Although the GR Corolla is not yet eligible for the prize, its slower siblings are awarded top honors.
The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is still a hot topic in the enthusiast community. Although the 300-horsepower, all wheel-drive hot hatchback was officially launched late March 31, it’s not the only recent Corolla news. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety published something a little less exciting but more likely to be of greater interest to Corolla owners.
The Corolla sedan, and the Corolla hatchback will receive the Top Safety Pick+ award for 2022. This is the highest rating a passenger vehicle can receive and it only gets awarded if the vehicle meets many crash standards and has adequate lighting. Top Safety Pick+ winners must receive high ratings in six crash evaluations of side and roof structures, headrestraints, and front collision tests.
Vehicles must have a frontal crash prevention system that is sufficient to earn an advanced or superior rating on the technical side. These ratings must be achieved for pedestrian and car crashes. However, IIHS does not require that the tech be standard equipment. Headlights must be at least acceptable in all trim levels.
The 2022 Corolla starts at just over $21,000 for sedan trim. It also comes standard with Safety Sense 2.0, which includes frontal collision detection and prevention. The Corolla Hatchback comes with the same standard equipment, but at a slightly higher price starting at $21,940. The Corolla’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 168 horsepower (125kilowatts) regardless of its body style. The engine drives the front wheels via a CVT. This makes it a non-hybrid vehicle with a combined 41 MPG in hatchback form.
It remains to be seen if the hotter GR Corolla gets the same Top Safety Pick+ rating. The body is made from the hatchback but it receives an additional strength upgrade as part of the performance upgrade. As standard equipment, it should meet technology and lighting requirements.