I'm on an MSRP only dealerships waitlist for a Circuit. The only problem is I'm #10 for a Circuit and the dealership said I'll likely not get one until 2024 and possibly 2025 given how limited these are. I'm honestly considering just getting a GR86 or Supra instead.
Im moving out of the U.S....and I may get a GR Yaris when I do.....for all those who can't because they would still be in America, I feel that I owe it to them.
THIS is a cool car. In a world full of lumbering crossovers, I'm so glad Toyota has given us this badass little hatchback that can out maneuver all of them, and do so in style.
I don't believe a single words that came out of his mouth. Sound like Horseshit...will be unsubribing from this channel. I just lost all respect for this guy.
@@mrvang8077 I don't believe a single words that came out of his mouth. Sound like Horseshit...will be unsubribing from this channel. I just lost all respect for this guy.
Toyota owns a part of Subaru they probably told Subaru not to release the STi, because it would compete with the GR Corolla 😅 They would never allow a new WRX Hatch because of that same reason sadly :(
Agree. When I test drive a new STI in 2018, it fell off list real quick not having a hatch. The 2018 Focus RS limited edition won and I still absolutely love it. I still wonder if the STI was aviation hatch if it would’ve won
@@HipinyourHop > . weird that Doug didn't look into the reason behind it, lazy reviewing tactics. Because Doug himself is all hype. He should have ZERO credibility. Especially when one compares the words of his review to the Dougscore -- it quite frequently does not match.
@@amogus1981 Thanks for trying to 'splain it to me... but your reading comprehension sucks. If one is a REVIEWER and then they say "this car is the best ever", and then they REVIEW gives it a "5", then that kinda affects the credibility of the person offering the REVIEW when they cannot keep their thoughts aligned.
It's a shame what the dealerships are doing to this. Insane markups combined with the botched roll-out of the GR Corolla. Looks like I'll be waiting a while to pick up one.
Wouldn’t matter because if a dealer does sell at sticker, an investor would beat you to it and sell it for mark up anyway, not to mention a lot of people wouldn’t pass the opportunity to make 15k plus with out doing anything
Have one, had it 2 weeks, and I love it. Doug's hit it 100% on the head, kind of reminds me of riding my SeaDoo Spark 2 seater. It's like a dirt bike on the water, unlike the 'usual' jetski, you're able to toss it around and such, and this one (to me) is reminiscent of that. Including the ride, as both are absolutely less than luxurious, but at 675 miles in so far, I've found that I don't really care. It just rocks my world. Toyota FTW.
Dealers will absolutely ensure this car is dead within in the next five years. It would be an amazing deal and a good seller for $35k, but the outdated dealer model, with its insane markups, will ensure Toyota never ramps up production because of "low demand" created by the insane markups. Dealers will use the "limited production" line to justify $20k+ markups, and thus drive away the bulk of potential buyers. Ever since the Focus RS left the market, I've been hoping for a decent performance hatchback option, besides the Golf R. I hope Toyota keeps their dealers in line, but I'm not holding my breath.
Toyota is notoriously bad about mark ups as well ... see toyota tacoma and land cruisers. Im ready for a future without dealerships. Tesla has found a work around to not have to operate large dealerships in CA and deliver cars to customers doors, once other automakers realize they can make much more money doing it online, itll be all over and we will all be thrilled.
Maybe Dealers in the USA, but scalping and sitting on Inventory while doubling the Price is against the Law in many European Countries (luckily). So over here they will surely sell out quickly because of the cheap Price. Prost & Cheers from the Bavarian Alps
@@seancooper9765 That's what happens when we're forced to make engines as fuel-efficient as possible while also putting a shitload of backpressure in the exhaust system.
I have both. The GR I use daily and the Type R when it's sunny outside. Very different machines. Both great in their own way. These are two of the most competent machines that have come out of Japan. They are that good.
My late father used to joke about cars having twin-exhausts (like 15-20 years ago when only like a Merc S600 would have two visible exhausts, or a Ferrari). He always said that "oh look, that car has individual exhausts for both cylinders!". Well, here we are, in 2022 when it's become a reality. Jokes aside, I am glad that Toyota are producing fun and sporty cars seriously once again.
I don't get his hatred for them, I say who cares if it's done tastefully. You could make that argument about anything. Does it need a widebody kit? No, it's just a Corolla. But it looks cool and fits the car.
@@reverbxd yeah don’t get me wrong, I never agreed with him, but always thought it was kinda funny. But he was a guy that was born in 1934, and eventually started driving with a 1939 Ford V8, and had mainly pretty good, but sensible cars, like the Volvo S80 that remained his last. He also always said that a sports car with two seats is just a toy in a contemptuous manner, he just did’t get it for some reason. But yeah, here I am with my dual-exhaust diesel Volvo and a two-seater SLK Merc :-)
Too bad they are intentionally stunting production of said cars to draw attention to their brand while the people that actually want to drive them will never get to drive them.
2:17 3 lines for 3 cylinders...THE THEME ON THIS CAR IS "3"... 3 lines on the engine cover, 3 cylinders, 3 exhaust tailpipes, 3 pedals (clutch, brake, gas), 3 hundred horsepower, GR FOUR written 3 times on the exterior (on the front, and on each side), 3 available trims (core, circuit, morizo), 12:25 3 awd torque split settings (60:40, 30:70, 50:50), 13:24 3 drive modes programmed in (sport, normal, eco), 16:34 3 split screens in the gauge cluster screen (left, middle, right), 3 times as many core models produced than the others (5100core vs 1500circuit+200morizo), 3 spokes on the steering wheel, 3 rear view mirrors, 3 windshield wipers (2 front, 1 back), 4:48 "No 3" written on the front tire, 3 rear brake lights, 3 headliner mounted lights (2 for front passengers, one in center near rear), 3 seatbelts in the back seat, 3 dials on the center dash (infotainment, and 2 for climate control), 3 switches next to the wireless charging pad (on/off, heated seat driver, heated seat passenger), 3 directions you can select using the shifter (reverse, neutral, forward gears), 3 locations for rear cup holders (left door, right door, center arm rest), 3 outlets for powering accessories (1 USBC near the wireless charge port, USBC & 12V for the rear passengers), 3 locations on the dash for air vents (driver, center, passenger), 3 cruise control settings on/off increase and decrease speed, final score was in the 60's - sixty THREE to be exact, 3 spark plugs under the hood, 3 pistons, 3 direct injectors, 3 port injectors, 3 ways they rate mpg (city, highway, combined), 3 people actually read through this entire comment to the end, congrats😀
I really really really hope Toyota will produce more circuits. I’ve been on the list since April, but I’m still being told that chances of getting one are slim.
As a life long Toyota fanboy Ive owned many cool older sporty Toyota's. But the last 15 years Ive bought other companies as Toyota had just become to boring and I couldn't afford the LFA.. So glad to see them back in the fun car game.
I just got the core model with most of the features the circuit has. It is one of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven, the car just wants to go faster and faster.
This video reminded me of the Plaid video where seeing Doug's reaction to each car's best feature was as an absolute joy. I love this video because it shows that even though you can have a very expensive car like the Plaid with it's super car acceleration, you can still have the same, if not more, fun in a light and nimble GR Corolla, yet still be blown away.
I was lucky enough to drive a GR Yaris in Japan earlier this year and it was hands down one of the best days of my entire life. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of these you absolutely will not regret it. Toyota has absolutely hit the handling out of the park with these GR hatchbacks and it is downright exhilarating to drive.
I would still have preferred the GR Yaris. It has a bit less power but it also weighs 400lbs less. Having a light car is just amazing for driving dynamics.
everyone makes such a big deal about this car, it's just a jazzed up corolla, the yaris GR is purpose built. The Corolla may have a little more power, but the Yaris is significantly lighter which makes up the difference. The corolla is going to be bought by men who's wives wouldn't let them buy a yaris
@@BN99239funny the lightweight GR Yaris is basically slightly heavier or slightly lighter than the last generation RX7 funny how that lightweight moniker keeps creeping up.
I think the normal Corolla Hatch is already pretty cool looking in higher Trims with the Alloy Wheels honestly, I really wanted and still want one even before this GR one was even a thing.
The true feat here, in my opinion, is the versatility and beauty of the Corolla's design. This carries over to other Toyota models, hell, even other models from other brands, but the Corolla alone is genuinely a great looking car. Toyota took advantage of that and made this. Amazing.
