Recently imported for a Personal Import client, this Corolla got us thinking. Is it any better than the Yaris?
It runs the same engine. The same all wheel drive system. The same gearbox options. What it adds is rear doors, back seats you can put adults in and a boot that holds more than a helmet bag. If you want GR-Four performance every day rather than every other Sunday, this might be the answer.
This 2025 RZ example arrived with less than 3,000 miles on the clock and an auction grade of 5, presenting close to brand new. Finished in pearl white, it contrasts perfectly against the black accents and carbon roof. It also has the additional Sport Package, which brings semi-bucket front seats with GR logos, a suede steering wheel, shift knob and handbrake, all finished with red stitching and matched to the distinctive red seatbelts.
What Makes It Different From a Yaris
Mechanically, not much. Both cars use the G16E-GTS, Toyota's 1.6 litre turbocharged three cylinder, and both drive through GR-Four all wheel drive with a torque split you can shuffle from 60:40 to 50:50 to 30:70, with the splits tweaked as of 2025. Both come with a six speed manual, and the 8 speed GR-DAT automatic arrived on both from 2024.
The body is where they part ways. The GR Yaris sits on a shortened supermini platform and weighs around 1,280kg. The GR Corolla uses something much closer to the standard Corolla hatch and carries up to 1,500kg. The lightweight Morizo edition sheds around 45kg and holds 400Nm.
Then there is the bit that matters most over here. Toyota has never sold the GR Corolla in the UK or Europe and has said it has no plans to, because GR Yaris demand already outstrips what the factory can build. Importing is not a shortcut. It is the only way to get one.
So Is It Any Better?
On power, Yes. The GR Corolla makes 296 to 304PS depending on market and edition. That is around 39bhp up on a European spec Yaris and roughly 28bhp up on the facelifted JDM car. Torque sits level at 400Nm on the strongest versions of each.
That same little 1.6 is now hauling around 160kg of extra bulk, and no amount of turbo pressure argues with physics. On a proper back road we reckon the Yaris feels sharper, especially when you factor in its short wheelbase and extra wide width. However
Tech is a draw. Same GR-Four hardware, same drive modes, same logic underneath. The Corolla's real advantage is space rather than gadgets. Those extra doors could be the tipping point for anyone who cannot compromise on practicality, because the Corolla is simply that bit easier to live with. The cabin feels slightly more sophisticated in here too.
We asked our staff which of the two looks better, and the responses came back split almost exactly down the middle. The Corolla gets flared arches, a vented bonnet and the full homologation costume. We think the proportions land better than the Yaris. Where the Yaris looks like a supermini nugget that has been to the gym, the Corolla's wide track and longer body wear the aggression well, although some would argue it blends in and conforms to the general performance hatchback shape. The triple tip exhaust is where opinions really split. We dare not comment on th
e matter, but at least it is functional and not fake.
A Word On The Automatic
You have probably noticed this one is an automatic. It runs Toyota's own 8 speed GR-DAT, and after a day covering motorways, B roads and town driving, it gets a big thumbs up from us. Toyota have built an automatic that is properly engaging, simulating a manual without the clutch pedal, and it is far more impressive than it has any right to be.
In manual mode you will be slamming through the first four of its eight gears, which adds to the punchiness, while 7th and 8th make motorway journeys pleasant. Some argue a sports car should not need a comfort setting, but being able to flick the gearbox from smooth and subtle to sharp and snappy is an absolute treat. Yes, a manual could be more fun. Then again, even top tier rallying runs semi-automatic sequential shifts.
Paired with the extra space, it makes this the most usable version of the GR formula we have driven.
Want One Like This?
If you want the sharpest version of this drivetrain and space is of no concern to you, buy a GR Yaris. If you want the same engine and the same all wheel drive in a car you can live with seven days a week, the GR Corolla wins comfortably. That is precisely why our client went this route.
You cannot order one from a UK dealer. There is no waiting list to join. Importing from Japan is the only door in, and that means a fair few hoops to jump through. For us it is straightforward, considering we have been doing it for 25 years.
We have been importing Japanese performance cars since 2001 and we handle personal imports like this one from the Japanese auction house to your driveway. Every step handled by us.
What The Owner Says
We have had the pleasure of importing a couple of cars for Ahmed over the years. His current fleet includes a Honda NSX and this GR Corolla, with a Toyota Land Cruiser GR on its way from Japan as we speak.
Here are a few impressions from the man himself.
"Honestly a 10/10 car for every day use. They are a bit noisier than the DBX was at motorway speeds but that's a very unfair comparison and more felt in the rear seats. At the front it was very quiet and no wind noise at all. I just find it criminal that they don't sell them in this market!"
"We were at Silverstone last weekend and the thing got so much attention. Fits a baby seat, pram and a racing kit bag with plenty of room spare. So practical!"
Ahmed, GR Corolla owner and Torque GT Personal Import client
