Toyota has a tremendous lineup right now
It doesn’t take more than a glance to see how varied Toyota’s lineup truly is. The storied Japanese automaker is fearlessly dabbling in nearly every type of car that can be produced, from fuel-efficient hybrids to family sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, coupes, and even downright performance-focused sports cars. Toyota’s dealerships are the automotive equivalent of a candy shop; you walk in and are visually inundated with more choices than you will ever be able to afford. So when Toyota invited me out to Napa to indulge in a fine selection of its cars, including all generations of the GR Corolla and Supra, as well as the new GR86 and Corolla Cross, the only proper course of action was to pack my bags as soon as I could.
Stepping out of our hotel on that lovely, cool wine country morning, we were greeted by a beautiful multi-colored lineup of Corolla Crosses, GR Corollas, and GR Supras. Following a brief product overview, we were told to choose whichever car we wanted and drive in a convoy towards Sonoma Raceway, where we’d be able to put each one of these wonders through its paces.
Gabriel Ionica
I selected a 2026 Toyota GR Supra Mk V Final Edition (MSRP $57,500) in Renaissance Red 2.0, equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission. After my 30-minute jaunt behind its wheel, I can confidently say that the Supra’s strengths lie in its powertrain. I never found the Mk V Supra to be particularly attractive, and as I found out in that moment, the interior isn’t much better. The infotainment system is one of the worst I’ve ever used, with a laggy touchscreen and a lackluster clicky wheel acting as controls. The design and control scheme both feel like they’re pulled from a car from 2014, and the digital cluster feels equally as cheap and somehow “plasticky.” I could go on about this, but my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the growl of the 3.0L turbocharged inline 6-cylinder exiting through dual exhausts that were seemingly placed inside of my head. It was an intoxicating sound, and my disappointments were quickly overshadowed by childlike giggles and exhaust crackles. This is a driver’s car through and through; there’s no doubt about that. However, even with that in mind, it wouldn’t have hurt the experience if it had a nice infotainment system to boot.
Gabriel Ionica
Helmets on, it’s race time!
Upon arrival at the raceway, we voluntarily split into two groups: one would experience the track first, while the other would head out to the dirt. I opted for the track first and was invited to try out every generation of the GR Corolla and Supra, as well as the new GR86 Yuzu.
Gabriel Ionica
Gabriel Ionica
The GR Corolla’s highlight (MSRP $39,920) in my mind was its perfect combination of agility and power. It felt like a mini Supra in the way I could push it down straightaways and dive into corners with the tires squealing. The exhaust note was an incredible soundtrack for the track runs, and the shifter was one of the best and most precise ones I have used. That said, it always felt like the Corolla would rather be sideways around corners, with some unnerving tire squeal if I dove too hard. It felt more at home on gravel than on the track, something I’ll go into in a bit, but that’s not to say one couldn’t happily use it for both activities.
Oh, I also had the honor of riding shotgun in the TC Corolla, the no-holds-barred racing version of the little hatchback, beside GR Cup driver Westin Workman. Lemme tell you something. If you thought the GR Corolla was an insane achievement, wait until you’ve experienced a pro driver at the helm of the TC Corolla, braking about 10 feet after when you would think the braking zone was, and taking corners like tires are free. It was an utterly mindblowing experience, and one of my favorite ways to be absolutely in fear for my life. I wanna do it again.
Gabriel Ionica
The GR86 (MSRP $30,400) was not my cup of tea. I can understand its appeal as an affordable, do-it-all kind of sports car, but it was a little too underpowered for me and even more skittish around corners. Its exhaust note was still equally as rowdy as that of its siblings, though, and its short clutch travel made it much easier for my 5’6” self to drive than the GR Corolla and Supra. That said, its first gear was pretty touchy, and this is the only car out of the lot that I managed to stall off the line. Twice.