The reason people were excited about this is not because it was not done before, it's because in the year 2022 it is so damn rare to have a raw car like that. They just don't sell that much with the masses. And the Ford Focus RS was discontinued anyway
Man, you are like a carfather to me. Watching your videos, seeing you enjoy how the gr coralla feels confident around the corners. You deserve your community man, you love what you do. Everytime i watch your videos I wanna go out driving.
That exactly. Doug is the non no sense car journalist. He will tell you the way it is, no BS and you can feel his passion for car. No kidding is number of viewer is so high.
One of the few advantages of living in Australia is we get both the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, and more importantly it’s illegal for dealers to scalp you on brand news cars. They can only mark up demo and used cars.
This is the kind of review we want from you, Doug. Quirky and truly interesting reviews are what define the Doug Demuro we know and love, not boring commuter crossovers that are 99% the same inside and out across all brands.
The best thing about dough is that he shows regular people that 300 hp cars can be funn and feel fast, you can see on his expression that he is genuinly exited about it. I feel like most car reviewers think that every car that is'nt a supercar is slow. it's all about contrast i guess, but I'm still just as exited about my sti as the day I bought it almost 4 years ago. Before I bought it I thought I would need to spend all this money to get 400 hp, but I really dont feel the need for any more still to this day
You don’t need so much power to having fun . 1030kg 134 hps on my sport and i Can have fun too throwing around on B roads playing with big boys like Porsches 🎉
I currently have a Circuit and i LOVE it, i will like to add that yes it will show music on the cluster when using carplay and navigation will also display. Music is not constant but if i'm navigating, it auto displays
I'm surprised that Doug still doesn't know that the center exhaust pipe has a purpose. Its function is to reduce the backpressure and help the car achieve 300 horsepower.
@@DougDeMuro Fennir is right, but it's also functional as when you're on the gas hard it comes out the larger center exhaust. Otherwise the exhaust fumes are coming out the smaller two tips.
I tried to get one of these when the price was announced, my dealership told me good luck. I don't really understand why manufacturers are doing things like this, make the car.... sell the car.... I don't understand this limited production shit for fun versions or normal cars, they know there is gonna be HUGE demand so why not just make them. These would sell like the Focus ST when it came to the states in 2013
The G16E-GTS motor is incredible, same motor in the yaris and corolla. Motive garage out of Australia has put close to 500hp down on this motor. Only failure point so far was the head gasket, they're working on a better aftermarket one. Already alot of aftermarket support and just gonna be more to come. Highly recommend motive garages videos if your wanting to know more about the motor. They do a very great analysis of everything. Cheers
because he can’t have it compete against the lambos or Ferraris or hypercars on the dougscore, because then those companies might not let him review their hypercars...
In addition, Doug seems to boast about how good the handling is yet gave it a 7 for that. I expected at least an 8 or 9 or fun factor and handling from the comments made in the video.
I just went to a Toyota dealership yesterday to assist my son in buying a Prius Prime. They had a GR Corolla on the lot. What a beautiful car. I was even able to fit in the drivers seat and shift the gears. (I'm 6'4" and rarely can do this in compact cars.)
I've heard everything I wanted to hear from you, Doug. In recent months, I've been contemplating dropping off of a dealer's GR Corolla wait list and getting a GR86 instead. But what you found about GRC brought me back to it. What you found is what I want in a car I own and I drive. I'm in a fairly good position on the wait list. No more screwing around with GR86. I am going to get a GR Corolla. Thank you, Doug.
Coming from a GT86 to a GR Yaris, if you not well aware of AWD driving dynamics and want accessible fun in public roads, you are better off with the GR86. Forget pressing the GRC in public roads, it just grips everywhere
@@nikosdimitriadis9987 Thanks, Nikos. I guess I may know a thing or two about AWD for I used to have an Impreza and a WRX. I've been driving a Focus ST, which is my first FWD ever, and I just miss AWD. The GR-FOUR system could be different compared to the old Subaru's, but I guess I'll see how I feel.
As a last gen STI owner, the GR Corolla ticks every single box and if I can find one that isn’t marked up, I will totally add one to the garage next to the Subaru. It’s got the harsh ride, it’s got the racy engine noise, it’s got the sharp handling and exceptional AWD system, and it has a unique sound that no other car does. The only thing I can imagine being worlds better than the Subaru is reliability, I’m terrified of the engine letting go in the STI, but in a Toyota I’d have to worry about none of that.
Think again; 3 cylinder engines are notorious for being unbalanced. Add-in all that Boost pressure, and we're going to be seeing quite a few of these grenade. The smart move is buying the Extended Warranty right from the start when you buy it.
I'm an STI hatch owner and I want a GR Corolla. The Corolla comes with everything the STI does, but better low-end torque and the vehicle itself is 200 pounds lighter.
@@1vw4me Only recent ones which were built poorly are prone to failure. I have 2 Geo Metros (one of which is turbocharged) and both engines are fine for beating on them.
@@1vw4me well if there’s an issue the Europeans would have gotten it a long time ago. But they didn’t. Only issue is diff overheating but can be resolved with a exhaust heat shield
Just gone from a GTI to a GRC, Doug is totally correct with all his driving comments. Daily driving the GRC requires commitment, but to be honest, it makes the commute an event though I do miss the GTI's interior and that awesome DSG.
i like how rev-match isn't always on. for daily driving, it's a nuisance. if sometimes needed on these daily drives, it should be instinctive for you to rev-match.
Compared to my GR Yaris, that trunk space looks huge. About the red stitching: almost everything that has red stitching is shared with the GR Yaris: wheel, seats, handbrake, etc. The dash is different, and there you got black stitching. Rear seats are different too, the yaris has full leather on the back
While this car is amazing, it still disappoints me to no end that Toyota won't sell the GR Yaris here in North America! Not all of us want a 4/5 door hatchback and a smaller 3 door would be perfect! Also, I cam almost guarantee that dealership greed is going to ensure that none of these will go out the door for less than $60K and that will spell the end of the GR Corolla due to poor sales from dealership greed.
If you’ve got 60k set aside for a sporty hatchback why exactly would you get a corolla? Idk about the American market unfortunately but, (R)S3, A45, Leon Cupra, I30 N, M135i, Focus RS, Megane RS all these perform as well or better than the Corolla, all look better than the corolla (imo) and you can find anyone of them for the same price.
@@blanco7726 the insane markups and dealer BS doomed the Focus RS here in the USA as well. 😔 many of the ones around me wouldnt even let you test drive without all but signing the papers, and finding one without a dealer markup was impossible.
I got mine at msrp in 2023 and I absolutely love mine, the only draw backs I find is no center console which I just throw everything in the glove box which can be a little annoying but whatever and trunk space, I don’t use my trunk for much but if you do it is very small. For being in a snowy climate as well it comes alive with winter tires on it and it’s a blast in the summer/winter
So, I know we don't talk about aftermarket a ton on your channel BUT I've seen the block of that engine. The sidewalls are massive and one piece across all three cylinders. There was a group, I don't remember their name I'd have to look it up, but the turned the yaris up to about 480 I think. I can easily see that engine being able to produce 600 with some good head studs, a good turbo, and proper tune.
Great review Doug...I love the GR Corolla and almost purchased an XSE Corolla but didn't because it's FWD. As a Subaru WRX enthusiast I'm into the hatchback scene and the GR Corolla is a dream come true for USDM but unfortunately the GR Corolla isn't available at MSRP or even close to MSRP. So owning a USDM GR Corolla is as big a dream as owning a USDM Lancia Delta Integrale!! 😊
Toyota really needs to be careful when releasing this car. It's AWD. A lot of folks in climates that get snow are gonna want it just for that. It's fast. It's balanced. It's practical. There are very few cars out there today that fit this bill. If you want a sports car, you don't really need AWD. If you want practicality, there's better options. This car might be more stiff than necessary for a daily but it fits the bill of everything I'd want in one. Fast, AWD, reliable (AFAIK since I haven't seen any reliability criticism of the GR Yaris), and practical. This is probably a dream car for a lot of people like myself and it'll be a damn shame if dealer greed kills it and makes it go the way of the Focus RS.
Only one of these available in my area at the moment is a gently used base model with 600 miles... for $46,000. $9K markup from base MSRP for a car that's already had an owner (briefly). Pretty much the same story with the GR86 where I've seen them having asking prices above $44K for new (although you can find them for only $38K).
What I certainly love about this is that Toyota made AWD in a hatchback and a manual. Personally, I love AWD in any "sedanish" platform. I think Toyota really knocked it out of the park with this one.
