That "clunky" feeling of the STI transmission is you feeling the linkage directly attached to the shifter. The GR Corolla has a cable actuated transmission. It is smoother, but give it a few years and it is going to feel spongy and less precise when the cable stretches. That is the downside of cable actuated transmissions.

Finally, an actual comparable comparison.

The age of the Subaru interior is so appealing compared to modern interiors.

I am a Toyota fan boy till I die, but I had to get a 2020 WRX STI after trying to get a GR86 and having ridiculous markups, and the 3 dealerships in California that do not mark up had a waitlist of up to a year. Some had such a long waitlist, they weren't adding anymore folks. I wanted a specific color and had to be manual transmission, seems I was asking for too much. I am much happier with my STI, as it is fully mechanical vs the 86, as I was told from owners (they said the STI was the better choice for a pure drivers car).

I agree, the STI is difficult to drive in the beginning. I am a seasoned manual transmission driver. I had a few AE86s and AE92s all of them manual and when I got my STi back in 2016 I was stalling all the time.

My first car a 2005 Chevy blazer, had it for 3 years, then after eyeing civics for a while I came across a deal on a 2020 wrx premium (non sti), as someone who only had a small bit of experience with manuals, I managed to learn to drive it in 2 weeks with minimal stall, and within a month I was no longer stalling, I will say the short first gear is a tough one to get the hang of, and the suspension took getting used to, but man when you can shift out of first with ease and you feel every precise bump in your body without too much shock, you feel linked with the car like an avatar, also when your surprised by the quick shift and feel of the car, please keep in mind it’s a rally bred car, the vast majority of its design is from rough backroads and tight turns. The car I got was off a friend who had already put in a Cobb access port with a stage 2+ tune, full invidia exhaust, map intake, an f1 brake light, and an sti wing lol it’s making about 300hp and close to 275tq, for a first manual I’m absolutely in love, and plan on building and keeping her for years, I’m honestly late to Subarus too, as a kid I always idolized vettes and Camaros haha thanks for having me Jdm 🤌🏼

I own a Focus RS but man there’s just something about both the GR and the STi that I love.

I love that toyota did this. Its absolutely a ray of hope from the company that harkens back to 80's and 90's with the awd turbo Celica GT-Four vs regular Celicas - shitbox interior and all.

Sti fan boy here

Nice, good to see your videos

great unbiased review!

The only problem i see with the gr corolla is its tuned to hell. People trying to get more out of it and its causing problems. Where as the wrx is under tuned.

How many people were planning to buy the 2017 Lancer EVO but Mitsubishi cancelled it's production? How many people were planning to buy the 2023 STI but Subaru cancelled it's production. The extra high demand w/ADM for the GRC was created by more than one thing, especially these other cars being cancelled before people could get theirs. Quite a bit of FOMO going on here.

Great video

I got one of these about 2 months ago for MSRP. Love it dearly. I always liked the Evo and remember the first time my friend took me for a ride in his. I really think this is going to be the Evo of this generation.

Great channel! Throttle House can be a little too, well, Throttle House to get the practical info I like. Same w/Savagegeese. Love your style & presentation, plus you're 6'3'' so I can get a good idea of headroom!

You earned my sub with "threatens other cars and small birds". Great comparison video. Can't wait to see more.

I never thought I'd buy a brand new Toyota especially a Corolla. Through highschool my dream car was a WRX hatch or Speed3 hatch. Ended up with a 2008 Mazda 3 2.3L NA 5 speed hatch back. Now I'm an adult with no kids trying to figure out what to buy. Then Subaru killed their manuals, Ford killed the Focus RS/ST. Used cars are nearly as expensive as new cars. My buddy texts me about the GR Corolla and I fall in love. Unlike the Civic Type R there's no fake vents. Everything on it is functional. It has a manual parking brake. It's a proper hatch back. It's only available in a manual. And I need to have it. Spent 11 months on a wait list. End up with a circuit edition and I absolutely love it. It's not perfect. But damn does it tick almost every box I have. The audio system sucks, there's no storage, the glove box doesn't lock, there's no center armrest. I basically spent $2,000 on a winter weather package on a car that ships with tires that fall apart below 40 degrees. The heated seats are kinda a joke. But when you're carving up a back road none of that matters. And all you can do is smile and either bang it into another gear or try and wait till the last second to brake. I still have my Mazda and I still love it. It's slow but that heavy handed hydraulic steering in a 2008 car can't be replicated with electronic power steering. In a weird way I feel like an F1 driver in my old Mazda I feel like I can perceive everything down to the millimeter in that car. I do have 100,000 miles and 10 years behind the wheel of it. But damn do I still love turning into corners and just winding that naturally aspirated engine out to 7,500 RPM. But it is slow it's only fwd. My GRC has never hiccupped going over a bump/dip turning in. It just puts all of it's power down relentlessly. It's a beast I can still load up with a tall case of napkins for the restaurant. I doubt anyone else has had 144 16oz beers, a case of napkins, shrimp, steak, 4 gallons of ranch and two cases of bread in their GRC.