The GR Supra had my heart. I hate saying that, since I’ve forever been a Mk V Supra hater, but it drives so well that I’m willing to get over my prejudice. Apart from its tremendous exhaust, a trend I noticed among all of the Toyotas on offer, the Supra was the most planted out of all. That might be obvious, given its wider tires when compared to the GR Corolla and GR86, but even diving into corners at 50 to 60 mph, I heard not a single chirp from any of the wheels. Pair that with the tremendous brakes that would pull me back from 100+ mph with no complaints, and the GR Supra constantly egged me on to go faster, turn harder, and brake later. A personal downside for me was the long throw of the clutch pedal. Since I’m just 5’6”, I had to move the seat so close to properly hit the clutch that I got T. rex arms and couldn’t steer as well as I would’ve liked. That means I mostly stuck to the automatic Supra, which was no issue for me and equally as fun as the manual, but something I figured I’d point out for the other short kings in the audience.
Gabriel Ionica
There was some serious engineering going on here
In fact, that was another recurring theme I found among all the track cars. Since we drove each generation of the GR Supra, GR Corolla, and GR86, we were able to experience the evolution of Toyota’s go-fast technology in a way that might not otherwise be as easy if you drove each of these cars on separate occasions. What I noticed was that each generation felt more surefooted, which in turn increased your confidence and urged you to push the cars even harder.
Gabriel Ionica
Gabriel Ionica
Gabriel Ionica
The GR Corolla, in particular, benefited from some ingenious improvements that Toyota happily highlighted in a presentation. Said improvements range from expected ones, like higher engine torque, superior air flow control, suspension adjustments, and an improved track mode, to some rather mundane ones that one would never expect to have such a profound effect on the car, like adding 45.6 ft of additional adhesive for better body rigidity, using bolts that were 3mm (0.12 in) larger, and increasing the size of the bolt holes for the battery’s ground conncetions. Even for someone with no interest in engineering, like me, it was fascinating to see the lengths that engineers will go to in an effort to squeeze every bit of fun and performance out of these cars.
The dirt was another story entirely
After punishing the pavement to my heart’s content, it was time for the dirt and gravel. Our assigned weapon was a stock GR Corolla—no modifications, no special equipment, just Gravel Mode and all nannies off. With a co-pilot by my side, I barreled down what was essentially a miniature rally stage set up in the hills behind the actual track. Despite having never driven off the pavement before, I had the utmost confidence in my co-pilot’s directions and in the Corolla’s abilities. So, as instructed, I helped the gas pedal meet the floor on every straightaway, used every bit of the brakes, and even pulled off a slick handbrake turn around a tight corner without spinning out. Every second was utterly exhilarating, and everything was happening so quickly that I didn’t have time to decide whether what I was doing was a good idea or not. To top it off, Toyota had us take another GR Corolla to a separate dirt track and, along with another instructor by our side, taught us how to perform a Scandinavian Flick through a cone course. I somehow managed to nail it on my first try, and I’m being as serious as I can be when I say that all my hours in Forza Horizon contributed to my success. Maybe I should consider a side job as a dirt driver.
Gabriel Ionica
Gabriel Ionica
Gabriel Ionica
As soon as I thought I had done a pretty good job, I was put into another GR Corolla as a passenger with professional driver Ryan Tuerck at the wheel. To say that Ryan made it look like my run was done slower than the residential speed limit was an understatement. This man drove like the road was a never-ending stretch, with no risk of falling down the other side. Not only did it make me fear for my life in the best way possible, much like Westin’s run, but this and all the other dirt experiences showed just how capable the little Corolla was. Sure, it was a jaw-dropping track toy on the pavement, but its abilities really shine when the going gets rough. Never did I feel like I was in danger of spinning out, and if a beginner like me can whip it that hard and feel confident in their nearly nonexistent abilities, then I’d say Toyota made something special here.
Final thoughts
Overall, I had a tremendous time pushing Toyota’s creations to the limit both on and off the beaten path. Now, of course, hitting triple-digit speeds in a six-speed sports car at Sonoma Raceway is bucket list stuff, but my personal highlight was the dirt stage. Like I said, I had never driven on dirt before, but it was a downright addictive experience, and if any manufacturer wants me to test their cars off-road, you know where to find me. I think Toyota has done an outstanding job of creating three of the most enjoyable cars available right now, at a range of different price points. Should they continue this trend for future generations, I don’t think we have to worry about automotive enthusiasts dying off. Bravo, lads, now let me have a go again.
About the author
Gabriel Ionica
Senior Editor, Autoblog