This could be seen as a spiritual successor to the STI hatch, but better - and I'm an STI hatch owner myself. The STI had quad exhausts, so like the GRC, one tip per each cylinder. All the interior badges and red stitching are eerily similar, and the hood vents are very visible, just like the hood scoop on the STI. On top of that, both have 3 differentials, front McPherson strut, rear double wishbone suspension, 4 pot front brakes, 2 pot rears, 6-speed manual and were originally designed for rally. All of this, but the Corolla is still lighter and more reliable than the STI. I want one.
Why are people so focused on cars having to be comfortable? There LITERALLY isn't a new car for sale today that I would describe as punishing. No car has ALL uniball/rose joint suspension components. VERY FEW cars have pillow ball upper shock mounts. Even on "track specials" like GT3 and ZL1 1LE, Z06--the suspension, while stiffer, does npt have crazy spring rates. These are still street cars. They still have AC, climate control, power windows/doorlocks, glass windows, longish shift throws, and they are all tuned to idle at 650 rpm and pull smoothly. You can change ALL that in the aftermarket and make the car punishing for the street. My daily driver is an FK8 CTR, and it has spring rates of 263 front/235 rear (lbs-in). In comfort mode it is downright soft. Soft enough where I changed the stock springs because I felt the springs were intentionally left soft to appease the modern car customer. My point is that if you are getting a hot hatch, you want the sharp handling. Why get the sharp version and then soften it up so you can be comfortable enough to nap at the wheel?
I wouldn't mind having a Toyota garage including this, Supra, and a GR86. The last time I felt this way was when I coveted a RSX, NSX, and S2000 from Honda.
as a 2003 Vibe GT owner (basically a toyota corolla "hot" hatchback for those who don't know) this seems like the ideal replacement, but like many of you are saying this thing is gonna be marked up and overpriced for a very long time...i'll keep the vibe for now. 208k, beaten to shit every day, still gets up and sings to 8,200RPM before you're violating speed limits 💩
Since it’s the same engine as the Yaris there is already a lot of options out there some company in Australia almost managed to get 500hp out of it with stock internals and the head gasket was the failure point which makes sense
@@primalsubie6347 I saw that video too. The durability of that engine is insane. So glad its also in the GR corolla. Tune that baby to 400 WHP and you got a rocketship on wheels. Wonder how much power it can push with aftermarket upgraded head gasket
Not exactly, this 3 cylinder engine is damn near maxed out if not already from the factory. You'll probably gain minimal hp/tq from bolt ons and a tune.
Doug picking apart the "cheap interior/backup camera" is completely missing the point. OEM's have become disconnected from their customers. Over the years they've been adding so many unnecessary features and options, jacking up those MSRP's. Toyota kept their eyes on the target. They produced a hot hatch with stellar performance, meanwhile keeping it relatively affordable for the masses. Well done Toyota.
You say you absolutely hate the fact it has 3 exhausts for 3 cylinders but given the fact each cylinder makes 100HP on its own, I think this is a very fitting exhaust setup.
The fact that toyota doesn't seem to want to make this a regular production model just proves they are perfectly fine with the price gouging that will happen at the dealerships and it just flat out pathetic on Toyotas part
You're just clueless and your comment moronic, you think they can do anything about it? You don't want price gouging then do something about your second world country ALLOWING dealers to do whatever they want because they've bought the policy makers off. That's the problem. There are no cars over MSRP in my first world country, it doesn't happen.
@@superbros1690 I'm sure it's not so why would they only make such a limited number and not make more money off of it to recoup those cost? The markups aren't going to toyota they are going to the dealership
i used to daily my race car. i grew up driving 60,s pickups that usually didn't have all the gears. I just got a GR Corolla Core with the performance package and Tech package wich means it is just missing the body work upgrages and to my toughened driving style it feels wonderfly soft and plush. and its fast and sporty enough that i can daily drive it without getting so board i want to die. i have had it for 48 hours and it had 427 miles i picked it up with 8 miles on the clock. i LOVE IT.
As a huge Focus RS fanboy that is still salty there won't be a new one, I was not impressed when this was announced and kind of was glad that it seemed worse on paper than an RS or an STI hatch. Hearing Doug be so excited about it makes me super happy now. I'm so glad that it seems to give people the feeling a hot hatch should. Just pure fun and all season, everyday practicality. Really hope to be able to drive one and that a ton of people who want one of these will get one for a good price. Such a cool car and glad you can buy one new in 2022. Also just reinforces how awesome it would be to have a 2022 STI hatch and also I dream at night about an AWD Type R. I know it doesn't "need" AWD but if you've driven a Focus RS or STI hard, there is just nothing better than the grip and confidence those awd systems have. To end, I love hot hatches and can't wait for these to be on the road, and can't wait to buy a GR Yaris in 24 years!
Ford killing the focus in general is stupidest decision ever. Even the mid to high level Focus’s were such fun cars to drive. They had truly perfected the Focus line at that point. Shame they’re gone and shame that dealers were the culprits for the Focus RS being discontinued so quickly. At least the RS could’ve had a chance to continue but nope.
I’m taking the golf R every single time. 315hp stock 4 cylinder vs 300hp 3 cylinder. Golf has more tuning overhead, more mature exterior, and the interior is in a completely different class. Mrsp is within 2 thousand and you’ll actually be able to purchase one somewhere close to sticker.
If you think you are going to get a new Golf R at MSRP at any time in the foreseeable future, you are kidding yourself. A 2023 Golf R is $45,000. A neighbor is a sales manager at a local VW dealer and he said they will definitely be "market adjusted" by at least $5k
I was searching one for real a while back. After literally calling all dealerships in Cali, I found one until we got a dealer in New Mexico, and I was quoted for two options. Buy a corolla or rav4 with it for no markup or pay the 15 grand markup. I used that 15 grand markup and bought myself a W211 E55 AMG and kept the change for gas.
I think, without driving either one, I'd prefer this over the Civic Type R. One primary reason: torque steer. I had a 2013 Focus ST which, for many reasons, I grew to hate. The torque steer was incredible. Floor the accelerator in 2nd gear at about 40 mph and it would pull you right off the road into a ditch! Which made passing anyone on a two lane road even more exciting!
I love this thing... Been saving up to buy one but with the insane markups and the limited practicality I ended up going a very different route for my everyday driver. I hope it sells well and they make more of them so I can get one in a few years.
Same. Sold my new GTI and bought a 1995 Acura Legend as my daily to save as much as I could to buy one but there is no way I was paying $50+k for a f’ing Corolla. I realize it’s not on the same level, but I bought an Elantra N for $34k because there wasn’t any phantom $20k markup and I love it.
^ realize after taxes and title you'll be hovering just under 45k for a loaded core at msrp. GL grabbing a bare bones core, but even then you'd be staring at ~40k.
It sounds beasty because it is beasty. I know the Type R has an advanced FWD system, but it’s still a FWD system and when it comes to hot hatches, an AWD system is still the way to go in my eyes.
Uhh Doug, the rear floor is no different than my 21. You don't lose any floor height by putting the battery in the rear. The 21 comes with a spare tire under the floor and still has the "gaps" between the floor and fenders, just like the GR. Only thing they've done is remove the tire and fit the battery and a new foam cutout to support the floor. Btw I like the gaps, I carry a lot of cleaning supplies, jumpers, and other misc. and they stay tucked and out of the way very nicely back there
@@JohnDoe-cv8iw if it's between a spare and kit, I choose the spare. A kit doesn't help much if you have shred the tire or blow out a side wall, God forbid. But I have neither because I opted for a JL audio system and that's where my sub and amps went 😅
@@jamesphifer171 same here gotta skar ZVX 12 on a skar SKV2500.. my box is 2.8cu foot.. so its a super tight fit!!! you find any options for alternators yet? I havent looked much yet but when i did i didnt have much luck. I been plugging my car into the charger at night lol... JL's are dope i wish i could get an 8w7 but i cant bring myself to spend $1000 on an 8 inch sub
It would cool to be able to obtain one, but we will have to see how the market and dealers treat it, may very well turn into another focus RS situation sadly, hope it’s not the case, would make a great winter daily for me
As a new car manager at a Toyota dealer we have never seen so many people, from all walks of life, calling and even demanding to order the GR Corolla even before A DOUG SCORE! Oh boy things are gonna get wild for this one... Great review as always Doug, long time watcher first time commenter.
