The hatchback pales in reputation to the crossover SUV, nevertheless it’s supplied in a stunning number of flavors. They vary in idea from gilded financial system vehicles to wild-eyed variations of luxurious vehicles, and a few even dip into crossover territory. The Hyundai Kona N is a wild youngster of a low-slung crossover, whereas the Toyota GR Corolla is the latest sizzling hatch, and it has an angle of its personal. We lately drove them back-to-back to seek out out which is extra enjoyable.

Each vehicles come from unassuming roots. The usual Corolla is the epitome of equipment transportation. It has a repute for reliability and sturdiness, however enjoyable doesn’t play into the equation. The Kona performs the utility man position for Hyundai, providing electrical and gasoline variations, each aimed toward effectivity. Our two contenders couldn’t be any extra completely different from the automobiles on which they’re based mostly.

Oddly, whereas the Hyundai Kona N is the car with the crossover roots, it’s the GR Corolla that has all-wheel drive. However that’s not the most important distinction between these two. Let’s check out how they drive and resolve on which we’d recommend to your storage.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Core

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Core

2022 Hyundai Kona N

2022 Hyundai Kona N

Spherical 1: GR Corolla vs Kona N energy supply

Typically three is larger than 4, and that is a type of circumstances. The Toyota GR Corolla is motivated by a 1.5-liter turbo-3 it shares with the GR Yaris that eludes us within the U.S. That little turbo-3 makes 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, that are wild numbers for such a small engine.

The GR Corolla sends that energy by a 6-speed handbook transmission to a sport-focused all-wheel-drive system referred to as GR 4. It has three settings that cut up the facility otherwise, however all the time assist it put down energy effectively to speed up from 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds (Toyota says 4.99, however…c’mon).

Hyundai goes with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that spins up 276 hp and 289 lb-ft. An overboost characteristic can up the output to 286 hp for brief bursts that require 40 seconds between photographs of adrenaline. The turbo-4 launches the demonic crossover from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds.

The 0-60 mph occasions are shut, however the way in which these two get there may be very completely different. The facility all the time feels prefer it’s on the prepared within the Kona N, particularly in Sport+ or N modes, which may make the powertrain even appear too excessive strung. The revs keep excessive, and the throttle will get as itchy as Clint Eastwood’s set off finger. It sends the facility by an 8-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission with fast, crisp shifts, and Hyundai doesn’t provide a handbook. The turbo-4 doesn’t have plenty of energy on the excessive finish, and it received’t be mistaken for a V-8 or a high-power EV, however its frisky energy supply matches with the entire character of the automotive.

The GR Corolla requires extra effort to make its energy. With little displacement to ship prepared torque down low, it depends on a heavy dose of enhance—26.2 psi—to make its energy. A bigger turbo is required for that a lot enhance, so it takes awhile for the facility to construct. Even within the obtainable Sport mode, the facility doesn’t hit instantly as max torque doesn’t arrive till 3,000 rpm. 

“As soon as the turbo has lastly lit within the GR Corolla, it’s greatest to have it pointed in the fitting path as a result of the rocket fires,” senior producer Joel Feder mentioned. That maths out, too, because it pulls exhausting and scoots the little hatch to 60 mph a contact faster than the Hyundai. How straightforward the facility is to entry additionally rests within the driver’s fingers extra within the Toyota, as the one transmission is a 6-speed handbook. Preserve the revs excessive, drive it such as you need to beat it, and the GR Corolla retains rewarding you with plenty of energy from a bit engine. It has coronary heart.

Benefit: GR Corolla, in a cut up choice.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Version

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Version

2022 Hyundai Kona N

2022 Hyundai Kona N

Spherical 2: GR Corolla vs Kona N experience and dealing with

Whereas the Corolla’s all-wheel-drive system improves the automotive’s energy supply, it does extra to have an effect on dealing with, particularly when teamed with the Torsen entrance and rear limited-slip differentials which are non-obligatory on the bottom Core mannequin and customary in any other case.

Toyota offers drivers a alternative of three all-wheel-drive modes: Regular with a 60/40 entrance bias, Sport with a 30/70 rear bias, and Monitor with a fair 50/50 cut up. Choosing Monitor on a monitor or twisty street will pull the automotive out of corners with the entrance wheels, whereas the limited-slip differentials optimize energy to raised shoot the automotive out of turns. Sport mode makes the rear finish really feel freer.

