Compare the2023 Volkswagen GTIVS 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen GTI have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota GR Corolla doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The GTI has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GTI has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The GTI’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GTI and the GR Corolla have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GTI the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GR Corolla has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The GTI comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The GR Corolla’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The GTI’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GR Corolla’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Volkswagen GTI’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the GR Corolla’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GTI gets better mileage than the GR Corolla:

			MPG
GTI
FWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy
GR Corolla
AWD	Manual	1.6 turbo 3-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the GTI’s fuel efficiency. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the GTI Automatic’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen GTI uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GR Corolla requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The GTI offers an optional automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

The GTI offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an SMG.

The GTI Automatic’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The GTI stops much shorter than the GR Corolla:

	GTI	GR Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	150 feet	167 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	110 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The GTI Autobahn’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GR Corolla’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GTI Autobahn has standard 19-inch wheels. The GR Corolla’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The GTI has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GR Corolla; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The GTI offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The GR Corolla’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GTI Autobahn handles at .98 G’s, while the GR Corolla Circuit Edition pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The GTI is 4.8 inches shorter than the GR Corolla, making the GTI easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volkswagen GTI amounts to more than styling. The GTI has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is significantly lower than the GR Corolla (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GTI get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the GTI is quieter than the GR Corolla Circuit Edition:

	GTI	GR Corolla
At idle	40 dB	52 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	81 dB
70 MPH Cruising	71 dB	72 dB

Passenger Space

The GTI has 7.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GR Corolla (91.9 vs. 84.6).

The GTI has .1 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear hip room than the GR Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The GTI has a much larger trunk than the GR Corolla with its rear seat up (19.9 vs. 17.8 cubic feet).

The GTI’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the GTI (except S), the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a memory system.

The GTI (except S)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GTI Autobahn has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GTI’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GR Corolla has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The GTI’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The GR Corolla’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the GTI to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GTI has a standard rear wiper. The GR Corolla MORIZO Edition doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GTI has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The GTI’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

When the GTI with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The GR Corolla’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The GTI’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GR Corolla offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GTI has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GR Corolla. The GTI Autobahn also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GR Corolla.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GTI (except S) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The GTI has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GR Corolla.

The GTI has a standard center folding armrest for the driver and front passenger. A center armrest helps combat driver fatigue. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a front seat center armrest.

The GTI has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The GTI Autobahn’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen GTI has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the GR Corolla.

The GTI Autobahn’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The GTI was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 16 of the last 16 years. The GR Corolla has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the GTI as their 2015 Car of the Year. The GR Corolla has never been chosen.

The GTI was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 5 of the last 15 years. The GR Corolla has never been an “All Star.”