The Toyota GR Corolla is so much better than the rest of its model family that some say it should have a different name. It has nearly twice the power of the base Corolla and a vastly superior drivetrain beyond that. Is there another model on sale today with a bigger gap between the base model and the top trim?
The hot hatch segment might be where we find the only real competitors. Take for example the humble Honda Civic. The base model is the Civic LX with its 158 hp (117 kW) four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. That’s similar to the base Corolla in terms of its focus on economy.
Of course, at the top of the Civic family is the Type R which many consider to be even better than the GR Corolla. That’s in part due to its 315 hp (234 kW) and incredible performance capability. For those doing the math that’s half a horsepower off of actually being double the power of the base car.
More: Toyota Has Already Built An Electric GR Sports Car With A Manual Trans
Perhaps it’s actually something bigger and more brutish that deserves this crown though. The Dodge Charger can be had with either a measly little V6 or a fire-breathing supercharged Hellcat V8. The Challenger and its Demon 170 model could garner attention too but is the base Challenger really all that boring? You tell us.
Maybe the right answer is the RAM TRX vs the RAM 1500. Those two trucks have quite the performance gap between them and little is as boring as a pickup truck base model. The Ford F-150 could stand in here too with its base model and then the Raptor R at the top of the heap.
Those are just a few options but did we miss something with a bigger gap? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to vote for your favorites.
