The 2025 Toyota Corolla GR is one of the most commanding hot hatches on the market today, with its turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine bringing 300 hp as well as a distinctive exhaust note to the table. While the AWD pocket weapon is a solid performance choice, they are fairly expensive at $40,000 brand-new – that’s for the base model, excluding options, with destination taken into account. Top-end models start at over $45k.
Have Your Say Does the GR Corolla’s higher price for 2025 make it any less of a performance bargain?
Last year’s GR Corolla was more than $2,000 cheaper than the 2025 model: You’ll now pay at least $38,860 for a base 2025 GR Corolla (excluding destination), and if you want it with an automatic gearbox, the price rises to over $40k. While there are some tweaks made to improve the car for the new model year, it’s still a noteworthy increase in cost. Do you think this detracts from the GR Corolla’s allure, or does it retain its title of ‘performance bargain’ despite this?
For the base price of the new Toyota GR Corolla, it’s possible to pick up some serious performance heroes, from Aston Martins to Porsches. CarBuzz set about tracking down some blazing performance alternatives that cost less than that.
We
considered any performance car that costs less than the base MSRP of a 2025 Corolla GR ($39,995 including destination), rounded up to $40k. Each entry is ranked from the least to most expensive, with vehicle data sourced from manufacturers. Used car prices were sourced from Kelley Blue Book.
10 2018 Ford Focus RS
Used Car Price: $30,243
Engine
Turbocharged 2.3-liter I4
Power
350 hp
Torque
350 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$30,243
For around $10,000 less than it would cost for a new Corolla GR, you could get your hands on one of the most capable hot hatches ever built. The 2018 Ford Focus RS came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-pot, a unit that brought along 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. As an added bonus, the Focus RS also came with all-wheel-drive, so great fun could be had whatever the condition. Wanting to ensure the RS remained fun despite its grippy AWD setup, Ford also developed a ‘drift mode’ feature. This sent all the torque to the rear wheels, meaning huge tail-out action could be had. It still looks great, too.
9 2015 Cadillac CTS-V
Used Car Price: $30,496
Engine
Supercharged 6.2-liter V8
Power
556 hp
Torque
551 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$30,496
The Cadillac CTS-V wasn’t only available in sedan flavor, as there was also a coupe version on the menu. It came with the same supercharged 6.2-liter V8 as its sibling, which meant 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque, as well as the eight-speed automatic transmission. Unlike Cadillacs of the past, the CTS-V was built to truly perform on the track.
Its suspension and braking systems were tweaked to within an inch of their life on the revered Nürburgring Nordschleife to ensure it barreled through bends as fast as its European rivals. The coupe model can be found for around $30,000 on the used market in 2024.
8 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S
Used Car Price: $37,467
Engine
3.8-liter flat-six
Power
355 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$37,467
Porsche 911 Carrera models have held onto their value pretty well, though for $37,000 you can pick up a solid older Carrera S model from 2006. In 997 generation form, it comes with a 3.8-liter flat-six that is placed in its traditional location at the rear of the car. With 355 hp on tap, the 911 enjoys arguably the best rear traction of any sports car given the engine pushes the rear tires into the road. While arguably not handling as well as the mid-engined Cayman, the 911 feels unlike anything else on the road.
7 2017 BMW M4
Used Car Price: $37,706
Engine
Twin-turbo 3.0-liter I6
Power
426 hp
Torque
405 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$37,706
When looking for a used sports car, it takes a brave soul to at least not consider a BMW M car of some kind. The legendary department of the German automaker has been at it for decades, with iconic cars like the E60 M5 and the E46 M3 resulting from their hard work. The 2017 M4 followed on from the E92 M3, taking over its space as BMWs premier two-door sports car. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six afforded the vehicle 426 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, while the suspension and braking system was overhauled by the M Division. This work resulted in one of the most commanding performance cars ever made.
