Compare the2025 Toyota GR CorollaVS 2025 BMW M2

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota GR Corolla are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW M2 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the GR Corolla are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The M2 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The GR Corolla has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The M2 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The GR Corolla has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The M2 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the GR Corolla and the M2 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, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the GR Corolla 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the M2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the M2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GR Corolla’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 9th.

On the EPA test cycle the GR Corolla gets better fuel mileage than the M2 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder (21 city/28 hwy vs. 16 city/23 hwy).

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the GR Corolla has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The M2 doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The GR Corolla stops shorter than the M2:

For better maneuverability, the GR Corolla’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the M2’s (36.1 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Toyota GR Corolla may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 600 pounds less than the BMW M2.

The GR Corolla is 6.7 inches shorter than the M2, making the GR Corolla easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GR Corolla has standard seating for 5 passengers; the M2 can only carry 4.

The GR Corolla has .3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more rear headroom and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the M2.

The GR Corolla’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The M2 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The GR Corolla’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. BMW does not offer a locking feature on the M2’s standard power windows.

The GR Corolla has two rear doors to provide better access for cargo and rear passengers. The M2 doesn’t offer rear doors.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GR Corolla has a standard rear wiper. The M2 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GR Corolla has standard extendable sun visors. The M2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the GR Corolla owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GR Corolla will cost $2990 to $7370 less than the M2 over a five-year period.

The GR Corolla will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GR Corolla will retain 57.74% to 59.52% of its original price after five years, while the M2 only retains 55.54%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota GR Corolla will be $18245 to $32727 less than for the BMW M2.

The GR Corolla was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The M2 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.