Deep Dive: The Toyota Blade Master G – The Ultimate Sleeper Hatch?

At first glance, it looks like just another Corolla. Nothing flash, no big wings, no lairy vents. But some will understand they are in the presence of a Master. Underneath that fairly unassuming Toyota hatchback body lurks a bit of a weapon: the Blade Master G.

Back in the 2000s Toyota did something a bit mad by taking its sensible five-door hatch and stuffing the 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 from a Lexus IS350 under the bonnet to let it loose on the Japanese market. The result is a 206kW, 344Nm Corolla that’s the very definition of a sleeper – unassuming on the outside, but a bit of a rocket when you give it the jandal.

Think of the Blade as the Corolla’s upmarket cousin. It was Toyota’s attempt to make the humble hatch more premium with a plusher interior and more standard features. Figure on things like leather and Alcantara trim, electrically adjustable seats, dual zone air con and smart key operation. Higher grade models even added stuff like active cruise (borrowed from Lexus). As it is essentially a Corolla, the Blade is still reasonably practical with seating for five (at a pinch) and enough luggage space in the boot.

But the Master G took things to the next level. Where the regular Blade had a 2.4-lire four pot and a CVT box, the Master G gained the 2GR-FE V6, an engine that also powered the Lexus IS350 and Toyota Highlander. In the Blade it made 206kW matched to a six-speed auto, sending all that power to the front wheels. 

Toyota beefed up the package with bigger brakes, revised suspension, and a few subtle styling tweaks. Nothing too wild though, just enough to give it a little cred. Upfront there’s a Blade-specific bumper and grille, deeper sills along the side and 17-inch alloys. To the untrained eye it still looked like a Corolla with nice wheels, which is part of the appeal.

Fire it up and you’re greeted with a growl that is more Lexus than Toyota. Put your foot down and it’ll hit 100 km/h in about six seconds, if you can find the balance between traction and copious wheelspin and axle tramp that is. This is not really a hot hatch, more of a powerful GT cruiser sort of thing. It gets the overtake done in quick fashion, and rides pretty well on the highway.

But it’s not the last word in ultimate dynamics. With that much power through the front wheels, torque steer is all part of the fun. And with that big lump slung over the front axle, you’re constantly battling the understeer in challenging bends. Well, any corner really as the suspension does little to help reign in the roll. It’s more of a point-and-shoot car; do your best to get through the corner then mash the pedal and enjoy the surge. 

Plenty of Blade Master Gs have made their way to NZ via the import market, and they’re a tempting buy. But given their age, most will have done well in excess of 130,000km by now. 

Here’s what to check before you part with your cash:

Engine reliability: The 2GR-FE is a gem. Chain-driven, tough as old boots and known to rack up high kays. Early ones sometimes had oil line issues. Regular servicing is key.

Transmission: All Master Gs came with a six-speed auto. They’re solid, but make sure it shifts smoothly and doesn’t hesitate under load.

Condition: With a performance bent, some will have been driven hard. Listen for suspension knocks, noisy exhausts and warped brake discs. A service history would be good, but unlikely.

Parts: Mechanical bits are easy to find thanks to shared Lexus/Toyota DNA. Some trim pieces maybe trickier to track down since the Blade was JDM-only.

Search for a Toyota Blade Master G on Trade Me Motors