If you're a fan of Hot Hatches, there are only a handful of options on the market that you can choose from. Whether it's the 8th generation Volkswagen Golf R, the new Honda Civic Type R, or the Toyota GR Corolla, any of these 3 are great fun depending on what your needs and preferences are.
With that in mind, the YouTube channel Throttle House has several videos comparing the various cheaper sports car options. In their latest video, they do an old-fashioned drag and roll race to see which is better, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R or the Toyota GR Corolla.
The Toyota GR Corolla And Honda Civic Type R Are Very Similar
Before starting the race, Thomas and James talk about the similarities between these two JDM Hot Hatches. The GR Corolla has 300 hp from its 1.6-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, while the Civic Type R has 315 hp from its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. The Corolla has a starting price of $49,990 against the Civic's $42,895 price tag.
The cars are also within 2 lbs of each other, with the Corolla weighing 3,186 lbs versus the Civic's 3,188-lb curb weight. A six-speed manual gearbox is also the standard transmission for both models. The main difference between the two cars is their drivetrains, with the Corolla having an all-wheel-drive system and the Civic Type R having a front-drive setup.
Drag And Roll Races Between The Modern JDM Cars
As expected, the all-wheel drive system in the GR Corolla helps to rocket the car off the line. The Civic has some trouble putting the power down to its front wheels at launch and even catches up a bit near the end of the race. However, it's just not enough and the Toyota takes the win from a dig.
After the first race, they stop to discuss the result of the race, and of course add a little bit of trash-talking. They jokingly call the Civic and "Accord Type R", presumably because of how much the Civic has grown in size. With Thomas in the Civic, he says that traction was the main issue on launch and that he would fair better in a rolling race.
Thomas' predictions then come true as the Civic Type R wins the roll race. What is interesting is that each car won by about a car length in their victories, showing each car's strengths when racing.
To finish off the video, James and Thomas discuss how the races went. James in the GR Corolla notes that while the car is really fast, he had to dump the clutch at a high rpm to get it to go quickly. Thomas then mentions that you need to be absolutely perfect with the throttle on the Type R, otherwise the car will get tons of wheel spin or bog down.
Overall, they state either option will be loads of fun, but the GR Corolla might be best if you live in colder climates due to its all-wheel-drive system.