I was between these two and decided on a 2019 STI. I still would pick the same choice. BUT- a very big thing many don’t consider is if you’re going to daily drive your car. I daily drive mine. I came from a 2016 base WRX (not an STI) and it was the easiest manual I have ever driven or owned. I would imagine the GR Corolla and the WRX drive similar in terms of manual transmission feel and shifting. VERY easy to drive, gearing was perfect for cruising speeds, (making it easy to drive around town at lower speeds and RPM or cruising at 30 MPH for example) and the clutch was paper light. The STI, is on steroids. Because steroids have side effects, driving it you deal with those side effects sometimes. The clutch takes more patience and grabs more suddenly rather than gradually, the gearing in the STI I LOOOVE but it is geared for acceleration on a track. Not driving through town to get to work! So I find myself shifting more frequently, and utilizing rev matching to engine break. Also, gotta mention it, it is pretty bad in terms of fuel economy. But still it is in my opinion the best car ever. I love these cars so much. Between the look, the sound, the suspension (which I LOVE not sure why people dislike it), EJ257, STI 6 speed, Helical front LSD, Torsen rear LSD, Center differential, Si drive, Subaru’s AWD tuning, 6 piston Brembos. I am never selling my car man. BUT, if you find yourself not appreciating the usage of steroids but want the similar capabilities you could do it ALL NATURAL and get a Corolla GR. Nah, get an STI!!!!

Inline six sound at 15:47 hahaha. Good video!

Great video. With the loss of the STi, I was searching for either a GR Corolla or a VW Golf R to replace a Subaru XV Crosstrek, but neither looked like it was going to be possible due to local supply limitations and MSRP markups. One day, I was getting one of my cars serviced, and saw a 2020 WRX STi in Rally Blue for sale with relatively reasonable miles. I took it for a test drive, and was able to get it for what I felt like was a reasonable price. An STi, in that color, was my goal since I was 16. One thing I will remark on is that the WRX STi has hydraulic power steering with a very quick steering rack, instead of electric power steering which is more common now. The steering effort in my STi definitely has a distinct change through the rev range which takes some getting used to again after driving cars with electric power steering for so long. This is particularly pronounced if turning from a stop and needing to accelerate quickly, say for a turn onto an undivided state high way from a side street in traffic.

The Circuit Edition addresses a lot of the interior gripes. I agree that the Core feels cheap, that's why I held out for a CE. I came from a Focus ST, which was fully loaded and had a fairly good interior (ST3), but the ride was pretty stiff. Didn't like long trips in it. The GRC rides better, a much better daily driver, although there is a very noticeable lack of interior storage/cubby holes.

I hopefully will be getting the ce soon. I currently have a loaded core and I agree this car has a very unique powerband. I always regret not pulling the trigger on a evo9. I have driven a few and love them. I had two mazda speed 6s and I almost bought an evo instead of replacing the first speed 6 after it was totaled. My only real gripe with the corolla is the fact that it has no armrest or storage inside the interior. If you are interested in reviewing the circuit let me know I am nearby in illinois. Maybe you can do a comparison video.

I must say that the GR Corolla is the best buy in this small, compact, performance, manual transm., AWD class. Thanks for the review 😀

mint I have an STI and now can see a comparison good good

This was such a fun comparison! Picking up a 2020 STI this Saturday and I’m so amped

I’m happy with my Elantra N. I’ve driven my coworkers GR Corolla and surprisingly, I felt more fun with my EN.

