We live in interesting times. Two years ago when we tested the 2023 GR Corolla, it seemed like the internal combustion engine was on the way out, and for performance, you’d be looking at EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Not so fast! Both the market and administration have changed, and it seems like our future may not be all electric. Or at least not so soon.
So, vehicles like the GR Corolla will continue to provide great thrills, and with some notable updates for 2025, including a newly available automatic transmission, it’s worth taking another look at one of our favorite hot hatches!
Rally-Bred Style
The GR – which stands or Gazoo Racing , Toyota’s racing division – continues to be one of the most aggressive looking hatchbacks on the road, with the seriously swole-up body being courtesy of lots of performance goodies.
Up front, no Corolla has ever looked so tough, with a massive grille with a matrix pattern and large functional ducts. It’s even more aggressive for 2025, with a new front bumper to accommodate new available cooling components like an optional sub-radiator and an Automatic Transmission Fluid cooler on our automatic-equipped model.
Menacing and frowny LED headlamps and daytime running lights draw your eyes upward to the bulging hood, which on our tester had additional vents for added cooling.
The profile remains unchanged with wide front fenders with functional air grilles on the back side, as well as the eye-catching rear fender flares that help make the Corolla look wider and more serious than any Corolla before. That seriousness is enhanced by matte-blacked out 18-inch, 15 spoke wheels with 235/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires and equally impressive 14-inch 4-piston front brakes, with bold red brake calipers front and rear.
Those in the know will also appreciated the Forged Carbon Fiber roof – the big thing on some ultra-exotic makes, now available on the Corolla!
The rear may be our favorite angle. The wide rear fenders wrap around into the bumper for some serious intent, braced by boomerang-shaped LED taillights. There’s a blacked-out fascia with functional air vents, and our favorite item – triple exhaust pipes located at the far left, center and far right of the bumper cover. Those in the know immediately get the significance – (hint: one exhaust pipe for each cylinder).
Interestingly, our 2025 tester wears the same color as our 2030 did, a bold red Toyota calls Supersonic, and with a deep metallic flake in it, it just shimmers when the light hits it right. Hey if you’re going for something this out there – we say go big and bold!
Sensible and Sporty Inside
The inside continues the built-to-purpose look.
Supportive front sport seats that look pulled out of a rally car feature an embroidered GR logo in the headrest. Alcantara fabric and contrasting red stitching elevate the GR’s game. While they look racy, the seats are super well designed, and they excel at both sporty driving and still being every day comfy and easy to get in and out of.
There’s a nice fat 3-spoke leather-wrapped wheel with GR logo, and a nice chunky shift lever for the Direct Action Automatic transmission. There’s a useful 12.3-inch TFT digital gauge cluster with customizable settings, including a digital speedo, a tachometer that changes colors as you approach redline (cool) plus other valuable info like gear position, 4WD mode, Turbo pressure and more.
Sitting proudly in the center of the dash is an 8-inch touchscreen Info-tainment display. And since your hands might be busy driving, you can just say simple phrases like “Hey Toyota” to awaken the system for voice-activated commands to search for directions, adjust audio controls, change the cabin temperatures and more.
It may be a Corolla but if feels like a high-tech one, with simultaneous dual Bluetooth® phone connectivity and standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto compatibility. You can also add a Wi-Fi hotspot and the integrated charger for your smartphone keeps things nice and tidy. Corolla sensibility shows up with an actual volume knob for the info-tainmnet system, and a climate control system that’s easy to decipher and use.
A little premium for choosing the Direct Automatic Transmission model – you get a 1-year trial for Remote Connect* which provides remote door unlock capability, vehicle status notifications, a guest driver monitor and remote start. Nice!
So, there’s lots of goodies, and great seats, but the overall design reminds you that this is a Corolla, and that might make it hard for some buyers to justify the premium pricing. The new Civic Type R and Integra do feel a little more upscale, and they are newer designs to be fair. But we think those who come to drive won’t mind the Toyota’s economy roots.
