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 economic system vehicles to wild-eyed variations of luxurious vehicles, and a few even dip into crossover territory. The Hyundai Kona N is a wild little one of a low-slung crossover, whereas the Toyota GR Corolla is the most recent sizzling hatch, and it has an angle of its personal.

Which one’s extra playful? Which one’s really hotter? Backside line, which one’s extra enjoyable?

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

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 determine on which we’d counsel on 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

Generally three is bigger than 4, and that is a kind of instances. 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 via a 6-speed guide transmission to a sport-focused all-wheel-drive system referred to as GR 4. It has three settings that break up the ability in a different way, 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 function can up the output to 286 hp for brief bursts that require 40 seconds between pictures of adrenaline. The turbo-4 launches the demonic crossover from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

The 0-60 mph instances are shut, however the best way these two get there may be very totally different. The ability 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 ability via an 8-speed dual-clutch automated transmission with fast, crisp shifts, and Hyundai doesn’t supply a guide. The turbo-4 doesn’t have a variety 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 automobile.

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 increase—26.2 psi—to make its energy. A bigger turbo is required for that a lot increase, so it takes awhile for the ability to construct. Even within the obtainable Sport mode, the ability 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 finest to have it pointed in the fitting route as a result of the rocket fires,” senior producer Joel Feder mentioned. That maths out, too, because it pulls laborious and scoots the little hatch to 60 mph a contact faster than the Hyundai. How simple the ability is to entry additionally rests within the driver’s fingers extra within the Toyota, as the one transmission is a 6-speed guide. Hold the revs excessive, drive it such as you need to beat it, and the GR Corolla retains rewarding you with a variety of energy from just a little engine. It has coronary heart.

Benefit: GR Corolla, in a break up resolution.

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 trip and dealing with

Whereas the Corolla’s all-wheel-drive system improves the automobile’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 can be elective on the bottom Core mannequin and commonplace 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 Observe with an excellent 50/50 break up. Choosing Observe on a monitor or twisty street will pull the automobile out of corners with the entrance wheels, whereas the limited-slip differentials optimize energy to raised shoot the automobile out of turns. Sport mode makes the rear finish really feel freer.

“It’s a hoot to have a 30/70 energy break 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 steady dealing with makes it simple to position in corners.

The GR Corolla’s steering is endearing. With a 12.7:1 ratio, it’s quick, and the automobile 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 method that’s unusual nowadays.

Toyota upgrades the suspension with track-tuned springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars, and outfits the automobile with 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. The suspension tuning does an excellent 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 trip, it’s not too harsh to drive regularly.

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

The agency damping is required to regulate the physique motions of a car that sits 6.8 inches off the bottom, 1.5 inches greater 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 top-heavy in comparison with its Elantra N sibling, and we form of miss the Veloster N. Virtually comes at a worth of dynamics,” Feder famous.

Nonetheless, the Kona N handles fairly nicely. The steering is fast and the automobile 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 route fairly nicely, however, once more, its taller floor clearance means its dealing with isn’t as completed 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 area and high quality

Whereas each vehicles are dynamically gifted, they each fall down on the subject of inside high quality. They each begin as econoboxes, and each nonetheless have the laborious plastics from their lesser siblings. Different cost-saving measures embrace a scarcity of a middle console within the Toyota, and fewer sound deadening supplies in each. 

“It’s clear your complete price range 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 metallic pedals, and supplies a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with shows for the increase stress, 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 area behind the rear seat in comparison with 19.2 cubes for the Hyundai. Its form additionally offers it much less whole cargo area, however Toyota doesn’t present a measurement.

The Hyundai has metallic 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 increase, 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 area 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, however, begins at $35,495 and no different tools is required. Then once more, that worth disparity could be at the very least partially chalked as much as a scarcity of all-wheel drive within the Hyundai.

All issues thought-about, the GR Corolla wins right here as a result of it’s the extra dynamically gifted of the 2 vehicles. We favor its analog really feel and relish extra time behind the wheel. It’s not as utilitarian because the Hyundai, nevertheless it’s simpler to dwell with each in energy supply and trip 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.