As a motoring journalist, I spend an inordinate amount of time studying Google Maps.
Whether it’s scouting shoot locations for upcoming videos, finding the perfect driving road, or planning a road trip – I can’t remember the last time I even closed the Maps tab on my browser.
With that, I like to think I’ve got a pretty good handle on where the best driving roads are, at least in my home state of Victoria. As a side note, I think you should know too, which is why I’ve shared my experiences on this website.
However, while browsing maps recently, I came across a new stretch of road, one that had escaped my attention.
I’ve previously conquered our self-styled ‘Melburgring’ around the hills above the Yarra Ranges, but there appeared to be a tantalisingly twisty stretch of road that cuts right through the middle, warranting further investigation.
Google Street View provided some answers – this road appeared half-paved, half-gravel – but this run beckoned me still.
We had the perfect car in the Drive garage to explore it, too. The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla might have picked up a new automatic transmission to make it easier to live with everyday, but in no way does it diminish the driving experience.
Given the GR Corolla was born of rally originS (it even features a specific Gravel mode for its all-wheel-drive system), it was the perfect partner for a scrabble on gravel.
So, after picking up our photographer Mat to document the experience we set course for Warburton, roughly 90 minutes out of Melbourne, to attack this road from the south.
The run out to the hills is uneventful running through the suburbs, but one thing became immediately obvious: the GR Corolla is a small car for two large adults. Poor Mat was sat awkwardly high in the passenger front seat – with no height adjustment – and spaciousness in the front row footwell for me was limited.
There’s relatively little to play with too. The Corolla’s 8.0-inch infotainment screen lacks functionality, and although Google Maps was running through wireless Apple CarPlay, I wish there were a few more features and a bigger screen.
By contrast, the configurable 12.3-inch display in front of the driver is a hive of information. There are three separate screens that you can customise, and the extent to which you can do so is impressive. There are g-meters, AWD graphics, fuel data, boost gauges, and traction information at your fingertips.
Although they might not be all-out bucket seats, the GR Corolla’s sports seats are sturdy enough to hold you tight through bends while remaining comfortable enough for everyday duties. They’re pinched from the ZR-spec Corolla and have an Ultrasuede covering – this means you’re not slipping about as you hook into corners and fight the opposing g-force.
Our mundane urban run quickly becomes hilly (and green) after passing through the Dandenong Ranges around Emerald, and Woori Yallock. The traffic situation was refreshingly light on an overcast Wednesday morning, but the real fun would begin beyond Warburton.
Warburton is a great base of operations for exploring the wider Yarra Ranges region. Forestry remains a big industry in the area, but it’s also become a popular tourist spot with several accommodation options and cafes for out-of-towners and locals alike.
We stopped off along the main strip to stretch our legs and grab a coffee before continuing on to explore the Upper Yarra Reservoir for some obligatory static photos. The view over the dam was special, especially in the moody, blue light provided by the cloudy weather.
The Upper Yarra Reservoir is the main catchment that feeds the Yarra River, which flows some 242km long, all the way to Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne.
Avid drivers will want to head north up towards Reefton to explore this brilliant piece of road, but we were chasing new territory in the GR Corolla. So, we set off backtracking towards Mt Donna Buang and the start of our road – Acheron Way.
From the south end, the Acheron Way is gravel. This was no problem for the GR Corolla with its all-wheel driveline and rally origins.
Although the GR Corolla is not a rally homologation special like its small GR Yaris counterpart, the Corolla uses much of the same hardware and tuning to go fast – whether on- or off-road.
There’s a special dial on the centre console which allows the system to switch between three different torque splits: 60:40 front-to-rear, 30:70 front-to-rear, or 50:50 equal.
Gravel Mode takes up the latter torque split, though it’s arguably more fun to use the Track setting with its 30:70 ratio.
Whereas the other two modes feel largely the same, having the GR Corolla in Track mode provides a proper rear-wheel-drive feel and the rear end is far looser, making for a more entertaining drive – especially on scrabbly rock.
The gravel road is hemmed in on each side with thick forest and there’s little margin for error with no shoulder nor guard rails.
Signs warn motorists to mind the logging trucks that frequent the area, which would be a tall order given the impossibly tight width of the road.
But the GR Corolla feels like the perfect-sized car for the Acheron Way. Its diminutive size might be troublesome for fitting in the family, but it’s an easy car to manipulate around the tight bends and its relative light weight is eager to spring from one corner to the next.
Several portions of the Acheron Way are interspersed with a mysterious-looking fog that spurs Photographer Mat’s excitement, so after kicking him out to snap some pics I start to lean into the GR Corolla’s dynamics more during some quick up-and-back runs.
The 221kW/400Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine might only sound small-capacity on paper, but its bark is surprisingly sharp and entertaining. It gives off a satisfying, gruff exhaust note and the brutish character stays long after you set off.
Despite being on slippery gravel, the GR-Four AWD system stocks a stronghold of grip and there’s little sensation of wheel slip – especially when using the car’s Gravel mode with the 50:50 torque split.
In honesty, I’d be optioning my own GR Corolla with the excellent six-speed manual transmission. But the introduction of an eight-speed automatic with this latest facelift means it’s dead easy to tackle entertaining roads and it remains a super engaging car to drive.
Approaching sharper bends, the auto transmission rips down a gear or two ready to punch out the other side. I was able to muck around with the steering wheel paddles too, but I left the car largely to its own devices – because it does a great job of changing gears all on its own.
I struggled to imagine a large logging truck bundling along the Acheron Way – it’s remarkably tight and twisty. But it was the perfect playground for us, rocketing from one corner to the next with astonishing point-to-point ability.
Before too long, the fog lifted and the sun took its place shining through the thick forest and ferns. As well, the road finally transitions from gravel back to tarmac. But there’s still plenty to go and the challenging switchback nature of the road continues.
There are some sections where the trees thinned and you could see further into the distance; the view parting way to a blue landscape almost reminiscent of NSW’s Blue Mountains.
The road picked up the small Acheron River alongside it too. It’s gorgeous country to be driving through, particularly on a day when there were no other cars on the road. I think I saw two cars along the entire road, which stretches roughly 30km and takes about 40 minutes to drive.
It’s more than enough time to determine that the GR Corolla is one of the best performance cars around at the moment – at least at its $70,490 price point.
The steering, although light in feel, has a darty character that provides a sharp turn-in, the driving position and controls are all nicely positioned (especially the small-diameter steering wheel), and the handling qualities are thoroughly entertaining.
The level of punch provided by the three-cylinder engine is immense in itself, but the engine character is hugely entertaining its own right. It sounds great and its very reactive to a pinned throttle.
I’m no Colin McRae – or perhaps Neal Bates is more apt – but it feels as though anybody can sit behind the GR Corolla’s steering wheel and drive the thing beautifully on gravel.
As for the little-known Acheron Way, it’s quickly made its way onto my list of go-to driving roads. Granted, it’s not suitable for everything – I don’t think I’ll be taking any low-slung supercars down there – but for everything performance-minded with a bit of ground clearance, it’s well worth checking out.
Satisfied with our exploration of the Acheron Way, Photographer Mat and I took off back down the iconic Black Spur back to Healesville and stopped at the Beechworth Bakery for – arguably – one of the best pies in the country.
If this story’s done enough to get you exploring the same route, make a point to stop off there too.
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
