Compare the2024 BMW M3VS 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The M3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW M3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M3 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The GR Corolla only offers a rear monitor.

Both the M3 and the GR Corolla have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The BMW M3 weighs 555 to 804 pounds more than the Toyota GR Corolla. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The M3 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GR Corolla’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The M3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GR Corolla’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the GR Corolla (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Toyota.

Engine

The M3 has more powerful engines than the GR Corolla:

	Horsepower	Torque
M3 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	473 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
M3 Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	503 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
M3 CS 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	543 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
GR Corolla 1.6 turbo 3-cylinder	300 HP	273 lbs.-ft.
GR Corolla Morizo Edition 1.6 turbo 3-cylinder	300 HP	295 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M3 3.0 is faster than the Toyota GR Corolla (base engine) (manual transmissions tested):

	M3	GR Corolla
Zero to 60 MPH	3.9 sec	4.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.2 sec	12.1 sec
Quarter Mile	12.2 sec	13.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	117 MPH	105 MPH
Top Speed	156 MPH	143 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the M3’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.

The M3 has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GR Corolla (15.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The M3 offers an optional automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

The M3’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

For better stopping power the M3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GR Corolla:

	M3	M3 CCB	GR Corolla
Front Rotors	15 inches	15.7 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	15 inches	11.7 inches

The M3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M3 stops much shorter than the GR Corolla:

	M3	GR Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	150 feet	167 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	110 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the GR Corolla (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 235/40R18). The M3’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GR Corolla (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 245/40R18).

The M3’s standard 285/35R19 rear 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. The M3’s optional 275/35R19 front and 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the GR Corolla’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M3 has standard 19-inch rear wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the GR Corolla. The M3 offers optional 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels.

Suspension and Handling

The M3 has a standard 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M3’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the GR Corolla (112.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the M3 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 0 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GR Corolla.

The M3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the GR Corolla’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the M3 more stable handling and braking.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the GR Corolla Circuit Edition pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M3 Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the GR Corolla (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 25 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the BMW M3 amounts to more than styling. The M3 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the GR Corolla (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the M3 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the M3 Competition is quieter than the GR Corolla Circuit Edition (44 vs. 52 dB).

Passenger Space

The M3 has 10.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GR Corolla (95 vs. 84.6).

The M3 has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 5.7 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the GR Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The M3’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 offers cargo security. The GR Corolla’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the M3. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M3’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The M3 also offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The M3 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GR Corolla uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the M3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GR Corolla. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The M3 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the M3, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a memory system.

The M3 offers an optional 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 M3’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 M3’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.

Laser headlights, optional on the M3, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the GR Corolla’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M3 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M3 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the M3 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 M3’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 M3 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GR Corolla, and aren’t available on the GR Corolla MORIZO Edition. The M3 also offers optional 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 M3 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 M3 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 M3 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 M3’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.

Both the M3 and the GR Corolla offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the M3 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW M3 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the GR Corolla.

The M3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The M3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.