@@nolanwarman9659 You are correct, what I mean to say is for a long time, the Corolla and Civic have always been direct competitors, more so then VW. But the Corolla has not had a performance model since the mid 2000 XRS model. Even then, it would be more of a competitor to the Si Civic. But no competitor to the Type R...until now
I am absolutely getting this car, Toyota is the greatest car manufacturer ever,, to the very dedication of their craft, those scientists and artists are the greatest and I dedicate to their name
I honestly am happy the car doesn't have rev matching by default. The fact that it's so crude and presumably raw is the part that I absolutely love. I don't need or want gimmicky stuff like sunroofs and luxurious rides. I solely drive carbureted cars with manual everything because modern cars simply don't do it for me. I get the feeling this is one of those few cars that'll suit my driving but sadly they'll likely be scalped beyond reasonable prices until Toyota quits producing them. 😢
My manual Corolla 2022 has the same button but it's right next to the shifter along with the traction control button. Same thing happens if you turn on the iMT and turn the car off it doesn't stay on the next time you start it up. It's useful for if you're just not feeling it today and you feel sloppy and have a cold or something.
If you like rev matching then get a CDL. My work Kenworth will only downshift between 1200 and 1500 anything else and it won't take the gear. It's pleasing to get all the gears in with no grinding.
I sat in the car today, and it's amazing how purpose built it really was, it felt like there was shit all in the car ,basic door cars and nothing but rally built products, its awesom.
> I honestly am happy the car doesn't have rev matching by default. Ditto. People who need a rev matcher really don't know how to drive a stick in the first place.
Dealerships have ruined everything. I would buy one today, but due to dealers attempting to hit me with mark up on 3 orders over the last 3 years. I’ll never purchase another new car.
Doug missed the part where the circuit gets LSDs standard, but are optional on the core Frankly a core with the lsds, and a better hood (you know someone is gonna make one) is the move
There is a reason why exhaust pipes are like this, it ain't stupid, it's to reduce backpressure at high rpm's, that's how you get your insane 300hp with 3 cylinders..
how is this affordable even at sticker? 40k for the base model? think of the other cars you could get for that model. Im sorry but a 300hp 3 cyllinder souped up version of a normal car does not strike me as a 40,000$ vehicle. I cant see a reason to buy this car.
I think you're giving the car, and other hot hatchbacks like it, a bit too much crap for having basic interiors. For one, a basic interior in 2022 likely has equivalent or better features compared to luxury cars from not that long ago, even if the materials are still pretty cheap. Also, I think most people who buy a performance car around this price point would rather not spend extra money just for a dashboard and center console made of fine leather and wood.
Hey Doug, thanks for reviewing this video and comparing it so much to its competitors. One question i dont think was answered in the video is, how is the clutch?
I genuinely want to buy one of these as a daily driver but I know they're going to be scalped from dealers for years
For real. I'm on the waitlist for one at a dealership that has historically sold all their cars at MSRP.
There's a 15k markup 😠
I'm not paying 15 grand markup on a 40k car.
I'm on an MSRP only dealerships waitlist for a Circuit. The only problem is I'm #10 for a Circuit and the dealership said I'll likely not get one until 2024 and possibly 2025 given how limited these are. I'm honestly considering just getting a GR86 or Supra instead.
If they discontinue the GR anytime soon good luck, hopefully they saturate the market with them, but expect these to appreciate.
@@minipandora22lmao had nothing to do with your orange conman’s trading policy huh ?
GR Yaris is still my favorite, there aren't many cars like it. I love that Toyota is cool again
I prefer the exhaust note of the gr Yaris to the gr corolla
@@naveenthemachine I wish I could hear them side by side, unfortunately we don't get the GR Corolla here in Europe
There is no car like the gr Yaris
@San what do you mean by this exactly?
Im moving out of the U.S....and I may get a GR Yaris when I do.....for all those who can't because they would still be in America, I feel that I owe it to them.
THIS is a cool car. In a world full of lumbering crossovers, I'm so glad Toyota has given us this badass little hatchback that can out maneuver all of them, and do so in style.
I'm not a fan of that styling... kinda ugly.
@@Boatfisherz1 you problem
@@didgy Still a problem for him/her..
@@Boatfisherz1 Use filter.
too big... a 3-door Mini is the perfect size
Awesome to see Doug legitimately hyped for this car.
Dude liked it so much he just my buy it for himself.
@@T1Earn my = might...
Its affordable
I don't believe a single words that came out of his mouth. Sound like Horseshit...will be unsubribing from this channel. I just lost all respect for this guy.
@@mrvang8077 I don't believe a single words that came out of his mouth. Sound like Horseshit...will be unsubribing from this channel. I just lost all respect for this guy.
Just imagine if Subaru kept the WRX hatch. What a blunder that was
WRX owner here, can confirm.
STI owner here. I still cry at night.
I think people just wanted a performance Toyota again that’s why this is so big
Toyota owns a part of Subaru they probably told Subaru not to release the STi, because it would compete with the GR Corolla 😅 They would never allow a new WRX Hatch because of that same reason sadly :(
Agree. When I test drive a new STI in 2018, it fell off list real quick not having a hatch. The 2018 Focus RS limited edition won and I still absolutely love it. I still wonder if the STI was aviation hatch if it would’ve won
There is a reason for the three exhaust pipes on the gr corolla.. the middle one opens up at full throttle to relieve back pressure
was hoping someone would mention that in the comments. weird that Doug didn't look into the reason behind it, lazy reviewing tactics.
@@HipinyourHop
> . weird that Doug didn't look into the reason behind it, lazy reviewing tactics.
Because Doug himself is all hype. He should have ZERO credibility. Especially when one compares the words of his review to the Dougscore -- it quite frequently does not match.
@@mgoblue0970 yeah, the dougscore isnt really to be taken 100% seriously, and everyone who's been watching doug for a while knows that
@@amogus1981 Thanks for trying to 'splain it to me... but your reading comprehension sucks.
If one is a REVIEWER and then they say "this car is the best ever", and then they REVIEW gives it a "5", then that kinda affects the credibility of the person offering the REVIEW when they cannot keep their thoughts aligned.
@@mgoblue0970 He was the first to do it THIS way, so he gets the prize.
It's a shame what the dealerships are doing to this. Insane markups combined with the botched roll-out of the GR Corolla. Looks like I'll be waiting a while to pick up one.
with those limited numbers that was inevitable
if they had unlimited numbers and sold in europe i"d have ordered already
3 years
Wouldn’t matter because if a dealer does sell at sticker, an investor would beat you to it and sell it for mark up anyway, not to mention a lot of people wouldn’t pass the opportunity to make 15k plus with out doing anything
Botched roll out?
Yeah this is by design from Toyota. They’ve come out and basically said they want this car to be hard to get. What a shame
300hp 3 cylinder awd daily is such a crazy combination. Want one so bad
Right!
Too bad absolute no one will
Daily it. To much resale value :/
I have the gr yaris as daily, it's fun
@@serpuns7409 for the price i think everyone will daily them
@@mrx__678 in what country
Have one, had it 2 weeks, and I love it. Doug's hit it 100% on the head, kind of reminds me of riding my SeaDoo Spark 2 seater. It's like a dirt bike on the water, unlike the 'usual' jetski, you're able to toss it around and such, and this one (to me) is reminiscent of that. Including the ride, as both are absolutely less than luxurious, but at 675 miles in so far, I've found that I don't really care. It just rocks my world. Toyota FTW.
Dealers will absolutely ensure this car is dead within in the next five years. It would be an amazing deal and a good seller for $35k, but the outdated dealer model, with its insane markups, will ensure Toyota never ramps up production because of "low demand" created by the insane markups. Dealers will use the "limited production" line to justify $20k+ markups, and thus drive away the bulk of potential buyers.
Ever since the Focus RS left the market, I've been hoping for a decent performance hatchback option, besides the Golf R. I hope Toyota keeps their dealers in line, but I'm not holding my breath.
Surely they can’t do that ! The sales of the car is the priority surelyyy
The Veloster N came on the market around the time the RS left, it was a great alternative.
Agreed. Awesome car but I have a feeling dealers are going to kill this thing off quick with 20k markups. That's why we can't have nice things
Toyota is notoriously bad about mark ups as well ... see toyota tacoma and land cruisers.
Im ready for a future without dealerships. Tesla has found a work around to not have to operate large dealerships in CA and deliver cars to customers doors, once other automakers realize they can make much more money doing it online, itll be all over and we will all be thrilled.
Maybe Dealers in the USA, but scalping and sitting on Inventory while doubling the Price is against the Law in many European Countries (luckily).
So over here they will surely sell out quickly because of the cheap Price.
Prost & Cheers from the Bavarian Alps
You merge Toyota's reliability, a practical vehicle, and super fun to drive, this is absolutly fantastic, this thing is already a classic!
