A recipe for assured good instances
There are many autos to check apples to apples towards the Toyota GR Corolla with its 8-speed automated transmission. It competes towards the Subaru WRX, Volkswagen Golf R, and even the Mini Cooper Countryman JCW. All of those autos have turbocharged engines, make gobs of energy, are based mostly on four-door commuter platforms, and all have all-wheel drive (AWD). By the identical estimation, the Hyundai Elantra N immediately competes towards the Honda Civic Si and the Civic R, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and even the bottom mannequin Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0.
Each of those automobiles supply excellent bang on your buck and are remarkably fast on the observe. In reality, I might go so far as to say that they’re two of the most effective driving autos of their class. Even with the 8-speed automated within the Toyota or the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission within the Elantra N, they’re each extraordinarily athletic. Base costs for a GR Corolla hover round $40,000, whereas the Elantra N begins below $34,000. In case you add the automated transmissions and some packages, each autos leap by one other 10 p.c or so.
Each of the autos featured have “automated” gearboxes. Whereas the Hyundai has a dual-clutch (DCT) setup, the Toyota GR Corolla makes use of an 8-speed automated transmission. Usually, the DCT is a best choice for prime efficiency because it’s normally lighter, has fewer shifting elements, and reacts to efficiency shifting with lightning pace. The factor is, the automated transmission Toyota is utilizing is remarkably quick as properly. It is arduous to see which one is best for efficiency, however the Toyota transmission is smoother in site visitors.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have pushed each autos on quite a lot of race tracks and secured a back-to-back one-week mortgage of every. I commuted each day by day in Los Angeles and in different cities, together with some mild street journeys up and down the coast. After getting some seat time and studying what these fun-to-drive automobiles are prefer to dwell with, I found out which one makes extra sense.
Experiencing the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla: The psychological affected person
In case you get the much more highly effective, and track-capable Morizo model of the GR Corolla (and you haven’t any intention of monitoring it), you will have points. By itself, the GR Corolla is a stiff, nearly dental-work-shattering journey. Get the Morizo, and it’s possible you’ll drop a filling or two and get an offended little automotive that growls like a perturbed honey badger. That drone from the turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine is surprisingly low, and a bit tough. Even on full boil, it feels like nothing else, and its 300 horsepower grunt and as much as 295 lb-ft of torque are channeled by way of a remarkably quick 8-speed automated transmission. Sure, a six-speed guide is non-obligatory, but it surely’s a superb guess the automated will promote properly.
All of that energy might be despatched to the rear selectively, which is one in every of my favourite elements of the GR Corolla. If wanted, a 60/40 cut up can immediately kick in and ship as much as 70 p.c of the torque to the rear axle, and even obtain a 50/50 cut up in torque; all of it is determined by the observe floor and your wants. The steering ratio was lately elevated, and for some, the steering might really feel a bit heavy. The Toyota GR Corolla comes with a entrance MacPherson strut suspension and a double-wishbone multi-link rear suspension. All the things stiffens up on the Morizo model, and it is no joke.
Round city, the GR Corolla offers a sparse and easy inside, with a small-ish display screen and few frills. The seats are extraordinarily properly bolstered, and the steering wheel is almost race-quality. On backroads, the GR Corolla is among the most succesful automobiles on the market. Interval. Its skill to hunker down and squirt by way of corners is almost at supercar ranges, regardless of its meager 300 hp. Stopping and going, turning and exploding out of a nook, it is simply on one other stage. Sadly, it is also unforgiving on something however pristine roads, which makes commuting a little bit of a chore. The 8-speed automated GR Corolla is rated at 19 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway, and 22 mpg mixed.
It ripples with blistered fenders, wings, floor results, and extra road swagger than a Fifties gangster. Even with no fancy sticker job, it is clear to see what it’s and what it is supposed to do. Who knew a Corolla might be such a naughty automotive?
Experiencing the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N DCT: Virtually as quick because it appears
The Hyundai Elantra N DCT positive appears prefer it’s tremendous quick. By including quite a lot of cladding, massive wings, plenty of go-fast decals, and beefy wheels, the general picture of the Elantra N is a bit youthful for some, but it surely’s much more docile than the GR Corolla. It sounds and feels refined by comparability, but it surely nonetheless packs a severe punch. It comes with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 286 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai added an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission as an possibility, however there’s a six-speed guide transmission on supply as properly.
All the facility is fed solely to the entrance wheels, though Hyundai was sensible sufficient to equip it with a limited-slip entrance differential, which helps lots. There are totally different drive modes that change the general character of the Elantra N, and you’ll really feel it within the steering, throttle response, and even the variable suspension and multilink rear setup. The chassis is not as rock stable because the GR Corolla, but it surely’s greater than sufficient for many. It is nonetheless agency, but it surely’s forgiving too.
Sure, the Elantra N is a a lot happier automotive to drive day by day, however the GR Corolla is much extra of a observe weapon, and it has real road cred. On backroads, the excellent suspension setup permits for severe efficiency driving, proper as much as the restrict. There’s little physique lean, however there’s extra head-tossing than within the GR Corolla. There’s extra package inside, too, with bigger screens and extra comfy seats. The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N has an EPA-estimated score of 20 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway, and 23 mpg mixed.
Though it would not have huge fenders and a large wing, it nonetheless appears prefer it’s constructed for enjoyable on the road. Possibly a bit of an excessive amount of for some, in the event that they’re hoping to maintain a low profile. It positive will not be confused along with your auntie’s Elantra.
Last ideas
The “Want for Velocity” crowd will adore the Toyota GR Corolla 8-Velocity as it is a hoot on nearly each floor. It is depraved quick, even for individuals who do not partake in utilizing guide transmissions, and it is greater than enjoyable to drive. Nonetheless, it isn’t for everybody, and it may be a handful for folk who desire a day by day driver that may mellow out when wanted. That is the place the Hyundai Elantra N shines.
Regardless of wanting a bit overwrought from the surface, particularly for individuals who wish to preserve their interior speed-demon secret, the Hyundai Elantra N DCT is a clean day by day driver. Regardless of this, you may nonetheless open it up and sustain with extra highly effective autos on the race observe. It has usable house and makes day by day driving an journey. No matter which one you select, you may undoubtedly go away the motive force’s seat with a smile in your face. Not solely that, however each of those automobiles are examples that the automotive business can nonetheless make enjoyable rides, you simply must know the place to look.
