Toyota went to great lengths with the 2019 Corolla hatchback to show it can build a car that isn't boring. This involved a new, aggressive design, some interesting color options, and even an all-new six-speed manual transmission with auto rev-matching. One thing is still lacking from the fun formula: power. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine only produces 168 horsepower, which is adequate, but less than stellar. We'd love to see Toyota give the new Corolla a turbocharger, and make it a rival for cars like the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI.

While Toyota seemingly has no plans to build a sporty Corolla for the US market, the company has other plans for its home market in Japan. The JDM Corolla hatchback will be called the Corolla Sport, and it will be sold with a turbocharged engine. On the surface this seems like yet another case of the Japanese automakers keeping the best for the home market, but don't get too upset before you hear the details. The turbocharged engine is a 1.2-liter unit, which produces only 114 hp. What's more, the turbo engine will only be mated to a continuously variable transmission with 10 simulated gears. Sorry Japan, you can keep that Corolla.

There will also be a hybrid model, with a 97-hp 1.8-liter Prius engine mated to a 71-hp electric motor for a combined 120 hp. Yes, we know 97 and 71 don't add up to 120, but that's just how Toyota calculates its hybrid power. One benefit of the JDM Corolla is the availability of all-wheel-drive, which would likely be a popular option in the Northern parts of the US. Aside from the AWD, and some awesome seats, it seems like the US Corolla is actually better than its JDM counterpart.