New 2026 GR Corolla Tested: Cooler Temps, Tighter Body, Same Power

The 2026 Toyota GR Corolla arrives without costume changes, and that is a good thing. Toyota focused on feel, adding 45.6 feet of structural adhesive across the front and rear to tighten the body and sharpen the connection you sense through the seat. Rear grip is improved, and the suspension calms small road scars better than before. Together, those tweaks make the car more direct in quick transitions and more confidence inspiring when you commit to a corner.

Heat management gets attention, too. A new auxiliary air intake duct helps keep temperatures down so the turbocharged 1.6 liter three cylinder can deliver consistent performance on back-to-back pulls. Output remains 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet. Power is routed to the front axle through a six speed manual transmission or an eight speed automatic transmission, giving drivers two distinct personalities to choose from.

The lineup simplifies to GR Corolla and GR Corolla Premium Plus. The Premium Plus trim adds a nine speaker JBL audio system with a trunk mounted subwoofer and introduces Active Sound Control, which plays synthetic engine sounds through the speakers to add extra auditory cues. Purists may raise an eyebrow, because the G16E GTS engine already has a lively note, but we will reserve judgment until we can confirm whether the feature can be turned off.

Pricing starts at $41,115 for the base model with the manual transmission and climbs to $49,160 for the Premium Plus with the automatic transmission, both including the $1,195 destination and handling charge. There is still no official word on the GRMN, although dealer event photos hinted at a lighter, more hardcore special with a vented carbon fiber hood, bronze wheels, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, only two front bucket seats, and a numbered plaque suggesting a run of 500 units. If it appears, expect a price that begins with a 6 for many buyers once markups land.

Bottom line: the 2026 car keeps the raw charm that made the GR Corolla a favorite, then adds polish where it matters most—rigidity, grip, and heat control.