Continuing its streak of silent Gazoo Racing product launches, Toyota Motor Philippines has quietly added a new variant of its Corolla Altis compact sedan. Not to be mistaken for the just-launched GR Corolla, the Corolla Altis GR Sport (Gazoo Racing Sport) is the latest local model to get the racy treatment. Regionally, it was first launched in Thailand last January.
Retailing for P 1,302,000 (an additional P 15,000 for the White Pearl option), the Corolla Altis GR-S dons a sportier aesthetic both inside and out. Changes include a new front grille and bumper filled with high-gloss black elements and a honeycomb insert. The same gloss black elements also find their way to the side mirrors (oddly enough, the door handles remain finished in chrome). It also gets a more aggressive side skirt, two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels, and a diffuser built into the rear bumper. A Gazoo Racing badge on the trunk completes the exterior transformation.
Inside, the 2022 Corolla Altis GR-S gets leather seats with red stitching. The same red stitching makes their way onto to the steering wheel and padded center arm rest. The door handles also have red accents. Like the upgraded 1.6 V, it benefits from a better infotainment system. The 8-inch touchscreen system now features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other amenities remain unchanged from before: automatic climate control with rear vents, rain-sensing wipers, power folding side mirrors, and smart keyless entry with push-button start/stop, among others.
Sitting atop the Corolla Altis 1.6 V in the local range, the Corolla Altis 1.6 GR-S shares its powertrain with the former top-of-the-line non-hybrid variant. With that, it generates 121 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 153 Nm of torque. It’s exclusively paired with a CVT gearbox.
That said, at least the Corolla Altis 1.6 GR-S’s P 87,000 price bump isn’t just purely aesthetics. It also gets Toyota Safety Sense which bundles autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control. It also has rear parking sensors and camera. It also gets the full suite of SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and stability control.
Toyota Motor Philippines is making the Corolla GR Sport available in three colors: Attitude Black Mica, Red Mica Metallic, and the aforementioned Platinum White Pearl Mica.
No suspension upgrade? I'm sure I've read before that there will be a suspension tweak for the GR-S variant.
ReplyDeleteKinda odd to see a RHD version of the infotainment system seen on the Thai-spec model which the volume knob is on the right side than on the left. They should have used the version for LHD, aswell for the Corolla Cross (seen on the Fortuner, Hilux, etc).
ReplyDeleteCorolla Altis and Corolla Cross deserves more recognition in PH Market...
ReplyDeleteThis or the base Honda Civic (same price)?
ReplyDeleteAltis: Solid platform in TNGA + Nicer interior trims + Looks better even without the GR-S kit (IMHO)
VS
Civic: Newer model + conservative/mature design (my wife likes it better ) + sportier engine and drive (according to Uly, I have not driven one) + bigger car inside out.
TNGA platform is undoubtedly good...and yes, agree about the GR-S kit. Best served as the 1.6 V TBH. The 1.8 HEV feels like a P 1.1-million sedan with a P 500K engine. They should have just added TSS in the 1.6 V and called it a day.
DeleteFeels like a cash grab. Kinda odd that they released it when the real GR Corolla was just announced. It even has less than half the HP of the GR Corolla.
Deletei havent seen any base civic yet, all ive seen are civic rs in white (gorgeous) and red, maybe people arent buying a lot of the base model(?)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.carguide.ph/2022/03/just-how-good-is-base-2022-honda-civic.html
DeleteIt was the best-selling variant before, but that's mainly because the mid-trim V variant wasn't available at launch. Now that the V variant is here, Honda says they predict that'll be the best-selling model.
Thanks for the initial review. We are planing to get the either the Altis 1.6 g CV-T or the GR-S. In terms of fuel consumption, which is more fuel efficient, the 1.6 g CV-T or the 1.6 GR-S? Or is it the same?
ReplyDeleteToyota PH should at least add reverse camera, backup sensors, and a bigger touchscreen to the 1.6 G.
ReplyDelete