2023 Toyota GR Corolla vs. Subaru WRX vs. Honda Civic Type R: Which Sporty Compact Wins?
The sporty compact car category is filled with tough competitors like the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla, Subaru WRX, and the Honda Civic Type R. The segment is heating up, considering the Civic and the WRX were recently redesigned, and the GR Corolla recently debuted to best both of those cars. But does it?
A recent YouTube video from Sam CarLegion pits all three of these cars in a drag race to see which one rules them all – at least in a straight line. Let’s see how they all stacked up against each other.
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is much quicker than you would think
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla, Honda Civic Type R, and Subaru WRX are pretty evenly matched. Check out the stats of each car below:
| Car | Horsepower | Torque | Transmission | Engine | Drivetrain | Curb Weight |
| 2023 Toyota GR Corolla | 300 | 273 | Six-speed manual | Turbocharged 1.6-liter | AWD | 3,291 lbs |
| 2023 Honda Civic Type R | 315 | 316 | Six-speed manual | Turbocharged 2.0-liter | FWD | 3,190 lbs |
| 2023 Subaru WRX | 271 | 258 | Six-speed manual/CVT | Turbocharged 2.4-liter | AWD | 3,291 lbs |
Based on these stats, you would think that the 2023 Honda Civic Type R would come out on top, the Toyota GR Corolla in second, and the Subaru WRX in third. Let’s see how they actually fared:
In case you don’t feel like watching the video, the GR Corolla did better than you would think. Sam CarLegion ran each drag race in pairs to make it easier. The initial races were between the GR Corolla and the WRX. The GR Corolla beat it in both of the roll races and in the standing drag races. However, the normal drag races were close because of the WRX’s all-wheel drive configuration, which allowed it to launch quicker.
Ultimately, the GR Corolla crossed the quarter-mile finish line in 13.7 seconds compared to the WRX’s 13.9-second time. The Corolla also reached 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, compared to the WRX’s 5.5-second time.
2023 Honda Civic Type R vs. Toyota GR Corolla
Judging by the stats, you would think that the 2023 Honda Civic Type R would fare better against the GR Corolla – it did. The Civic beat Corolla in the roll races and the standing drag races. At the end of the day, the Civic Type R crossed the line at 13.7 seconds compared to the Corolla’s 13.8 seconds.
Which of these hot hatchbacks is worth their retail price?
Technically, all three of these cars are worth their price if you can buy them at MSRP. Honda and Toyota dealers are notorious for marking up the prices on both the GR Corolla and Civic Type R. That said, many examples of these cars are selling for $10,000 to $20,000 over the sticker price, which puts them in supercar territory with cars like the Corvette and Supra.
As a reminder, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is priced at $35,900 to $42,900, and the Civic Type R has a starting price of $43,795. Those are great prices for the type of performance they provide, but we doubt they’re worth $55,000 to $60,000. The 2023 Subaru WRX, on the other hand, retails for $30,605 to $43,395. From what we have found, most Subaru dealers aren’t charging a markup, so that price range is well worth it for the car’s performance.
Ultimately, any of these cars should fulfill any enthusiast’s need for speed, even if it’s in a straight line.
