The Toyota GR Corolla was the answer to a question that many asked, what would happen if you took an average Corolla hatchback and threw everything at it in an attempt to make it faster, sharper, and rowdier than any Corolla that came before it? The answer is the GR Corolla a spunky three-cylinder powered monster designed to slay track days and make the art of driving fun again.
Toyota had a strong start in sales with the Corolla proving to be popular with the first wave of buyers who pre-ordered the hot-to-trot Toyota for their garage. However, the company knew it had to expand the model’s appeal to make it a true long-term success and it has done so with the 2025 model which aims to build on what the 2024 model established.
An automatic expands GR Corolla’s curb appeal
A big update for the new model year is the addition of an optional eight-speed automatic. While the company took a calculated risk with making the first wave of models manual only, Toyota also had to face the stark reality that a growing number of Gen Z drivers either don’t know how to operate a manual transmission or don’t want one at all in their car. Our Premium model arrived with the six-speed manual and while that will please purists with its accurate shifts and Mazda-esque levels of clutch engagement, the automatic (Direct Automatic Transmission in Toyota speak) is faster and allows the GR Corolla to shave some seconds off of its 0 to 60 time.
Cooling issues that emerged during the launch led Toyota to rework the front bumper to improve cooling to the engine and limited slip differentials are newly standard this year with the auto and manual versions getting in on the act. This does come at the cost of the limited production Circuit Edition which is axed for 2025. The exterior styling of our tester is still as sharp as ever and the Michigan cold during its visit proved to be the perfect compliment for its grey paintwork. A new Premium Plus model is added to the trim ladder but even Premium models like our tester get a forged carbon roof standard.
The interior is still a function-focused affair and will be very familiar to those who have already spent time in either a prior year GR Corolla or its more mundane counterpart. The dashboard is still plain in execution but the front sport seats still offer insane amounts of bolstering and track-ready support for instances where the road gets nice and curvy. GR models also get other model-exclusive touches but since this is not a formal luxury car, sound deadening is non-existent and as a result, the cabin can be a loud place to spend time in when you combine the sounds from the engine, the tire roar, and the bumps that resonate through the firmly tuned suspension.
Performance is still the best part
Performance for the 2025 model continues to come from a turbocharged three-cylinder that makes 300 hp. While the horsepower number is carried over from the outgoing one, torque has gone up slightly by 22 lb-ft to 295 though you have to be a sharp observer to spot the difference when driving the 2025 model side by side with the 2024 variant. Toyota made changes to elements of the suspension to improve handling and that proved to be the most noticeable change of all with the steering having less numbness in spots than before.
The core elements of the driving experience are thankfully carried over and while the automatic may do some things better than the stick, the manual version of the GR Corolla is still the one to choose if you want full control over the experience with the clutch pedal giving drivers greater control over the engine which is handy if you want to restrain the power in a tight turn or letting it all out when exiting into a long straight away.
Pricing has gone up
With all of the updates the GR Corolla received for 2025, pricing is perhaps the one update folks will like the least, with the model having a beefed-up pricing ladder for the new model year. While tariffs have added a degree of uncertainty to the final price tag if you ignore them for a moment and focus on the hard numbers you’ll discover a manual-equipped Core model now starts at $42,575 with the automatic model starting at $44,575. A Premium model like our tester is $43,050 with the AT raising that figure up to $45,050. The Premium Plus is the new range-topper and it starts at over $47,000 with the automatic making this version of the GR come very close to surpassing the $50,000 barrier.
That’s not cheap but with the higher levels of fun on hand, an increase in the admission fee is an expected part of doing business in this day and age and while some of the value feel has been sapped out of the GR Corolla for 2025, you get a sharper instrument for track duty and look for that to please enthusiast buyers the most.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.