Toyota Corolla GR Sport: long-term test review

Verdict

Chris has enjoyed his 1.8-litre hybrid Corolla’s impressive frugality, engaging driving experience and performance that feels even peppier than the figures suggest on paper. There’s a comprehensive package of well integrated safety and assistance systems, too, and the up-to-date infotainment certainly does the business. But he thinks rival hatchbacks are more practical.

  • Mileage: 3,901
  • Economy: 54.9mpg

Back in the late nineties when Jeremy Clarkson-types were making pious jokes about the original Prius hybrid[1], I was geeking-out on its ‘future tech’ and animated dashboard; remember the tortoise-shaped warning light that flashed on the dash when the battery ran out of puff?

But the giant Toyota[2] industrial machine was not deterred by the sneers of non-believers. It had looked around, crunched the numbers, and declared it was developing hybrid[3] tech to be the only truly sustainable path to a hydrogen[4]-fuelled future. While others point at advances in battery EVs[5], and hoot that fuel-cell-powered cars[6] will remain the stuff of fantasy forever, all I will say is that, having spent the last month or so at the wheel of the latest generation of hybrid Corolla[7], not a single part of me wishes I was driving an EV hatchback[8] instead.

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I write this having just returned from the 45-mile drive I make regularly between Hampshire and West Sussex, on busy A and B-roads, and on which the Corolla frequently returns more than 64mpg. I thought my old Mercedes B-Class[9] diesel[10] was frugal after once returning 48mpg on that trip, but the Toyota is in a different league. Such parsimonious sipping of petrol makes it impossible to believe the Corolla is doing more damage to the planet than an EV, and I speak not as a climate-change denier, but a pragmatist – who has yet to install a home charger[11].

The Corolla I’m driving on an extended loan is our original road-test car,[12] which delivered 54.2mpg over the course of that test. It’s currently mostly used for a mixture of B-road tootling by my partner, who gets up early to tend to her livestock, and typically more rushed motorway mileage by yours truly. Between us we’re averaging close to 55mpg.

There’s not much to criticise about the way this fifth-generation hybrid goes down the road, either. The powertrain, with its combination of recently upgraded battery and motor, plus smooth 1.8-litre engine, makes a total of 138bhp, giving swift progress when required. 

I’ve enjoyed how composed the car feels when attacking the twisty bits, as well. The ride is just on the acceptable side of firm (and the tyres occasionally on the noisy side), but the damping is excellent, even over Hampshire’s execrable tarmac, and the Toyota grips and turns nicely. 

The excellent integration of safety systems has also impressed me, especially the lane-keeping assistance, which together with the active cruise control, takes much of the strain out of motorway driving. The Corolla looks sharp in this car’s GR Sport[13] trim with natty black machine-faced alloys – but I’m dreading the near inevitability of that first kerb contact, because we often have to park next to the pavement in town.

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Less impressive are the Corolla’s relatively confined rear quarters, because my nine-year-old daughter tends to sit with her feet up if riding behind me; I’m a big unit and need all of the driving-seat travel. The sloping hatch eats into boot space, too, so we’re yet to try it on the dog[14]. 

Model: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid GR Sport On fleet since: May 2023 Price new: £33,005 Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 138bhp CO2/tax: 105g/km/£170 Options: Metallic paint (£630) Insurance*: Group: 17E Quote: £825 Mileage: 3,901 MPG: 54.9mpg Any problems? None so far

*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

References

  1. ^ Prius hybrid (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  2. ^ Toyota (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  3. ^ hybrid (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  4. ^ hydrogen (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  5. ^ EVs (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  6. ^ fuel-cell-powered cars (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  7. ^ Corolla (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  8. ^ hatchback (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  9. ^ Mercedes B-Class (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  10. ^ diesel (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  11. ^ home charger (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  12. ^ original road-test car, (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  13. ^ GR Sport (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  14. ^ dog (www.autoexpress.co.uk)

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