“It’s a hoot to have a 30/70 energy cut up within the GR Corolla and kick the tail out whereas the entrance tires claw on the pavement,” Feder mentioned. In both mode, the GR Corolla’s very secure dealing with makes it straightforward to position in corners.

The GR Corolla’s steering is endearing. With a 12.7:1 ratio, it’s quick, and the automotive reacts rapidly to driver inputs. The steering supplies inputs of its personal that inform the driving force what’s occurring on the wheels in an analog approach that’s unusual lately.

Toyota upgrades the suspension with track-tuned springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars, and outfits the automotive with 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. The suspension tuning does a very good job of controlling physique lean, and the tires present good grip, although the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires on the Morizo version are even higher. Whereas the stiffer suspension corporations up the experience, it’s not too harsh to drive frequently.

Anybody iffy concerning the firmness of the GR Corolla’s experience will need to keep away from the Kona N. Its adjustable dampers flip the experience harsh in N mode. The upside is you’ll know the situation of each crack, rut, bump, and pothole in your road. The experience continues to be agency in Sport+ mode and by no means checks in lower than exhausting.

The agency damping is required to regulate the physique motions of a car that sits 6.8 inches off the bottom, 1.5 inches larger than the Toyota. It wrangles the car’s weight nicely for a crossover, however the car nonetheless leans greater than the GR Corolla. The difficulty is exacerbated by a taller seating place throughout the car that creates notable physique lean and head toss for passengers. 

“The Kona N feels tippy and prime heavy in comparison with its Elantra N sibling, and we type of miss the Veloster N. Virtually comes at a value of dynamics,” Feder famous.

Nonetheless, the Kona N handles fairly nicely. The steering is fast and the automotive dives into turns on the first twitch of the steering wheel. It exits turns nicely, too, because of a normal limited-slip differential that forestalls spin on the within entrance tire. The Kona N gathers its weight and physique lean to move within the subsequent path fairly nicely, however, once more, its taller floor clearance means its dealing with isn’t as achieved because the GR Corolla’s.

Benefit: GR Corolla.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Version

2022 Hyundai Kona N

2022 Hyundai Kona N

Spherical 3: GR Corolla vs Kona N cabin house and high quality

Whereas each vehicles are dynamically gifted, they each fall down in terms of inside high quality. They each begin as econoboxes, and each nonetheless have the vestigial exhausting plastics from their lesser siblings. Different cost-saving measures embrace an absence of a middle console within the Toyota, and few sound deadening supplies in each. 

“It’s clear all the finances for each of those vehicles was spent on the powertrain and dynamics,” Feder quipped.

Nonetheless, each automakers improve the interiors with some higher supplies and sporty options. Toyota wraps the GR Corolla’s sprint in artificial leather-based, installs sport seats with silver distinction stitching, provides steel pedals, and supplies a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with shows for the enhance strain, g forces, and the GR 4 drive modes. Nonetheless, Feder famous the digital cluster felt prefer it was designed in MS Paint 20 years in the past.

The GR Corolla has 17.8 cubic ft of cargo house behind the rear seat in comparison with 19.2 cubes for the Hyundai. Its form additionally offers it much less whole cargo house, however Toyota doesn’t present a measurement.

The Hyundai has steel pedals, sport seats with blue distinction stitching, N-specific shows in its 10.3-inch heart touchscreen, and an N-themed digital gauge cluster with useful gauge shows for turbo enhance, engine and oil temperature, and throttle place. 

“The high-back sport bucket seats up entrance within the Kona N are a full step nicer of their supplies, design, and look than these within the GR Corolla,” Feder mentioned.

The Hyundai’s cabin additionally advantages from its Kona roots, with a extra usable rear seat and as much as 45.8 cubic ft of cargo house with the rear seats folded down.

Benefit: Kona N.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Core

The choice: GR Corolla

The Toyota falls down a bit on worth in comparison with the Kona N because it begins at $36,995, and by the point you add the Torsen differentials the value approaches $39,000. The Kona N, then again, begins at $35,495 and no different gear is required. Then once more, that value disparity could be at the very least partially chalked as much as an absence of all-wheel drive within the Hyundai.

All issues thought of, the GR Corolla wins right here as a result of it’s the extra dynamically gifted of the 2 vehicles. We choose its analog really feel and relish extra time behind the wheel. It’s not as utilitarian because the Hyundai, nevertheless it’s simpler to reside with each in energy supply and experience high quality. Each vehicles, nevertheless, are efficiency values that present the recent hatch could be very interesting in quite a lot of sizes and styles.