Toyota GR Corolla vs Toyota C-HR

What's the difference?

There’s something immensely appealing about a car that can play two roles. 

An off-roader for the weekend and a school pick-up chariot Monday to Friday? How about a race car/grocery-getter combo?

The latter is what the Toyota GR Corolla wants to be, a slightly bigger and more day-to-day alternative to the first GR hot hatch, the Yaris.

Both of these cars have now been updated and are arriving in Australia now, and Toyota hopes the Corolla becomes an even better car to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R. 

But can it do it?

We tested Toyota’s hotted-up Corolla on road and track to see if it’s up to the task.

According to the chief engineer for the Toyota C-HR, a second generation was never guaranteed for this uncharacteristically (for Toyota) design-led small SUV.

After the Corolla Cross came into existence, the top brass didn’t think the brand needed two similarly sized models in the line-up. So, why is it here, and is it any good?

The first question is easy to answer - the team drew the new C-HR up as a European model, built in hybrid-only and with enough key differences from the Corolla Cross to avoid the models competing. 

The second question? Let’s find out.