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6 2016 Maserati GranTurismo
Used Car Price: $38,077
Engine
4.7-liter V8
Power
454 hp
Torque
384 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$38,077
While perhaps not quite as agile as some of the other cars on this list, the 2016 Maserati GranTurismo came with one of the throatiest V8s money can buy. It wasn’t exactly a shrinking violet in terms of its figures either, with 454 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque at the mercy of its driver.
Its appearance won’t necessarily win everybody over, but its smoothness probably will. As its name hints, the GranTurismo is designed to cruise at high speed and keep its occupants comfortable. Still, given the meaty engine under the hood, it can deliver a pulse-quickening pace when requested.
5 2015 Jaguar F-Type R
Used Car Price: $38,163
Engine
Supercharged 5.0-liter V8
Power
550 hp
Torque
502 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$38,163
Who doesn’t love a bit of British muscle? The 2015 Jaguar F-Type R is one of the most powerful cars to escape from the UK, with the petite coupe coming with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 powerhouse shoehorned under its ‘bonnet’ (that’s the hood, in non-American).
With 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque waiting to be unleashed, which is channeled to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic unit, the F-Type hits 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. To ensure it can tackle the corners too, Jaguar’s engineers tweaked the suspension behavior and added a dynamic damping system. It’s a whole different ballgrame to the hot-hatch goodness of the GR Corolla – and it costs less.
4 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Used Car Price: $38,223
Engine
Supercharged 6.2-liter V8
Power
650 hp
Torque
640 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$38,223
For less than $40,000, you can get one of the most commanding Camaros ever built. For a shade over $38,000, a mighty 2017 Camaro ZL1 could be sitting on your driveway. Yep, the one with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 hp and 640 lb-ft. Aside from the mighty power plant, the Camaro ZL1 also got an enhanced Brembo braking system and upgraded suspension. The ZL1 was so hardcore that Chevy’s designers even came up with a full aerodynamic package for it, including a front splitter and rear wing to increase downforce and improve high-speed grip and stability.
3 2018 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Used Car Price: $39,173
Engine
Supercharged 6.2-liter V8
Power
707 hp
Torque
650 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$39,173
For gearheads purely looking for as much power as they can get for $40,000, look no further than the blazing 2018 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. In classic muscle car fashion, it was built purely to cover ground in a straight line as quickly as possible. Its supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 comes with a rocket-like 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, which can burn your tires out in but a moment. With its aggressive exterior styling backing up its muscle, the Charger sticks two fingers up at most sports cars and leaves them in a cloud of tire smoke. Just remember to leave some budget free for some replacement rear rubber.
2 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Used Car Price: $39,176
Engine
7.0-liter V8
Power
505 hp
Torque
470 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$39,176
The Z06 variant of the Corvette is one of the most hardcore on the price list, with this one designed to boss its rivals around on the track. Chevrolet pulled out all the stops to make sure the C6 Z06 was the most capable Corvette yet, a task it kicked off by fitting it with the largest displacement small-block ever made, a 7.0-liter LS7. It sent 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed gearbox. Materials like aluminum and carbon fiber were used throughout its construction to save weight, while the braking system and suspension were upgraded to allow it to tackle bends with confidence.
1 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Used Car Price: $39,388
Engine
4.7-liter V8
Power
420 hp
Torque
346 lb-ft
KBB Used Value
$39,388
Thanks to the wonder of depreciation, it’s possible to pick up a howling Aston Martin V8 Vantage for less than $40,000. A 2010 example can be had for the price, which came with the 4.7-liter V8 that was made famous on Top Gear for being so loud it could be heard up to two miles away. The V8 Vantage also comes with one of the most elegant exterior designs of any sports car, while the interior is quintessentially luxurious, just as an Aston should be. With 420 hp being sent to the rear wheels via a traditional six-speed manual gearbox, it’s difficult to find a scenario where it doesn’t excel.
Sources
:
Ford, Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Maserati, Jaguar, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge,
Kelley Blue Book
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