahead for the entirety of the quarter mile. In the roll race, where the Corolla’s AWD advantage was rendered null and void, it placed second. That being said, it was right on the Civic Type R’s tail despite its power deficit and increased weight.

On the track, the Elantra N did best the GR Corolla, but that was with less weight and stickier tires, and even then it was only 0.06 seconds faster. Both the Elantra and the Corolla were faster than the Civic by around 0.2 seconds, but that was with the outgoing model, so it should be interesting to see how the new one eventually performs.

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