2023 Honda Civic Type R Review VS Toyota GR Corolla The Surprising Result Alan Zurvas Final

It is hard to imagine more fun in one garage than Toyota GR Corolla and Honda Civic Type R, and this duo of darlings are as good as it gets for the price. (note: this video edit fixes a small typo in the first edition - GR Corolla is of course, 5 speed)
GayCarBoys Story HERE: gaycarboys.com/toyota-gr-coro...
Before we go on, there’ll already be the gnashing of teeth at the omission of old favourites like VW’s Golf GTI and Golf R, but liking one does not mean disliking the other. Social media randos will have a field day.
Sadly, we are in the propinquity of the death of internal engines. Moreover, future hot hatches might be 2-a-penny because most electric cars give hot hatches a run for their money, even if they can’t hide the heft of a bank of batteries blighting the handling.
You can put the Honda and Toyota specifications side by side, but I promise you it tells you nothing. In fact, I’d go further: Honda people will hanker for the Honda and Toyota folk will fancy the AWD filly with the GR symbol. That’s just the way of the world, and I’m not even sure why they bother reading reviews.
Some of the boys had a crack at the Honda, but had to resort to a test drive at a dealer for the GR Corolla. Our GR Corolla pulled up lame on the side of the Hume Highway with a clobbered clutch, and there is nothing sadder than a sexy hot hatch on a truck. After seeing some of the video reviews of previous drivers pounding our press car like a knackred old pony, I’m not surprised the left pedal had a hissy fit. Shouldn’t a track car be able to cope though?
We were evenly divided on looks, with the precious little GR Corolla looking just a touch butcher. Perhaps it is the massive mud guard extensions that give it a gym-bunny-doing-squats vibe. The Type R looks and feels more restrained, despite the huge wheels and slim tyres making it look like it was got at by modders.
#toyotaGRcorolla, #2023hondacivicTypeR,
with Alan from gaycarboys.com

[@davidarter9670]

Excellent review…..I’m too old to drive these cars!!!

[@gaycarboys]

its true, getting in and out is a challenge

[@WazzaG076]

Pleased to see Alan giving a car a bit of stick. Never too old for a hot hatch on a winding road. Nice 👍

[@gregturner_awod]

Both nice looking cars, the problem with the Corolla is a major concern. Decent cars for those who like powerful petrol engined cars. Both 98 RON so expensive to run, powerful engines for the size of both cars. Well spoken review of both, not sure I like the excessive rear end of the Honda. I no longer drive a petrol powered car and the torque/power of the 4WD EV I have coming exceeds what these guys produce. The Honda looks a nice car to drive. Thanks for another great review.

[@gaycarboys]

in the written review, we mention that the days of hot hatches are nearing the end. EVs can out-sprint them. Having said that, most EVs can't out-handle a hot hatch. Swings and round abouts. Also, since I first started driving EVs, the cost of recharge has gone up hugley, in some cases, doubled. I was out on the bike recently, and it only takes 98, and boy did i get a shock

[@gregturner_awod]

My charging will most be at home off solar with fast charging on distance trips from time to time, but yes, like everything else rip offs and cost increases are certain. Hot hatches will likely take different mechanical forms in the future, but I surely hope they don’t cease to exist. I have to admit that at my age my style of driving has moved on from hot hatches, and I surely don’t need to be faster than everyone else (though I once upon a time would have liked to be), but cars that handle and respond well remain essential to me.