Drag race: Toyota GR Corolla v Honda Civic Type R v Hyundai i30 N v Cupra Leon VZx

Sick of seeing dual-cab utes and full-sized four-wheel drives go head-to-head on the drag strip? We hear you.

That’s why we lined up these four pocket rockets, and roped in a few owners to put them through their paces.

Driving the Honda Civic Type R is Mac Cook, a member of the CarExpert finance team who also has a Type R in his garage at home.

Melissa Ong was behind the wheel of her very own Hyundai i30 Hatch Drive-N DCT, or the iDirty N as she calls it. It’s the oldest member of our four-strong hot hatch race.

Representing the CarExpert editorial team were Paul Maric in the Cupra Leon VZx, and me in the Toyota GR Corolla.

You’ll need to watch the video above to see who won the drag race. Place your bets, but bear in mind these are four very evenly matched cars.

Drag race: Toyota GR Corolla v Honda Civic Type R v Hyundai i30 N v Cupra Leon VZx

Here’s how they compare on paper:

Leon VZx Civic Type R i30 Drive-N DCT GR Corolla
Engine 2.0L 4cyl turbo 2.0L 4cyl turbo 2.0L 4cyl turbo 1.6L 3cyl turbo
Transmission 7-speed DCT 6-speed manual 8-speed DCT 6-speed manual
Driven wheels Front Front Front All
Power 221kW 235kW 206kW 221kW
Torque 400Nm 420Nm 392Nm 370Nm
Tare mass 1503kg 1406kg 1511kg 1455kg
Fuel type 98 RON 95 RON 95 RON 98 RON
Price when new $63,990 D/A $72,600 D/A $56,200 +ORCs $64,190 +ORCs

And here’s how they fared in individual performance tests, with the same driver behind the wheel:

Leon VZx Civic Type R i30 Drive-N DCT GR Corolla
Quarter mile 13.85s 14.03s 13.85s 13.69s
0-100km/h 5.91s 6.34s 5.87s 5.96s

MORE: Everything Cupra Leon
MORE: Everything Honda Civic
MORE: Everything Hyundai i30
MORE: Everything Toyota GR Corolla


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