2026 Toyota GR Corolla: Evolution Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

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Toyota is showcasing the results of its ongoing improvements with the 2026 GR Corolla. Since its 2023 debut, this high-performance, all-wheel-drive hatchback has received several updates, and after three years of work, it’s truly exceptional.

Recently, Toyota hosted a test drive event in Napa Valley, California, where we had the chance to experience the 2026 GR Corolla, the 2026 GR Supra MKV Final Edition, and the 2026 GR 86 Yuzu Edition. The event also included insights from the key developers and engineers who explained the evolutionary upgrades made to these models over time.

The 2026 GR Corolla features subtle improvements, primarily to its underlying structure – the chassis upon which the car is built. According to Chief Engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto, an extra 45.6 feet of adhesive bonding has significantly increased the car’s rigidity. This makes the new model stiffer not only compared to older versions, but also the high-performance GR Corolla Morizo Edition, which itself was already considerably stiffer than the standard model. The 2026 GR Corolla also includes an additional air cooling duct in the front, providing more cool air to the engine during extended track use. This upgrade was directly informed by testing at the Nürburgring, where the car needed to withstand 16.1 miles of demanding driving.

In addition to the planned updates for 2026, the GR Corolla received several improvements in 2024 and 2025. These included stronger bolts, updated brakes (ABS), stiffer springs, and improved airflow. Even small details like aluminum panels were added to the wheel wells to reduce static. All of these changes were made to enhance the car’s handling and make it feel more responsive and engaging on the racetrack.

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I just spent the whole day putting the 2026 GR Corolla through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, and wow, the improvements over the 2023 and 2024 models are seriously noticeable! It felt so much more agile, responsive, and connected to the road. Cornering at speed was way more controlled and stable. They bumped up the torque in 2025 to 295 lb-ft – up from 273 in the earlier Core models – and you definitely feel that power. But it wasn’t just that; it felt like all the little tweaks they’ve made over the years really came together. Honestly, if you’re thinking about getting a GR Corolla, 2026 is the one to get, hands down.

At the track day, we also drove the GR Supra Final Edition, which is Toyota’s last version of the popular GR Supra. We were particularly drawn to the GT4 Style Pack, which included aerodynamic improvements and a different look. While we weren’t overly impressed with the matte white paint, the aerodynamic additions on the front bumper and window edges are genuinely useful at higher speeds – over 100 mph. The “GR” side decals might be considered a bit much by some, but we thought they gave the Final Edition a nice touch of personality.

Finally, we tested the GR 86 Yuzu Edition, and it highlighted something important: you don’t need a huge amount of power to have fun. The GR 86 is light, well-balanced, and has a great manual transmission and limited-slip differential. These features make its 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque feel surprisingly effective – proving that power isn’t the only thing that matters.

It’s great to see Toyota continually improving the GR Corolla, and even better that Toyota GR as a brand is so dedicated to supporting and refining its vehicles. While the recent technical updates might seem small, they really make a difference when you add them all up.

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2025-09-25 19:26