Malaysia misses out, 2022 Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid gets GR Sport treatment in Thailand

A year ago, Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) gave the Toyota Corolla Altis an update in a bid to dissuade buyers from getting the Honda Civic instead. Needless to say, that doesn’t seem to work as the Civic has been leading so far ahead of the Corolla in sales, at least in the first half of 2021.

With the all-new Civic FE launched in Thailand in August, that gap is likely to grow larger. Nevertheless, TMT decided yet another update is in order for the Corolla Altis and this time, the GR Sport (GR-S) variant expands to the Corolla Altis Hybrid (HEV).

Unlike last year’s update that focused mainly on the features, the 2022 update sees the highest variant of the Thai-spec Corolla Altis getting visual upgrades both inside and out.

Also read: 2021 Toyota Corolla Altis adds TSS to more Thai variants, can it boost past the Civic?

Both the petrol-powered and hybrid GR-S variants receive a redesigned front fascia which consists of the bumper and front grille. Needless to say, the updated GR-S looks less sporty than the previous update.

The rear design is more subtle and since this is a GR-S, the familiar black and red badge is placed on the tailgate. Don’t get caught off guard by the “Hybrid” badge though as the GR Sport trim was already introduced on the European-spec Corolla Hybrid back in 2020.

Also read: Toyota Corolla Altis gets sharper GR Sport look for Europe

Inside, the Corolla Altis GR-S gets leather upholstery as standard with red stitching, and GR logos are found on the front seats along with the push start button.

Exclusive features on the GR-S are the automatic wipers, head-up display, rear sunshade, and tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The Corolla Altis GR-S is available with a naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre 2ZR-FBE engine (140 PS/177 Nm) or a hybrid powerplant that combines a 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE engine (98 PS/142 Nm) with an electric motor (72 PS/163 Nm).

The petrol unit is paired to a CVT gearbox with 7 virtual gears while the hybrid is mated to an E-CVT. Those who opted for the petrol-powered Corolla Altis GR-S could shift gears with the help of a pair of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

As the Corolla Altis is bestowed with the coveted GR badge, Toyota didn’t simply add some visual embellishments and called it a day. The GR-S variants boast suspension improvements which see the inclusion of coil springs, shock absorbers, and a rear stabilizer bar, turning the already comfortable cruiser into some kind of track deviant.

Aside from the enhanced suspension and visual upgrades, the Corolla Altis GR-S is similarly equipped to the highest variants of the Thai-spec Altis. These include the TSS ADAS suite which features a pre-collision system, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC), and lane departure alert with steering assist.

Prices for the 2022 Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport starts from THB 1,059,000 (~RM 134k) for the petrol variant and from THB 1,114,000 (~RM 141k) for the hybrid variant. Will these updates help to close the sales gap between the Corolla Altis and Civic in the Kingdom or will it later prove redundant?

Also read: No need for new model, old Honda Civic FC still sells 2x over Corolla Altis