Toyota GR Corolla VS Honda Civic Type R

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.

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 knackered 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.

Video Review: 2023 Honda Civic Type Review VS Toyota GR Corolla – The Surprise Story – REVIEW – Alan Zurvas GAYCARBOYS 

Video Review: Toyota GR 86 Mini Review  #toyotagr86 #gaycarboys Alan Zurvas GAYCARBOYS #shorts

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ABOVE: 2023 GR Corolla and Honda Civic Type R

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.

The cabins:

Although the Honda was more comfortable, the GR Corolla had an HUD. They both had wireless CarPlay, but the GR Corolla’s JBL audio blew the Type R out of the water. I’m a JBL fan, and the tones were rich and beautiful whereas the Type R was a little tame.

Racing/sports seats are notorious for being like painter’s planks covered in houndstooth. Although both cars had firm and grippy seats, they were surprisingly comfortable. On a side note: The GR Corolla had a special edition version that deleted the rear seats for an extra 8 grand. PALEEESSEEE! Some people have more dollars than sense.

Both cars have digital driver dials, infotainment tablets, and drive modes, but there are some little differences down underneath where it counts. The GR Corolla has a dial to shunt power around its AWD system, and the Type R active adjustable damping. Swings and roundabouts, as my maiden great aunty Ag used to say.

I voted for the Type R’s fabulous red suede seats,  and restrained yet classy interior.

The Drive:

The boys were evenly divided on the pros and cons.

GR Corolla is a nippy terrier that is hard core all the time. It is sharp, with steering, brakes and ride that feel remarkably like surgical instruments. Its 3cylinder 1.6L turbo weighs in at 221kw, so the slightly lower power figure compared to Honda’s 235kw, might lead you to think it is quicker. No, not a bit of it, the GR Corolla has AWD making it 1.1 seconds faster to the hundy.

Honda Type R had a slightly longer run, given the GR Corolla gave up the ghost, on a highway, in a hail storm. That gave me the irrits, I’m not gonna lie, but it didn’t colour my opinion. I blame the blithering fools who put the other 7,000km on the clock.

Type R felt a little smoother round town. Active dampers are slightly less bone jarring on the comfort setting, but she is still a firm ride. My days of enjoying random organ rearrangement are over, so I’d like the soft setting even softer.

Our weekend away saw the Honda rtraverse a slightly wider array of road surfaces. We felt the Honda was a smidge more spacious, but it also used a little more fuel. Type R was divine in corners, the tighter the better, but the was also a right goer, and no mistake. The pretty little GR Corolla had a wonderfully tight body, but we agreed that both Hatches had a stiffness that would keep and gay driver happy. OH GROW UP!

The Type R’s rev matching is on permanently, after all, why wouldn’t it be. GR Corolla gives you a choice, and it also has the better noise. Noise, people!

The Type R is just way too quiet, so a nice selectable system to dial up the right amount of crescendo when needed is just what the doctor ordered. I’d also love an HUD, which seemed an obvious omission.

Over dinner last night, the 10 of us were enraptured by the experience of a pair of the best Japanese metalwork currently in the hot hatch segment. They have a warmth and friendliness lacking in the Europeans. Even though the Corolla acted all ornery, Japanese and Korean cars are generally more reliable, according to their customers.

The engineering concealed under the skin is a delicious concoction that everyone should be able to experience.

Safety:

Both cars have a decent array of safety and driver aids. Apart from lane assist/departure, there is active cruise control, but for obvious reasons (a clutch) there is no queue assist.

Honda has finally kicked Lane Watch to the kerb, thankfully.

Excellent reversing cameras complete the suite that keeps the Toyota and Honda right up to date. The much cheaper Toyota GR 86 is not so lucky. That is the car currently under test, and it has blind spot monitor, but manual cruise control, and no AEB. Dear god! What is this, the 18^th century?

Conclusion:

You might have thought we’d view the GR Corolla less favourably because of its unfortunate circumstances, but consider this: it is a press car that has been thrashed to within an inch of its life.

Mental note: don’t buy ex press cars.

The Honda won, but only just. David was less praising of the GR Corolla, saying the difference was chalk and cheese. Luke, Travis, Casper, Max, and Nico, preferred the raw feeling GR Corolla provided. I picked Honda for the reasons stated in my VIDEO REVIEW.

Type R specifications Here:Honda Civic Type R 23YM digital spec sheet

GR Corolla Brochure and Specifications HERE:  20230607 GR Corolla with Morizo Edition Brochure

MORE TO COME-Check back in an hour

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