This will not have the same reliability....they never do.
@@seancooper9765 It will be more reliable than any other hot hatch.
@@seancooper9765 That's what happens when we're forced to make engines as fuel-efficient as possible while also putting a shitload of backpressure in the exhaust system.
@geetothebee type r that’s comparable is turbo so your comparing an older car vs newer car for reliability which has survivorship bias
This will not be a reliable car.
I have both. The GR I use daily and the Type R when it's sunny outside. Very different machines. Both great in their own way. These are two of the most competent machines that have come out of Japan. They are that good.
Which is more fun?
@@s4awd2 I think the GR is more fun.
My late father used to joke about cars having twin-exhausts (like 15-20 years ago when only like a Merc S600 would have two visible exhausts, or a Ferrari). He always said that "oh look, that car has individual exhausts for both cylinders!". Well, here we are, in 2022 when it's become a reality.
Jokes aside, I am glad that Toyota are producing fun and sporty cars seriously once again.
I don't get his hatred for them, I say who cares if it's done tastefully. You could make that argument about anything. Does it need a widebody kit? No, it's just a Corolla. But it looks cool and fits the car.
I remember the 85 Corolla gts which was a good car.
@@reverbxd yeah don’t get me wrong, I never agreed with him, but always thought it was kinda funny. But he was a guy that was born in 1934, and eventually started driving with a 1939 Ford V8, and had mainly pretty good, but sensible cars, like the Volvo S80 that remained his last.
He also always said that a sports car with two seats is just a toy in a contemptuous manner, he just did’t get it for some reason. But yeah, here I am with my dual-exhaust diesel Volvo and a two-seater SLK Merc :-)
Too bad they are intentionally stunting production of said cars to draw attention to their brand while the people that actually want to drive them will never get to drive them.
@@ryanmccloskey4292 some will.
2:17 3 lines for 3 cylinders...THE THEME ON THIS CAR IS "3"... 3 lines on the engine cover, 3 cylinders, 3 exhaust tailpipes, 3 pedals (clutch, brake, gas), 3 hundred horsepower, GR FOUR written 3 times on the exterior (on the front, and on each side), 3 available trims (core, circuit, morizo), 12:25 3 awd torque split settings (60:40, 30:70, 50:50), 13:24 3 drive modes programmed in (sport, normal, eco), 16:34 3 split screens in the gauge cluster screen (left, middle, right), 3 times as many core models produced than the others (5100core vs 1500circuit+200morizo), 3 spokes on the steering wheel, 3 rear view mirrors, 3 windshield wipers (2 front, 1 back), 4:48 "No 3" written on the front tire, 3 rear brake lights, 3 headliner mounted lights (2 for front passengers, one in center near rear), 3 seatbelts in the back seat, 3 dials on the center dash (infotainment, and 2 for climate control), 3 switches next to the wireless charging pad (on/off, heated seat driver, heated seat passenger), 3 directions you can select using the shifter (reverse, neutral, forward gears), 3 locations for rear cup holders (left door, right door, center arm rest), 3 outlets for powering accessories (1 USBC near the wireless charge port, USBC & 12V for the rear passengers), 3 locations on the dash for air vents (driver, center, passenger), 3 cruise control settings on/off increase and decrease speed, final score was in the 60's - sixty THREE to be exact, 3 spark plugs under the hood, 3 pistons, 3 direct injectors, 3 port injectors, 3 ways they rate mpg (city, highway, combined), 3 people actually read through this entire comment to the end, congrats😀
HALF LIFE 3 CONFIRMED.
It must be Gaben's most hated car
and now 3 replies
Lollll
The price is 3 times the regular Corolla
I really really really hope Toyota will produce more circuits. I’ve been on the list since April, but I’m still being told that chances of getting one are slim.
You got on the list way late.
its really the exact same car, especially if your in Canada, expect for the none leather seats
*because Canada only gets performance cores*
How do you get on a list?
Not a chance. Unfortunately toyota wants to play the Porsche/Ferrari game, so it's "limited". 1500 units total production of the circuit. Obnoxious.
I have been on the wait list since they released the wait list im still waiting
That smile when he accelerated onto the highway. That's what it's all about
He doesnt go to the track thats why
As a life long Toyota fanboy Ive owned many cool older sporty Toyota's. But the last 15 years Ive bought other companies as Toyota had just become to boring and I couldn't afford the LFA.. So glad to see them back in the fun car game.
Chisato Nishikigi secretly loves the GR Corolla 2023, Troy.
Lexus ISF : am I a joke to you
@@heroforhire6921 yes
@@fakenews3676 a reliable 5.0l 400hp rwd Japanese v8 sedan with actual great handling is a joke?
@@heroforhire6921 this is the real answer. My 12' IS-F has been a dream for 10 damn years.
I just got the core model with most of the features the circuit has. It is one of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven, the car just wants to go faster and faster.
Doug just confirmed everything I've ever thought about this car since the announcement. What a fun car.
Anyone else love watching Doug drive and pass other vehicles and checks both mirrors to make sure there’s no coppers on his tail. ❤😂
I do?
I was about to make the same comment. He was flying past cars in the right lane 🤣🤣
Would be funny if he included footage of him ticketed
This video reminded me of the Plaid video where seeing Doug's reaction to each car's best feature was as an absolute joy. I love this video because it shows that even though you can have a very expensive car like the Plaid with it's super car acceleration, you can still have the same, if not more, fun in a light and nimble GR Corolla, yet still be blown away.
Doug understands “relativity”.
Not only that but it's a testament that you can't always judge a car by it's spec sheet alone.
Great car from a company led by someone who truly cares about producing cars for the enthusiast.
Yeah , unfortunately will be absolutely unobtainable unless you have the in with dealerships or you pay 10-20k over msrp
Producing? Not so much though
@@fredericoespinozayou can’t even do that. They’re refusing to take orders now
If they cared about enthusiasts all their cars would be tied with Honda for segment benchmark.
If they really cared, they’d mass produce these to a much larger scale.
I was lucky enough to drive a GR Yaris in Japan earlier this year and it was hands down one of the best days of my entire life. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of these you absolutely will not regret it. Toyota has absolutely hit the handling out of the park with these GR hatchbacks and it is downright exhilarating to drive.
Haven't seen Doug so truly piped up in a little while. Love that car
Shows that he does too
Facts
I would still have preferred the GR Yaris. It has a bit less power but it also weighs 400lbs less. Having a light car is just amazing for driving dynamics.
It’s 200p less
@@beamtweez1210 It says the GR Yaris is 2,822lbs while the GR Corolla is 3252lbs and it can go up to 3285lbs depending on options.
everyone makes such a big deal about this car, it's just a jazzed up corolla, the yaris GR is purpose built. The Corolla may have a little more power, but the Yaris is significantly lighter which makes up the difference. The corolla is going to be bought by men who's wives wouldn't let them buy a yaris
@@billharpur9529 jazzed up Corolla with AWD? 100hp per cylinder, Genuine Carbon Roof and Massive Brakes? Ok Genius
@@BN99239funny the lightweight GR Yaris is basically slightly heavier or slightly lighter than the last generation RX7 funny how that lightweight moniker keeps creeping up.
I think the normal Corolla Hatch is already pretty cool looking in higher Trims with the Alloy Wheels honestly, I really wanted and still want one even before this GR one was even a thing.
I got one and it’s pretty sweet, handles well and sounds great for a 4 banger with really any exhaust.
Yeah except toyota wants 37k for it, I've smoked em with my 05 Xrs.. too expensive for what you get
my 4Runner smoked a lowered Corolla off the line
The true feat here, in my opinion, is the versatility and beauty of the Corolla's design. This carries over to other Toyota models, hell, even other models from other brands, but the Corolla alone is genuinely a great looking car. Toyota took advantage of that and made this. Amazing.
The reason people were excited about this is not because it was not done before, it's because in the year 2022 it is so damn rare to have a raw car like that. They just don't sell that much with the masses. And the Ford Focus RS was discontinued anyway
Man, you are like a carfather to me. Watching your videos, seeing you enjoy how the gr coralla feels confident around the corners. You deserve your community man, you love what you do. Everytime i watch your videos I wanna go out driving.
That exactly. Doug is the non no sense car journalist. He will tell you the way it is, no BS and you can feel his passion for car. No kidding is number of viewer is so high.
@@Fabs821 the man
One of the few advantages of living in Australia is we get both the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, and more importantly it’s illegal for dealers to scalp you on brand news cars. They can only mark up demo and used cars.
