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Toyota has been doing many things right lately, especially on the performance car front. The GR Corolla stirred up the hot hatchback segment and is currently the most popular performance model to feature a three-cylinder engine. While some GR Yaris owners have already discovered the limits of the G16E-GTS engine, we don't hear as much about modifying the GR Corolla.
I decided to dig around the Corolla GR Forum and stumbled upon an interesting post by a member who recently purchased a slightly used example of the Japanese hot hatchback. Here's what he says:
“Hi, I just purchased a 2023 Corolla GR. I saw the tuning option with Limit+1, but I'm not sure how reliable the engine is with Stage 1 or Stage 2 due to the valve springs. Thanks.”
The limiting factor when chasing more power in the G16E engine
The owner and thread starter who goes by Hugopadillagt in the forum, posts a valid question. When it comes to the 1.6-liter, turbocharged, inline-three engine found in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, the valve springs are a limiting factor. The owner is considering a Limit+1 upgrade, as it is almost customary for turbocharged performance models to receive a bump in output via software and a few supporting mods (if need be).
I stumbled upon another thread on the same forum, by Limit+1, where they mention the necessity of upgraded valve springs. Apparently, there were rumors that the GR Corolla engine featured stiffer valve springs than the GR Yaris, but that turned out to be false. The facelift models may (early 2024 for GR Yaris, August 2024 for GR Corolla) may be different as those feature numerous revisions compared to pre-facelift models.
It depends on how much power you want to add
The consensus is that the Toyota GR Corolla engine can stay reliable on Stage 1 with the stock valve springs. Anything above and you need to upgrade them. In its current iteration, the GR Corolla packs 300 horsepower at 6,500 RPM and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) at 3,250-4,600 RPM – enough for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.9 seconds thanks in part to the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system, which can send up to 70 percent of torque to the rear wheels.
One thing to keep in mind when building the GR Corolla for more power
If you decide to chance it and chase big power without upgrading the valve springs in your GR Corolla engine, you may experience valve float. This is an undesirable condition, typically occurring at high RPMs, in which the valves do not properly follow the closing phase of the camshaft's lobe. This may lead to catastrophic failure if not addressed, as it puts premature wear on the valve lifters and camshaft lobes, especially on engines featuring roller lifters.
New GR Corolla with a new engine?
Toyota's three-cylinder engine has become quite popular, and the carmaker is planning to use it on a variety of future models, but something even better may be coming soon. We know Toyota is bringing out two new engines that will replace most of the company's existing powerplants.
One of them is the G20E, 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four engine that will be featured in the new mid-engine Toyota GR Celica. We have already seen a less-powerful variant of this engine in the Lexus IS and ES models. More changes await the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla, and the engine could be the biggest surprise.
Even with the three-cylinder G16E engine, the GR Corolla can run with some of the most iconic performance cars of the 25 years. If you have a GR Corolla, I'd love to hear your impressions. Would you like the 2.0-liter turbo engine to be fitted on the 2026 model? I am curious to read your opinions in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla press release
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