by Although on paper the updated Toyota GR Corolla with the 8-speed automatic should easily outperform the Hyundai Elantra N, real-world testing by Edmunds proved that technical specifications are one thing, but road performance is quite another.
The GR Corolla’s 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produces 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Furthermore, the car comes standard with all-wheel drive and limited-slip differentials on both axles.
In turn, the Elantra N’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine develops 276 hp and 392 Nm, although when the N Grin Shift function is activated, power temporarily increases to 286 hp. Unlike its Japanese rival, the Korean model is front-wheel drive only.
At launch, the Toyota would have an advantage due to better traction. While it did indeed pull ahead slightly at the beginning when the Hyundai was still struggling to put power down, the Elantra N soon not only caught up with its rival but began to pull away, entering the turn first and finishing several hundred feet earlier.
The second race repeated the scenario of the first – despite a good start, the GR Corolla once again lost to the faster Elantra N.
In recent years, there have been numerous reports that Hyundai deliberately underrates the Elantra N’s official power figures, which is confirmed by dyno test results. Although in terms of handling the Korean hatchback might slightly lag behind the Toyota, the difference between them is minimal.
Soon we will test the updated 2025 GR Corolla in both manual and automatic versions and share our impressions. Against the backdrop of intensifying competition in the hot hatch segment, expectations for the new model are particularly high.