Again, congratulations on your GR ✨ Hope your enjoying

The circuit edition one in grey really calling my name haha at first i didnt like then but the circuit is growing on me. It reminds me of my good ol days with a mazdaspeed 3

Love em both, good friend of mine has an STI, but I love the classic 80's/90's rally car look of the GR more.

Would love u to do a comparison of the GR Corolla and the mk8 golf r manual.

The GR in red is beautiful!

The GR benefits from the hatchback form, less temperamental engine, and the fact you can buy a new one since the STI is no more.

What shoes are those dawg? at 16:28

Shifting with the STI is a problem because sometimes it feels like it wants to hold onto a gear and you have to fight it to get it into the next gear. I know many miss 3rd with the STI for that reason.

I'm almost certain the Awd is permanently engaged except for two scenarios. E brake pull disengages rear axle, and when the clutch pack ( centre diff per se ) is overheated. It's not a Haldex system like a golf r or focus rs.

Aren’t the hyper yellow sti brakes also 6 piston front calipers

Good video. I have 06 STI. Back then it was reasonably quick vs competition and was quick enough that you’d pass it for having econobox interior and harsh NVH. That generation put things like standard forged BBS wheels, transmission oil cooler and functional intercooler spray as default equipment over moon roof, upgraded speakers and power seats. I feel like GR Corolla is taking that driving-focused approach and taking away all these things that are nonessential to driving. I am keeping the 06 STi but as soon as the prices stabilize I am going to get a GR Corolla as well. ETA - if anyone is actually looking to buy a used STI, I'd say get a pre-2018. I don't know this for sure but I've been told that they changed the center diff in 2018+ models and they cannot be launched as hard as all the previous year STIs, and that's why you see them in the high 5s instead of high 4s for 0-60.

There is a difference I noticed you had it the STI front wheel biased I usually go rear wheel biased makes a difference plus a stage 1 cobb tune generally takes away the RPM drop after 6400 good video

Bought a brand new 21 sti base off the show room floor for 38600+ taxes in early 22. It was always my dream car. Sold it 6 months later to get a used 17 civic si. Best decision ever, mpg and smiles per gallon way higher. Seats in the base STI were a joke so uncomfortable for 40k and not supportive. The 3k upgrade for the recaros which are only a tiny upgrade was not worth it. The STIs headlights were great but the transmissions in these newer stis feel too notchy and seem to have issues with synchros I doubt they are the same bullet proof ones from the earlier models. The radio in a 2001 Corolla was more effective than the STIs. The whole cabin vibrated/pressurized under throttle hard to explain but in combination with the unsupportive seats made my fiancé sick with any spirited driving. In short there’s much better options for the price, unless you wear some serious nostalgia glasses 🤓 it’s hard to over come a lot of the issues it has. Most newer hot hatches feel more powerful in every situation. 19.5mpg for an underwhelming 230awhp is a crime.

Love the GR corolla, but the 22+ WRX is fantastic and the relative ease of making performance gains if wanted, is a huge selling point. Not to mention you can actually get one for MSRP or less. Subaru will also be releasing the BBK shortly as an option. I prefer hatchbacks but the VB WRX is a great platform

Have you driven a modified STi? I no longer have mine as I moved up to a 17 GT-R. But a stage 3 e85 EL STi on coilovers is more fun than cars that cost 2x as much. Sure those mods cost money but still ten thousand less than what I would consider competition.

Toyota from the 1980s has entered the chat... In terms of AWD rally cars, the AllTrac Celica pre-dates the WRX by 7 years. The AllTrac Celica also pre-dates the Evo by 6 years. So, the WRX, STi and Evo would not exist if the AllTrac Celica didn't exist first.

Visually the STI is my favorite.

Right now I'm trying to decide of going with a 2018-19 STI or a GR Corolla. You think Canada have ot worst? In Puerto Rico the Core model is being selled at 55-65k and the Morizo if they want to sell it, they are asking for 91-103k.

I have a 2019 CHB SE, even that model corners and takes ramps with gusto.

