Launched: 2023 Toyota Corolla Facelift – New GR Sport Flavour Added, From RM139,800

UMWT introduced the refreshed 2023 Toyota Corolla sedan range earlier today featuring a
new GR Sport guise!

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) sees its range updated today after it announced the availability of the refreshed 2023 Toyota Corolla sedan range. The C-segment saloon offering receives a host of mild enhancements inside and out, but the most notable addition here is a sporty new GR Sport guise.

Underpinning the Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform, the twelfth generation Corolla saloon for Malaysia in its latest 2023 model year guise continues to see itself available in base 1.8E and up-specced 1.8G guises. Take note, the GR Sport trim is offered as an exclusive upgrade pack for the latter.

Refreshed Toyota Corolla 1.8G pictured. Note the mild exterior changes, namely the revised front mesh grille, 17-inch alloy wheels, and new exterior trims.

In terms of exterior visual changes, the 2023MY Corolla now sports a new mesh-pattern grille, all-new 16-inch (1.8E) and 17-inch (1.8G) alloy wheels design, and a bevy of redesigned exterior trim pieces. Simply put, changes on the front in both variants are minimal.

Critical changes have occurred on board as the refreshed cabin now sports newly redesigned seats up front promising greater comforts. All seats are upholstered in perforated leather whilst the up-specced 1.8G variant offers drivers with 8-way power-adjustments including lumbar support.

For the 1.8G and GR Sport versions, both now sport a brand new 12.3-inch digital instrument display panel featuring three MID zones.

Next comes a brand new 12.3-inch digital instrument display panel primed in the 1.8G variant, offering four different and interactive layouts – Casual, Smart, Tough, and Sporty. This panel is also brimmed with three multi-info display (MID) zones displaying various other readouts.

The 1.8E variant continues to have the familiar Optitron panel instead bolstered with a 4.2-inch digital multi-info display (MID) panel.

The 9-inch centre infotainment touchscreen appears unchanged, offering users wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on top of AUX, Bluetooth, and USB Mirroring functions. Speaking of the latter, there’s now USB-C charging ports present on board, along with a 12-volt socket suppling 120-watts.

9-inch infotainment touchscreen appears to be carried over, but the front seats are new and promise better support. IN GR Sport guise, said seats get sporty red stitching motif and GR Sport emblems.

Dual dashcams or DVRs is standard-equipment in the 1.8G and GR Sport variants. They're also available as cost-option upgrades for the base-spec 1.8E variant.

Other key features present include an automatic dual-zone climate control suite with rear vents, keyless entry and ignition, as well as dual Digital Video Recorders (DVRs or ‘dashcams), 3D Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) for easier parking management, and a Vehicle Telematics System (VTS).

Take note that the dual DVRs, 3D PVM, and VTS are available on cost-option items for the base-spec Corolla 1.8E variant.

New 1.8G with GR Sport upgrade pack featured. It adds sportier aesthetics inside and out.

As for the new GR Sport package, it’s offered as an upgrade exclusively for the 1.8G guise and joins alongside the GR Sport Hilux and Corolla Cross. Aesthetic additions here include a GR Sport-specific grille, bumper, and exterior accents plus GR Sport badges, black-finished side mirror caps, plus a blacked-out cabin motif with GR Sport emblems and red contrast stitching.

More importantly, the GR Sport pack also primes the Corolla with larger 18-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in wider 225/40R18 tyres, as well as the GR Sport suspension suite featuring sport-tuned shock absorbers, coil springs, and stabilisers.

1.8-litre 4-cyl Dual VVT-i mill and 7-speed CVT powertrain is carried over, but the former sees some changes for improved NVH levels.

These aesthetic and visual changes plus additions aside, the face-lifted 2023MY Toyota Corolla continues to adopt Toyota’ proven 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i 4-cyl petrol heart and 7-speed CVT automatic transmission paring, the former driving the front wheels with 139 PS and 172 NM via the latter.

While outputs remain  unchanged, Toyota says the mill’s intake has been revised with new resonance suppressors plus porous materials, all in the name of reducing noise and resonance towards lowering overall cabin NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) levels.

Besides sporty aesthetics, GR Sport upgrade pack also adds GR Sport-specific black 18-inch wheels and sports suspension.

In terms of safety, both variants continue to see 7 airbags, ABS brakes plus stability control suite, seatbelts, and ISOFIX childseat anchors primed as stands. Both variant not boast rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) as standard.

However, only the higher-specced Corolla 1.8G benefits with the full swing of active driver assist (ADAS) features offered through the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite. This adds Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Steering Assist and Lane Trace Assist with Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Automatic High Beam (AHB), and Pre-Collision System (PCS).

Bookings are now opened at RM139,800 (1.8E), RM147,800 (1.8G), and RM152,800 (GR Sport).

Excluding options and insurance, the base-spec 2023 Toyota Corolla 1.8E is priced from RM139,800, whilst the higher-specced 1.8G variant is tagged from RM147,800. Those keen on the GR Sport package will need to add a further RM5,000 on top of the 1.8G’s price, totalling at RM152,800 sans insurance.

A 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty coverage is included in all prices mentioned. Check out more images of the refreshed 2023MY Toyota Corolla and Toyota Corolla GR Sport in the gallery prepared below.