Verdict
The Toyota GR Corolla costs RM368,950 against RM338,812 for the Volkswagen Golf R, so the Toyota asks RM30,138 more. For a Malaysian buyer, the Golf R has the harder numbers: 329 hp, 420 Nm, 4.6 seconds to 100 km/h and a 341-litre boot. The GR Corolla counters with a manual gearbox, a lower RM207 annual road tax and a 5-year warranty. Both are petrol, all-wheel-drive C-segment hatchbacks with seven airbags and AEB, so the choice is not about basics.
Pick the Toyota GR Corolla if you want the manual gearbox, lower road tax and longer warranty more than outright acceleration or boot space.
Pick the Volkswagen Golf R if you want the quicker 4.6-second sprint, stronger 329 hp output and bigger 341-litre boot for less money.
Key differences
- Power: Toyota GR Corolla 296 hp; Volkswagen Golf R 329 hp
- Torque: Toyota GR Corolla 400 Nm; Volkswagen Golf R 420 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Toyota GR Corolla 5.3 s; Volkswagen Golf R 4.6 s
- Transmission: Toyota GR Corolla manual; Volkswagen Golf R wet dual-clutch automatic
- Boot space: Toyota GR Corolla 213 L; Volkswagen Golf R 341 L
- Warranty: Toyota GR Corolla 5 years; Volkswagen Golf R 2 years
GR Corolla
- Manual gearbox
- Lower RM207 annual road tax
- Longer 5-year warranty
- Slower 5.3-second 0-100 km/h time
- Smaller 213-litre boot
- Costs RM30,138 more
Golf R
- Quicker 4.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- More power and torque
- Larger 341-litre boot
- Higher RM372 annual road tax
- Shorter 2-year warranty
- No manual gearbox
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,950 | RM338,812✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM207✓ | RM372 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,618 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 296 hp | 329 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 420 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 87 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 6MT | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 6 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Toyota | BorgWarner |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 seconds | 4.6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,407 mm | 4,296 mm |
| Width | 1,851 mm | 1,789 mm |
| Height | 1,479 mm | 1,454 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,640 mm | 2,629 mm |
| Weight | 1,475 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 50 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 213 litres | 341 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R18 | 235/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R18 | 235/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Yokohama Advan Apex | Continental MaxContact MC6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut with Stabiliser | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbone with Stabiliser | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Estoril 2-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Estoril 2-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Torsen Limited Slip Differential Front and Rear | 4Motion AWD with Torque Vectoring |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Pre-collision Braking | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | IQ.Light Matrix LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with 3-person Memory, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Wireless Charger, 1 USB Front, 1 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 9" Touchscreen Display Audio with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6 Speakers | 12.9" Digital Cockpit Pro with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 9-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Auto Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used GR Corolla & Golf R for sale
GR Corolla vs Golf R FAQ
Is the Toyota GR Corolla or Volkswagen Golf R better?
The Volkswagen Golf R is better on paper for pace, torque, boot space and price. The Toyota GR Corolla makes sense if the manual gearbox, 5-year warranty and lower road tax matter more to you.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota GR Corolla costs RM30,138 more than the Volkswagen Golf R.
Which is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The Volkswagen Golf R is quicker, doing 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds against the Toyota GR Corolla’s 5.3 seconds.
