Toyota Corolla GR

How it looks when you see on the street: The gutsy Toyota Corolla GR gets attention on the streets as it reimagines the steady and sure Corolla nameplate with performance persona and reinvigorates the hot hatch category. It’s made a name for itself on the rally circuit — off-road racing where stunts and swerves reign supreme in muddy and snowy situations. Forget what you know about Toyota Corolla — because this car is a whole other thing, and hence its slightly aggressive front end.

How it makes you feel when you get in: Slide into the Toyota Corolla GR for good, clean fun, a vibe that shows up in its interior.

How it drives:  For those that have learned, it is a treat to drive 6-speed manual transmission and all-wheel-drive combo that preserves the fun in a class of car that’s become all too rare. It has a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and weighs only 3,200 pounds and is spirited at any even given time.

Even on surface roads, it has zesty character, and earns tons of attentions at stoplights, especially for a car in this price range. Driving GR = smiling.

What you should compares it to: Subaru WRX

How much does it cost: The Toyota Corolla GR starts at $36,995. We drove the Core model and a limited-run “Circuit Edition” that adds such niceties as a carbon-fiber roof, rear spoiler and sport seats. Toyota is encouraging its racing spirit: owners get a complimentary one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association.