2026 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus: The Fix Is InMichael Simari - Car and DriverFrom the July/August 2026 issue of Car and Driver.Fixing something means recognizing a fault. From our vantage, there wasn't much wrong with the GR Corolla, but that hasn't stopped Toyota.When Toyota's GR shop first worked over the Corolla hatchback for 2023, the result was easy to love. A 300-hp turbocharged 1.6- liter inline-three huffed, whooped, and whooshed a brassy soundtrack. All-wheel drive came standard, and the mandatory six-speed manual was aimed straight at the lunatic fringe willing to spend nearly $40,000 for a Corolla.Michael Simari - Car and DriverLast year brought more boost, raising torque to 295 pound-feet, and an optional automatic transmission. Toyota also worked on the rough edges. The high-boost triple has the propensity to run warm, so the GR has ditched fog lamps for air inlets to feed an auxiliary radiator exclusive to the Premium Plus trim and a cooler for the automatic.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis year's tweaks make the clutch pedal feel as if it's sewn to your foot. Its engagement is spot-on, and it's better suited to handle abuse. To launch the GR, pin the accelerator and carefully release the clutch when the tachometer reaches 4500 rpm. Nail that sequence and the two ensuing shifts, and 60 mph appears in 4.2 seconds. The quarter-mile arrives in 12.8 seconds at 108 mph, making this the quickest GR Corolla we've tested.To make more consistent power under stress, a new secondary air intake reduces inlet temperatures by an average of 85 degrees, per Toyota. We believe it, as 140 mph arrived 2.5 seconds quicker than before. But the driveline cooling could've used a little love too; after six acceleration runs, an overheat warning appeared in the cluster.To tighten up the structure further, Toyota added nearly 46 feet of structural adhesive to stiffen up the unibody. Rebound springs have been added to improve stability under hard braking and keep the tires pinned to the ground in tight corners. Twenty percent firmer rear springs pair with an anti-roll bar that's some 16 percent softer, improving the ride.Michael Simari - Car and DriverThe steering and brakes didn't need any work. The steering effort and feedback are exemplary, and the brake-pedal feel is firm and linear. Bite down on them, and the GR Corolla stops from 70 in 154 feet—in six back-to-back stops, only two feet separated the shortest from the longest stop.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe changes to the GR Corolla fix its refinement and reliability faults without altering the joy and spirit of this special hot hatch.Michael Simari - Car and Driver➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029