Wow i was getting 5 sec to 60 in my 06 Legacy GT stock. With a grown up interior. I miss that car. GR in Canada is between $60-75k. 21' STi below $50k. Mint second gen Legacy GT $12k lol.

i managed to pick mine up for a 3k markup. not ideal but not a deal breaker for me atleast. honestly my only issue is i didnt get the color i wanted "red" ended up in a fully loaded one in black. i came out of a fully optioned 21 wrx and even interior wise i think the gr corolla is better, mostly because i hated the seats in the subaru

Nostalgia merchant

The Corolla needs some more color on the interior to liven it up a bit imo. A couple red accents here or there or red stitching or something along those lines would go miles.

Comparison between the optioned core I drove recently and my fairly standard bolt on STI. Shockingly the GR STILL feels just as quick, its shocking. The driving experience, size and looks in person are incredible.

It might have be me but i had the opposite opinion between the sti and GR, i owned a 17 sti for about a year with some mods (stage 1) and my buddy has a GR (stock), very comparable cars and really comes down to personal preference but i felt like i had a more connected experience with my sti then the GR

Corolla would be fun but its impossible to buy one

Correction on the fluorescent brake calipers. They were only available 2019 and 20

The perspective of history can be a harsh judge. Unobtainium & ADM will override the otherwise good things about it. Compare to mid-90s Impala SS which offered Corvette engine, transmission & related upgrades but it was available to the common man at traditional below-invoice pricing.

If you’re not living where it snows a lot or deep, then go for a front wheel drive, it will save you on gas, tires, maintenance cost etc. they are lighter. Get the Honda Si, Type R or Acura Integra A or S

Agree that the GR is 90% Evo. Just missing the extra sharpness.

Funny, I think this gen WRX/STi is one of the best looking compact performance cars of all time… but I hate the big wing on it, I think it looks better without the wing. But the GR NEEDS that rear spoiler… just not the complete tally look without it!

I miss my 2021 WRX. Would love to see the Elantra N on your channel

for getting more power, the STI has a better chance than that 3 cylinder motor.

Who won

nothing you saw in initial d will work unless your last name is fujiwara

Why is the idel so hi on the STI? 1100rpm?

Functional hood scoop is not a benefit here 😂. Jeers to top mount intercoolers

TOYOTA GR COROLLA 😎👍

if ur gunna do track like laguna seca or the nurbergring then the STi is the clear winner. if your gunna do auto-x/ rally cross real rally shit, the GRC is the winner, its much better rally car for the streets, but the STi is a track capable car that can take on bad conditions. id rather have the STi for track day, and the GRC for rally dirty snow course. both great cars.

Gr corolla is more refined Toyota version of STI. At the end of the day this STI hasn't changed since 2015 where Gr is a 2023 car. Also STI can be easily tuned with a cobb.

i chose a focus RS over an STI in 2017, and I have loved it since. I followed the GR from the day I heard we would get it in the US, but now thats its here and I'm watching driving vids I just don't see it being better than the RS in many metrics... and anyone who says reliability i mean who buys these sort of cars for reliability...

People paying ridiculous markups for that cute little 3 cyl corolla belong in an asylum.

Gr corolla all day. Absolutely loving mine.

My final input again speaks to shallow understanding of auto product planning & model range management. One, Toyota owns 20% of Subaru, and engine tech has been passed to the newest FA24. The "No STI 😭!" "It's ugly 😭!" Loads of people believed felt the WRX was a better value and, this is big, STI buyers STILL tore the car apart!! And ugly? The bugeye, that was ugly, yet its an icon. I predicted in 2021 people will see the VB in person and change their minds, and the vast majority have. Finally, understand the differences between huge companies and small. Key here is big companies can control their cars "growing up" and when the tine comes, slip a new car in at the bottom. Think Fiesta, Fit, Yaris. They have flexibily, too. They can spread tuning across the smaller cars, or make just one a monster. Ah, Subaru cannot do this...wake up...understand this. If Subaru had the budget, they could have "grown up" the Impreza/WRX/Levorg, as demanded by the market, but pass the WRX name to a new compact hatch, far lighter than a Golf, lighter than the Corrola GR, and if they could price it at GR levels AND mass produce it, unlike the GR, with no price gouging, like the GR, this Scooby woukd tear the hell out if the GR and certainly the ugly Hyundai N cars and heavy Golf. Point being: before bitching and whining, underatand how this all works, from someone who does.