This is the kind of review we want from you, Doug. Quirky and truly interesting reviews are what define the Doug Demuro we know and love, not boring commuter crossovers that are 99% the same inside and out across all brands.
But then people complain that he only reviews rich people cars. Can never win ig.
@@shrayesraman5192 yep. So did cars when doing drag races.
The best thing about dough is that he shows regular people that 300 hp cars can be funn and feel fast, you can see on his expression that he is genuinly exited about it. I feel like most car reviewers think that every car that is'nt a supercar is slow. it's all about contrast i guess, but I'm still just as exited about my sti as the day I bought it almost 4 years ago. Before I bought it I thought I would need to spend all this money to get 400 hp, but I really dont feel the need for any more still to this day
You don’t need so much power to having fun . 1030kg 134 hps on my sport and i Can have fun too throwing around on B roads playing with big boys like Porsches 🎉
A car that handles well and has soul is a good car. Some of the best cars ever built are under 200hp. Enjoy the ride, mate.
I currently have a Circuit and i LOVE it, i will like to add that yes it will show music on the cluster when using carplay and navigation will also display. Music is not constant but if i'm navigating, it auto displays
I barely even listen to the radio when I drive mine.
I'm surprised that Doug still doesn't know that the center exhaust pipe has a purpose. Its function is to reduce the backpressure and help the car achieve 300 horsepower.
It supposedly has a purpose. It still looks stupid!
Omg he do read and reply to comments 🙈🙈
@@DougDeMuro based
@@DougDeMuro Fennir is right, but it's also functional as when you're on the gas hard it comes out the larger center exhaust. Otherwise the exhaust fumes are coming out the smaller two tips.
this is the new focus RS since FORD gave up on making cool cars
Haven’t seen Doug so passionate while driving on the freeway for a while 🎉
I know right. He was gushing over this
That’s how you know it drives amazing
Insane what 3 cylinders can do to someone
I tried to get one of these when the price was announced, my dealership told me good luck. I don't really understand why manufacturers are doing things like this, make the car.... sell the car.... I don't understand this limited production shit for fun versions or normal cars, they know there is gonna be HUGE demand so why not just make them. These would sell like the Focus ST when it came to the states in 2013
The G16E-GTS motor is incredible, same motor in the yaris and corolla. Motive garage out of Australia has put close to 500hp down on this motor. Only failure point so far was the head gasket, they're working on a better aftermarket one. Already alot of aftermarket support and just gonna be more to come. Highly recommend motive garages videos if your wanting to know more about the motor. They do a very great analysis of everything. Cheers
For how much fun it seemed like you were having, I'm surprised you gave it a 7 for a fun score.
yeah he seemed like he was at 9 or 10
because he can’t have it compete against the lambos or Ferraris or hypercars on the dougscore, because then those companies might not let him review their hypercars...
In addition, Doug seems to boast about how good the handling is yet gave it a 7 for that. I expected at least an 8 or 9 or fun factor and handling from the comments made in the video.
The "Doug Score" is just silliness, honestly
@@brothaman1312 Maybe, but I wouldn’t ask a girl out until I knew her Doug Score.
I just went to a Toyota dealership yesterday to assist my son in buying a Prius Prime. They had a GR Corolla on the lot. What a beautiful car. I was even able to fit in the drivers seat and shift the gears. (I'm 6'4" and rarely can do this in compact cars.)
I could feel the enthusiasm from Doug in this intro. Can’t wait to check one of these out.
I love that they actually added a piece to the rear door to connect to the fender, something the previous civic didn't do.
*Crying M3 Competition noises
I've heard everything I wanted to hear from you, Doug. In recent months, I've been contemplating dropping off of a dealer's GR Corolla wait list and getting a GR86 instead. But what you found about GRC brought me back to it. What you found is what I want in a car I own and I drive. I'm in a fairly good position on the wait list. No more screwing around with GR86. I am going to get a GR Corolla. Thank you, Doug.
Coming from a GT86 to a GR Yaris, if you not well aware of AWD driving dynamics and want accessible fun in public roads, you are better off with the GR86. Forget pressing the GRC in public roads, it just grips everywhere
@@nikosdimitriadis9987 Thanks, Nikos. I guess I may know a thing or two about AWD for I used to have an Impreza and a WRX. I've been driving a Focus ST, which is my first FWD ever, and I just miss AWD. The GR-FOUR system could be different compared to the old Subaru's, but I guess I'll see how I feel.
@@KMKazie then you will certainly anjoy the GRC much more!
Thank you, Nikos!
Been 6 months with mine and love it 😊😊😊😊
As a last gen STI owner, the GR Corolla ticks every single box and if I can find one that isn’t marked up, I will totally add one to the garage next to the Subaru. It’s got the harsh ride, it’s got the racy engine noise, it’s got the sharp handling and exceptional AWD system, and it has a unique sound that no other car does. The only thing I can imagine being worlds better than the Subaru is reliability, I’m terrified of the engine letting go in the STI, but in a Toyota I’d have to worry about none of that.
Think again; 3 cylinder engines are notorious for being unbalanced. Add-in all that Boost pressure, and we're going to be seeing quite a few of these grenade. The smart move is buying the Extended Warranty right from the start when you buy it.
I'm an STI hatch owner and I want a GR Corolla. The Corolla comes with everything the STI does, but better low-end torque and the vehicle itself is 200 pounds lighter.
@@1vw4me Only recent ones which were built poorly are prone to failure. I have 2 Geo Metros (one of which is turbocharged) and both engines are fine for beating on them.
@@joshjlmgproductions3313 I had an STI and own a 04 Forester XT with a VF48 tuned to 21 psi. The Subarus feel much faster that the GR.
@@1vw4me well if there’s an issue the Europeans would have gotten it a long time ago. But they didn’t. Only issue is diff overheating but can be resolved with a exhaust heat shield
Corolla is preserving car culture. Welcome to the future.
The Corolla has always been one of the poster boys of JDM of car culture (AE86 of course)
Just gone from a GTI to a GRC, Doug is totally correct with all his driving comments. Daily driving the GRC requires commitment, but to be honest, it makes the commute an event though I do miss the GTI's interior and that awesome DSG.
You know you are living in an alternative reality when Doug says a Corolla starts at $51K 🌎🌎
The true crazy thing is just how well built the 3 Cylinder is. Those cylinder walls are THICCC
I’m proud of Doug. Ive been watching sense day one..i feel like I’ve watched him grow up lol. You’re the best Doug
i like how rev-match isn't always on. for daily driving, it's a nuisance. if sometimes needed on these daily drives, it should be instinctive for you to rev-match.
I think it's mainly for if you let someone borrow your car or a valet but then again who in the right mind is gonna let their GR Hatch get borrowed??
Compared to my GR Yaris, that trunk space looks huge.
About the red stitching: almost everything that has red stitching is shared with the GR Yaris: wheel, seats, handbrake, etc. The dash is different, and there you got black stitching. Rear seats are different too, the yaris has full leather on the back
I am a die hard muscle car guy. Camaros especially… but there is something exciting about this thing… I just keep watching videos on it lol.
Doug: I don't state my highway speeds while filming
Also Doug: watch me pass these cars 30mph faster
😏
also appears that he didn't use his blinker multiple times.. Disgusting.
While this car is amazing, it still disappoints me to no end that Toyota won't sell the GR Yaris here in North America! Not all of us want a 4/5 door hatchback and a smaller 3 door would be perfect! Also, I cam almost guarantee that dealership greed is going to ensure that none of these will go out the door for less than $60K and that will spell the end of the GR Corolla due to poor sales from dealership greed.
Then you go looking for pre-owned BMW M2 instead.
100%. I love this car but would really rather have GR Yaris.
@@tomw485 agreed. That is the other little buff car I dig like this. But maintenance n repair costs...
If you’ve got 60k set aside for a sporty hatchback why exactly would you get a corolla? Idk about the American market unfortunately but, (R)S3, A45, Leon Cupra, I30 N, M135i, Focus RS, Megane RS all these perform as well or better than the Corolla, all look better than the corolla (imo) and you can find anyone of them for the same price.
@@blanco7726 the insane markups and dealer BS doomed the Focus RS here in the USA as well. 😔 many of the ones around me wouldnt even let you test drive without all but signing the papers, and finding one without a dealer markup was impossible.
