What is the top of the line Toyota Corolla?
The top-of-the-line Toyota Corolla is the GR Corolla, a high-performance hatchback from Gazoo Racing. For the regular sedan lineup, the loftiest trims are XSE (gasoline) and XSE Hybrid.
GR Corolla: The performance flagship
The GR Corolla is Toyota’s Gazoo Racing-developed hot hatch that expands the Corolla family beyond practicality into true performance territory. It pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-3 with all-wheel drive and a driver-focused chassis, and is offered in several special editions that raise performance and exclusivity.
Current GR Corolla variants include:
- Core — the base performance-focused model with essential GR tuning.
- Circuit Edition — a higher-spec variant with track-oriented upgrades and distinctive styling.
- Morizo Edition — a limited-edition flagship with enhanced performance and exclusive details (named in honor of Akio Toyoda's alter ego, Morizo).
These GR Corolla variants collectively represent the top tier of the Corolla family, delivering the most power, grip, and exclusivity.
Regular Corolla: Top trims in the sedan lineup
Beyond the GR hatch, the standard Corolla sedan lineup peaks at the XSE trim for gasoline models and the XSE trim for hybrid models, both offering premium features in a refined package.
Before listing the top sedan trims, note:
- Gasoline: XSE — sport-oriented version with the larger 2.0-liter engine, upgraded interior, and available features similar to other Toyota sport trims.
- Hybrid: XSE Hybrid — same premium treatment as the gas XSE, but with a hybrid powertrain and efficiency gains.
These trims provide the most features and highest level of comfort in the regular Corolla lineup, but do not match the GR Corolla's performance-focused engineering.
Summary
The GR Corolla stands as the top-of-the-line model in the Toyota Corolla family, delivering true performance credentials in a hatchback body. The regular sedan lineup tops out at XSE or XSE Hybrid, offering premium features without the track-ready performance of the GR variant.