Those roots aren’t all bad – in its DNA is a sensible 5-door hatchback with good rear seat room, good cargo space and real fold-down rear seats. You will notice an optional GR crossbar spanning the area behind the seats for added rigidity, but you can work around it pretty easily.
Shall We Adjourn to the Engine Room?
While there are a lot of “sporty” rides out there, few can give the authentic thrills of the GR Corolla. Let’s start with one of the most interesting engines in any car.
Under the hood is a 1.6-liter, three-cylinder engine. Yes, we said three cylinders. It’s also a true powerhouse cranking out 300 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque – 22 more torques than last year! It’s unique on paper, and also in the real world with a deep warble at idle and a snarly sound that’s more like a European hi-po model than a civic-minded Corolla.
You can thank a unique triple exhaust system for the GR’s voice, and the center pipe is open at idle, and then closes once you’re beyond 20 mph. Above 4,500 rpm the pipe reopens give a ferocious wail and a hard push into the back of your seat up to the 7,000 rpm redline. It’s jaw dropping and addictive.
Another interesting feature is the new-for-2025 8-speed automatic transmission. (Don’t worry purists, the 6-speed manual remains). While the manual transmission GR is fast – 0-60 in 4.7 seconds, with standard launch control on the automatic, it’s sure to be even quicker, and the auto is a sweetheart of a box, with lightning quick up and downshifts in sport mode made all the more fun with wheel-mounted paddle shifters. It always seems to know what gear you want to be in and is always ready to play.
It’s also well-mannered for regular street usage, and if you had to slug it out in heavy day-to-day traffic, we wouldn’t look at you funny for choosing the auto over the stick. Both are delightful and fast, and it’s really up to what suits you best.
Regardless of gearbox, the GR really puts the power down with a rally-derived standard 4WD system with a choice of modes – 60/40 front to rear split for daily driving, 30-70 setting for drifting and hooning antics, and a 50/50 setting designed for use at the track.
Around town and on and off the freeway the grip in turns is incredible, and with the Corolla’s small size it’s super easy to place it exactly where you want. You get the feeling the GR isn’t even breathing hard – it really wants a track or an autocross to show off its full potential. That said, it is an extremely easy car to drive quickly, and there are very few cars that have such a potent mix of power and handling to make any drive a thrill!
The only downside to all this is a very firm ride. Speed bumps slam your spine and rough roads will test your patience. A good test drive should be taken before you commit to one as your daily driver, but as a special toy (or Toy) for weekends or racing, it’s hard to beat!
How Much, Mad Mouse?
Starting with an affordable Corolla pays some benefits, but you still pay for all that tech. The Corolla lineup starts at just $22,325, for a sensible and fun well equipped entry-level car, it’s a great choice. Step up to the GR Corolla and you now have a base price of $38,860. While that price has gone up over the last few years, it’s still incredible bang for the buck.
Our tester was the top-of-the-line Premium Plus with automatic and carried a more substantial price of $47,515. Add in $475 for Premium Paint, $720 for the chassis brace, $299 for floor mats and $1,135 for Destination and we rang the bell at $50,144.
When you start talking $50k, you are in some serious company. The Integra Type S comes in at $52,445, and it has more power, but only front wheel drive. It would be a more comfortable daily driver, but it can’t match the thrills of the GR. Those seeking rally thrills could look at the Subaru WRX TR at $42,775. Also a great performance car with standard AWD, but if you’re looking for an automatic, the CVT is disappointing for an enthusiastic driver, we’d only get one with a stick, to be honest. We also mentioned the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Nearlier, and it is a fantastic EV performance machine. But at $67,000 it’s a much larger financial commitment.
Awesome performance, unique style and now with an available automatic transmission to keep up with the rest of the car, The 2025 GR Corolla is a one-of-a-kind, amazing performance vehicle!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.