The New GR Corolla Stiffens Up!

Toyota updated the GR Corolla for 2026, bringing a stiffer structure, and added a second air intake to keep the engine running cool on sustained hard runs.

After adding an automatic transmission last year, Toyota improved the GR Corolla again for 2026. The 2026 Toyota GR Corolla gets an additional 45.6 feet of structural adhesive around the front and rear of the unit construction frame. Toyota says that not only improved body rigidity but also improved suspension movement and gives the driver a more direct feel.

To keep the engine running cool, Toyota also added a second air intake duct. Doing so, Toyota says, allows the engine to run hard for longer stints and still output its peak engine performance.

2026 Toyota GR Corolla, engine bay. Image courtesy of Toyota.

The Three Musketeers

Peak outputs come from a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-three-cylinder engine. Each cylinder provides 100 horsepower. In total, it produces 300 horsepower at a high-for-a-turbo engine 6500 rpm as well as 295 lb.-ft. of torque between 3250-4600 rpm. From there, power now channels through your choice of a six-speed manual transmission, or an eight-speed automatic. And it heads to all-four-wheels.

Toyota put a lot of effort into the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. It includes two Torsen limited-slip differentials, one for the front and the other for the rear axle. And, with a twist of a dial, the driver chooses how torque disturbs between those axles. Default settings send 60 percent of the power to the front. But, in track mode, up to 70 percent of the power heads to the rear axle.

2026 Toyota GR Corolla, drive mode dial. Image courtesy of Toyota.

Two Trims for 2026

Toyota will sell two types of GR Corolla, standard and Premium Plus. The std. GR Corolla looks the part with a bulging hood, a color keyed spoiler, and 15-spoke gloss black wheels. You also sit on suede-trimmed sport seats to keep you snug. It includes gray stitching.

But upgrade to the Premium Plus to get a carbon fiber roof, gloss black rear spoiler, and a matte black 15-spoke wheel. Inside, those suede-trimmed seats now accompany red stitching. And a head-up display gets added to the dash. Premium Plus also gets a nine-speaking JBL sound system.

All GR Corollas make use of a fully digital 12.3-in instrument cluster and an eight-inch center display. And that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get a wireless smartphone charger. But only the Premium Plus adds heated seats and steering wheel.

2026 Toyota GR Corolla, interior. Image courtesy of Toyota.

Price

Both trims come with the choice of the automatic or the manual transmission. Going with the automatic adds $2k to the price tag. The base GR Corolla with the manual starts at $41,115, including the $1195 destination charge. Going Premium Plus manual raises the price more than $6k, starting at $47,160.

2026 Toyota GR Corolla, in profile. Image courtesy of Toyota.

Summary

Stiffening the structure of the GR Corolla, as well as adding more channels to keep the engine cool while running hard, points to Toyota’s continual effort to deliver a through and through enthusiasts’ car. In that vein, Toyota claims that both transmissions will get you to 60 miles per hour from rest in 4.9 seconds.

I enjoyed this machine when I reviewed it in 2023 (see video review above). Given these updates, it definitely merits another test drive. Stiffening the structure, especially, makes me cautiously optimistic that I’ll like it even more. As doing so will allow the suspension to work better and more precisely respond to my inputs. And, hopefully, keep a wider smile on my face.

I’ll find out as soon as I can.

For something a bit more mild, here’s Toyota’s non-GR Corolla hatchback.