Wow

Sti for the win! 🔥

I have a WRX and IMO the GR Corolla Circuit Edition interior is alot better. It's kinda unfair to compare the STi interior to the GRC Core.

An H🙂nest N😬 N🥶NSENCE Thorough & Th🤔ughtful Review 🏆

Rushing a manual trans in a subaru is not an elegant thing.

I own a Kona N which I adore. I can take or leave the STI, but I dream about the GRC.

sometimes you just need to watch another subaru fan

Sneaky little blurring of the speedometer at 11:18

how does it compare to the evo x? next video? 😂

The GR is 70k on Toyotas website July 25 2023

Subaru all day babyyyy 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

I complain about turkeys constantly.

i have a 22 wrx. I love my 22 wrx!

I’d rather the GR go up against the golf R or focus RS STI lost its touch generations ago

Should have used all stock but tuned 2022 wrx. The new wrx is much faster than the sti. Put that markup money into the wrx and it's easily a gr killer.....

1000 times better STI than GR Corolla, even the STI looks more agresive Rally Car exterior and interior

35k msrp selling for 45-50K

So much wrong. Price gouging? How about a top line GR being north of $50k to begin with? How about it being an extremly limited production car (6500-8500 worldwide)? How about it being a halo car built for promotional purposes and losing money on each one? Ah..and the comparison to Subaru? If people were old enough to follow 30 years of the WRX, they would know that reviews once glowed, when it was a "rally car for the street", and the WRC glory days were alive. By 2006 (yeah, 2006, two years after the STI hit US shores, the whining was deafening that Subaru had already "lost it's way." The Top Gear show really pushed this. And the clash between too harsh vs. lost their way began. To address it, the 07 Limited arrived, with leather, sunroof, upgraded audio, heated seats, sound deadening, black Brembos and wing delete. Note: during a period between 2006-2011, wing deletes were a rage, as many owners didn't want to look like teens. Then it got bigger and softer, and Subaru withdrew from the WRC, taking with it the rally cred. Reviewers & "fans" alike were now impossible to please. Rather than thanking God the car was continuing as the Evo died, bitching got deafening, as it is today. Hatch love? They offered only a hatch because it far outsold the sedan. But people bitched. The sedan arrives..."it's ugly"...but now the hatch, without them is "wimpy". The GR STI was track tuned via a thousand laps by Tommi Makinen (look him up, then come back) but the all knowing reviewers and kids on the websites said it had terrible handling. OMG... harsh, childish/losing it's edginess, too much luxury/"where's the heated steering wheel." And the power..."It's not enough, I want more! 😭." Listen up... Subaru KNOWS owners mod the F out of these cars...so.why in the world would they build 400hp cars that would raise the price and which they'd need to warrantee, when they can let owners (happily) mod the cars themselves? It's called wise business decision. And no, there is no wise ass response to this, as it is fact.

Biggest thing in real life is there isn’t enough space in GR for it to be your daily driver. Unless you are single with no friends and no kids. The Wrxs and Stis are basically full size sedans. GR would be a great weekend car, but who has the extra money. If you do you should be putting it into a retirement account 😜👍🏻👍🏻

Why did the STi die, oh yeah Toyota bought a lot of Subaru stock and now are in control and stop the STi so they could bring out that car.

Did you call the STI transmission clunky? The STI has one of the best awd manual transmissions ever made.

As much as I want to love it, it's hard to, knowing that the GR Yaris exists.

Unreal that this man would purchase a car with no armrest. I will stick to the Corolla LE thank you.

You have NO IDEA what an STI is truly capable of until you Dirtfish....

He clearly doesn't know how to launch a WRX or STI.

One costs 30k the other 60k+

Gr Corolla is just an eco box with some performance enhancements. Feels cheap made.

That GR interior is so freaking ugly. An entry-level rental car would be an upgrade here.

The problem with this review is that you’re using the core model of the GR Corolla against the STI. The Core would be comparable to the WRX. The Circuit is what you should compare the STI to. But I do always appreciate your reviews!