I got mine at msrp in 2023 and I absolutely love mine, the only draw backs I find is no center console which I just throw everything in the glove box which can be a little annoying but whatever and trunk space, I don’t use my trunk for much but if you do it is very small. For being in a snowy climate as well it comes alive with winter tires on it and it’s a blast in the summer/winter
So, I know we don't talk about aftermarket a ton on your channel BUT I've seen the block of that engine. The sidewalls are massive and one piece across all three cylinders. There was a group, I don't remember their name I'd have to look it up, but the turned the yaris up to about 480 I think. I can easily see that engine being able to produce 600 with some good head studs, a good turbo, and proper tune.
Great review Doug...I love the GR Corolla and almost purchased an XSE Corolla but didn't because it's FWD. As a Subaru WRX enthusiast I'm into the hatchback scene and the GR Corolla is a dream come true for USDM but unfortunately the GR Corolla isn't available at MSRP or even close to MSRP. So owning a USDM GR Corolla is as big a dream as owning a USDM Lancia Delta Integrale!! 😊
Toyota really needs to be careful when releasing this car. It's AWD. A lot of folks in climates that get snow are gonna want it just for that. It's fast. It's balanced. It's practical. There are very few cars out there today that fit this bill. If you want a sports car, you don't really need AWD. If you want practicality, there's better options. This car might be more stiff than necessary for a daily but it fits the bill of everything I'd want in one. Fast, AWD, reliable (AFAIK since I haven't seen any reliability criticism of the GR Yaris), and practical. This is probably a dream car for a lot of people like myself and it'll be a damn shame if dealer greed kills it and makes it go the way of the Focus RS.
Probably the most excited I’ve been for a Toyota in a long time. Glad this car is 100% Toyota unlike the Supra and GR86.
Toyota partly owns Subaru, so technically the GR 86 belongs to the parent company Toyota.
@@Asiansxsymbol Toyota is the biggest share holder in Subaru last I heard as well haha
Toyota built the great car. I have no idea why the worst engine maker ever, Subaru, supplied the engine. Needs this 3 cyl.
Only one of these available in my area at the moment is a gently used base model with 600 miles... for $46,000. $9K markup from base MSRP for a car that's already had an owner (briefly).
Pretty much the same story with the GR86 where I've seen them having asking prices above $44K for new (although you can find them for only $38K).
DID anyone notice the stock gr wheel had the enkei name on it ? (4:49). Does that mean you can get the GR with Enkei wheels? from factory??????
What I certainly love about this is that Toyota made AWD in a hatchback and a manual. Personally, I love AWD in any "sedanish" platform. I think Toyota really knocked it out of the park with this one.
This could be seen as a spiritual successor to the STI hatch, but better - and I'm an STI hatch owner myself. The STI had quad exhausts, so like the GRC, one tip per each cylinder. All the interior badges and red stitching are eerily similar, and the hood vents are very visible, just like the hood scoop on the STI.
On top of that, both have 3 differentials, front McPherson strut, rear double wishbone suspension, 4 pot front brakes, 2 pot rears, 6-speed manual and were originally designed for rally. All of this, but the Corolla is still lighter and more reliable than the STI. I want one.
Why are people so focused on cars having to be comfortable? There LITERALLY isn't a new car for sale today that I would describe as punishing. No car has ALL uniball/rose joint suspension components. VERY FEW cars have pillow ball upper shock mounts. Even on "track specials" like GT3 and ZL1 1LE, Z06--the suspension, while stiffer, does npt have crazy spring rates. These are still street cars. They still have AC, climate control, power windows/doorlocks, glass windows, longish shift throws, and they are all tuned to idle at 650 rpm and pull smoothly. You can change ALL that in the aftermarket and make the car punishing for the street. My daily driver is an FK8 CTR, and it has spring rates of 263 front/235 rear (lbs-in). In comfort mode it is downright soft. Soft enough where I changed the stock springs because I felt the springs were intentionally left soft to appease the modern car customer.
My point is that if you are getting a hot hatch, you want the sharp handling. Why get the sharp version and then soften it up so you can be comfortable enough to nap at the wheel?
I wouldn't mind having a Toyota garage including this, Supra, and a GR86. The last time I felt this way was when I coveted a RSX, NSX, and S2000 from Honda.
I love a hot hatch. And I think this might just be the hottest hatch since the Group B craze of the 80s.
Fact check: True✅️
This is easily in its own class dispute it being compared to the type R and others I consider that it’s the only of its kind
Nah I’d still prefer the Supra as the hotter hatch.
this is the new focus RS since FORD gave up on making cool cars
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 Supra can be faster but it is not a hot hatch.
In all honesty this is going to be a collectors car. I feel like Toyota put more effort in this car than the new supra
as a 2003 Vibe GT owner (basically a toyota corolla "hot" hatchback for those who don't know) this seems like the ideal replacement, but like many of you are saying this thing is gonna be marked up and overpriced for a very long time...i'll keep the vibe for now. 208k, beaten to shit every day, still gets up and sings to 8,200RPM before you're violating speed limits 💩
I think calling it a hot hatch is a stretch. The vibe/ matrix is just a station wagon.
Just imagine once the tuners get some time with this platform! A 400awhp GR Corolla is on the table for sure and that would be insane.
Since it’s the same engine as the Yaris there is already a lot of options out there some company in Australia almost managed to get 500hp out of it with stock internals and the head gasket was the failure point which makes sense
@@primalsubie6347 It is after all the new Wrx STi till the electric STi comes out
@@primalsubie6347 I saw that video too. The durability of that engine is insane. So glad its also in the GR corolla. Tune that baby to 400 WHP and you got a rocketship on wheels. Wonder how much power it can push with aftermarket upgraded head gasket
Not exactly, this 3 cylinder engine is damn near maxed out if not already from the factory. You'll probably gain minimal hp/tq from bolt ons and a tune.
@@Jcastro9444 i agree, if the engine was made by honda, most likely it can take more.
Doug picking apart the "cheap interior/backup camera" is completely missing the point. OEM's have become disconnected from their customers. Over the years they've been adding so many unnecessary features and options, jacking up those MSRP's. Toyota kept their eyes on the target. They produced a hot hatch with stellar performance, meanwhile keeping it relatively affordable for the masses. Well done Toyota.
You say you absolutely hate the fact it has 3 exhausts for 3 cylinders but given the fact each cylinder makes 100HP on its own, I think this is a very fitting exhaust setup.
I think it is like that just for CO emissions
The STI also had an exhaust pipe for each cylinder.
The fact that toyota doesn't seem to want to make this a regular production model just proves they are perfectly fine with the price gouging that will happen at the dealerships and it just flat out pathetic on Toyotas part
its prob not cheap to manufacture
You're just clueless and your comment moronic, you think they can do anything about it? You don't want price gouging then do something about your second world country ALLOWING dealers to do whatever they want because they've bought the policy makers off. That's the problem. There are no cars over MSRP in my first world country, it doesn't happen.
@@superbros1690 I'm sure it's not so why would they only make such a limited number and not make more money off of it to recoup those cost? The markups aren't going to toyota they are going to the dealership
i used to daily my race car. i grew up driving 60,s pickups that usually didn't have all the gears.
I just got a GR Corolla Core with the performance package and Tech package wich means it is just missing the body work upgrages and to my toughened driving style it feels wonderfly soft and plush. and its fast and sporty enough that i can daily drive it without getting so board i want to die.
i have had it for 48 hours and it had 427 miles i picked it up with 8 miles on the clock.
i LOVE IT.
I have a 2016 GLA45 and am considering getting one of these little monsters. Fun is my most important metric.
Buy a Honda Beat. Fun x10.
As a huge Focus RS fanboy that is still salty there won't be a new one, I was not impressed when this was announced and kind of was glad that it seemed worse on paper than an RS or an STI hatch. Hearing Doug be so excited about it makes me super happy now. I'm so glad that it seems to give people the feeling a hot hatch should. Just pure fun and all season, everyday practicality. Really hope to be able to drive one and that a ton of people who want one of these will get one for a good price. Such a cool car and glad you can buy one new in 2022. Also just reinforces how awesome it would be to have a 2022 STI hatch and also I dream at night about an AWD Type R. I know it doesn't "need" AWD but if you've driven a Focus RS or STI hard, there is just nothing better than the grip and confidence those awd systems have. To end, I love hot hatches and can't wait for these to be on the road, and can't wait to buy a GR Yaris in 24 years!
^this! Have been daily driving a Ford RS for 5+ years and love every bit of the GRC, with exception of triple exhaust.
An awd civic would be the ultimate HH. Best engine reliability and quality
Ford killing the focus in general is stupidest decision ever. Even the mid to high level Focus’s were such fun cars to drive. They had truly perfected the Focus line at that point. Shame they’re gone and shame that dealers were the culprits for the Focus RS being discontinued so quickly. At least the RS could’ve had a chance to continue but nope.
I’m taking the golf R every single time. 315hp stock 4 cylinder vs 300hp 3 cylinder. Golf has more tuning overhead, more mature exterior, and the interior is in a completely different class. Mrsp is within 2 thousand and you’ll actually be able to purchase one somewhere close to sticker.
If you think you are going to get a new Golf R at MSRP at any time in the foreseeable future, you are kidding yourself. A 2023 Golf R is $45,000. A neighbor is a sales manager at a local VW dealer and he said they will definitely be "market adjusted" by at least $5k
I was searching one for real a while back. After literally calling all dealerships in Cali, I found one until we got a dealer in New Mexico, and I was quoted for two options. Buy a corolla or rav4 with it for no markup or pay the 15 grand markup.
I used that 15 grand markup and bought myself a W211 E55 AMG and kept the change for gas.
Cool story bro
You'll need a little more change for higher service, maintenance, and insurance costs.
@@Nick210 I thought it was cool too. E55 is a great car.
@@bwofficial1776 if you are brave enough, all highways can be autobhans in the E55.
So excited for this car and I want one. Those dealerships are going to mark them up so much just like the type r
Me too... But GR Corolla gonna be expensive...
I think, without driving either one, I'd prefer this over the Civic Type R. One primary reason: torque steer. I had a 2013 Focus ST which, for many reasons, I grew to hate. The torque steer was incredible. Floor the accelerator in 2nd gear at about 40 mph and it would pull you right off the road into a ditch! Which made passing anyone on a two lane road even more exciting!
I love this thing... Been saving up to buy one but with the insane markups and the limited practicality I ended up going a very different route for my everyday driver. I hope it sells well and they make more of them so I can get one in a few years.
Just wait no ones going to be buying shit next year and the car market is already starting to turn around. Prices are dropping.
Same. Sold my new GTI and bought a 1995 Acura Legend as my daily to save as much as I could to buy one but there is no way I was paying $50+k for a f’ing Corolla. I realize it’s not on the same level, but I bought an Elantra N for $34k because there wasn’t any phantom $20k markup and I love it.
^ realize after taxes and title you'll be hovering just under 45k for a loaded core at msrp. GL grabbing a bare bones core, but even then you'd be staring at ~40k.
300hp all wheel drive sounds beasty on a hatchback like this, nice
It sounds beasty because it is beasty. I know the Type R has an advanced FWD system, but it’s still a FWD system and when it comes to hot hatches, an AWD system is still the way to go in my eyes.
Civic Type R: The hot hatch you marry
GR Corolla: The hot hatch you think about, when you're with your Civic
Uhh Doug, the rear floor is no different than my 21. You don't lose any floor height by putting the battery in the rear. The 21 comes with a spare tire under the floor and still has the "gaps" between the floor and fenders, just like the GR. Only thing they've done is remove the tire and fit the battery and a new foam cutout to support the floor. Btw I like the gaps, I carry a lot of cleaning supplies, jumpers, and other misc. and they stay tucked and out of the way very nicely back there
i got rid of the spare myself and put a tire patch kit in its place! it wastes far too much room!
@@JohnDoe-cv8iw if it's between a spare and kit, I choose the spare. A kit doesn't help much if you have shred the tire or blow out a side wall, God forbid. But I have neither because I opted for a JL audio system and that's where my sub and amps went 😅
@@jamesphifer171 same here gotta skar ZVX 12 on a skar SKV2500.. my box is 2.8cu foot.. so its a super tight fit!!! you find any options for alternators yet? I havent looked much yet but when i did i didnt have much luck. I been plugging my car into the charger at night lol... JL's are dope i wish i could get an 8w7 but i cant bring myself to spend $1000 on an 8 inch sub
So, a full size spare would fit in the GR? A fan of a real spare
@@stevethomas760 I believe it's a full size spare in diameter but not in width. Looks like a scaled up donut spare
It would cool to be able to obtain one, but we will have to see how the market and dealers treat it, may very well turn into another focus RS situation sadly, hope it’s not the case, would make a great winter daily for me
AWD and manual. Toyota has been holding out on us for years
As a new car manager at a Toyota dealer we have never seen so many people, from all walks of life, calling and even demanding to order the GR Corolla even before A DOUG SCORE! Oh boy things are gonna get wild for this one... Great review as always Doug, long time watcher first time commenter.
I totally agree with your assessment. Been longing for a Civic Type R competitor for a lonnnggg time. And it’s finally here and they nailed it.
A stage 1 tuned GTI can beat a type R pretty easy so don’t count out the golf GTI
@@nolanwarman9659 You are correct, what I mean to say is for a long time, the Corolla and Civic have always been direct competitors, more so then VW. But the Corolla has not had a performance model since the mid 2000 XRS model. Even then, it would be more of a competitor to the Si Civic. But no competitor to the Type R...until now
Yeah.. but what happens when the gti blows itself up with the shitty Cobb tune? Type r unanimously wins
I am absolutely getting this car, Toyota is the greatest car manufacturer ever,, to the very dedication of their craft, those scientists and artists are the greatest and I dedicate to their name
Toyota made the WRX hatchback that Subaru didnt wanna make.
But more reliable
A 1.6l 3 cylinder is massive, the Yaris used to come with a 1.5l 4 cylinder that barely made 116hp.
My 85 CRX Si has a 1.5l 4-cylinder and makes 91. Haha. 300 out of a 3-cylinder is nutty.
I honestly am happy the car doesn't have rev matching by default. The fact that it's so crude and presumably raw is the part that I absolutely love. I don't need or want gimmicky stuff like sunroofs and luxurious rides. I solely drive carbureted cars with manual everything because modern cars simply don't do it for me.
I get the feeling this is one of those few cars that'll suit my driving but sadly they'll likely be scalped beyond reasonable prices until Toyota quits producing them. 😢
My manual Corolla 2022 has the same button but it's right next to the shifter along with the traction control button. Same thing happens if you turn on the iMT and turn the car off it doesn't stay on the next time you start it up. It's useful for if you're just not feeling it today and you feel sloppy and have a cold or something.
If you like rev matching then get a CDL. My work Kenworth will only downshift between 1200 and 1500 anything else and it won't take the gear. It's pleasing to get all the gears in with no grinding.
@@williamgomez5876 automated manual like an FAO or FO? I've been around a lot of Eaton Fullers.
I sat in the car today, and it's amazing how purpose built it really was, it felt like there was shit all in the car ,basic door cars and nothing but rally built products, its awesom.
> I honestly am happy the car doesn't have rev matching by default.
Ditto.
People who need a rev matcher really don't know how to drive a stick in the first place.
Great car at MSRP, but if it's marked up I might as well look at porsche
Might as well look at an R35 GTR. Fuck it, I'll look at *x brand priced higher*
@@Wind_slash0 the front looked like a downgraded R34GTR 25GT Turbo. 😂
how much the markup?
I still prefer the GR Yaris but this Corolla looks like a great all around hot hatch. Toyota are on a roll lately
Dealerships have ruined everything. I would buy one today, but due to dealers attempting to hit me with mark up on 3 orders over the last 3 years. I’ll never purchase another new car.
Let's talk on telegram 👆got something for you.
I work for Toyota’s ad division. We were so excited for this one to get to y’all. So glad you love it Doug ❤❤
Can you convince Toyota to make more of them too?
Doug missed the part where the circuit gets LSDs standard, but are optional on the core
Frankly a core with the lsds, and a better hood (you know someone is gonna make one) is the move
He tends to not check the spec sheet before reviewing a car
There is a reason why exhaust pipes are like this, it ain't stupid, it's to reduce backpressure at high rpm's, that's how you get your insane 300hp with 3 cylinders..
Fun seeing Doug genuinely love a car. Also nice that it is an affordable one. If only you could get them at sticker
how is this affordable even at sticker? 40k for the base model? think of the other cars you could get for that model. Im sorry but a 300hp 3 cyllinder souped up version of a normal car does not strike me as a 40,000$ vehicle. I cant see a reason to buy this car.
I think you're giving the car, and other hot hatchbacks like it, a bit too much crap for having basic interiors. For one, a basic interior in 2022 likely has equivalent or better features compared to luxury cars from not that long ago, even if the materials are still pretty cheap. Also, I think most people who buy a performance car around this price point would rather not spend extra money just for a dashboard and center console made of fine leather and wood.
Best car ever made, JBL sound system such a great feature.
Hey Doug, thanks for reviewing this video and comparing it so much to its competitors. One question i dont think was answered in the video is, how is the clutch?