Pros
- Fun to drive
- More practical than a GR86
- Customizable AWD system
Cons
- Downmarket interior
- Cramped rear seat
If “Corolla” signifies boring but reliable transportation to you, GR Corolla is the tire-shredding hot hatch here to set you straight. A 300-hp manual-transmission AWD Corolla hot hatch wasn’t on our bingo card, but then again, Toyota has surprised us before over the last few years. As the performance flagship of the Corolla line, the 2025 GR Corolla joins the GR86 and Supra in Toyota’s sports car lineup. And for 2025, the GR Corolla lineup only expands.
What’s New
- A new eight-speed automatic-transmission option joins the six-speed manual. Toyota refers to it as a GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission, or DAT for short.
- A Premium Plus trim is new. Above the Core and Premium trims, the 2025 GR Corolla Premium Plus includes a forged carbon-fiber roof, vented hood bulge, and matte black wheels. A head-up display is also part of the package.
- All 2025 GR Corollas now make 295 lb-ft of torque, up from 273 lb-ft before.
- The suspension has been retuned and the front bumper has been updated to make room for an available sub-radiator and Automatic Transmission Fluid cooler.
What We Think
We must be living in an automotive golden age to have so many fun cars to choose from. In Toyota’s ongoing quest to prove it builds more than just reliable commuters, the GR Corolla arrived for the 2023 model year ready for fun.
What distinguishes the GR Corolla from other super hot hatches like the sublime Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R is its customizability. That AWD system is at the core of the 2025 GR Corolla’s spirit whether you choose the DAT (automatic) or manual. The Normal mode starts torque distribution front/rear to 60/40, while Gravel shifts it to 50/50. Heading to the track? Select the Track mode and the car will automatically vary the distribution from 60/40 to 30/70 depending on what kind of on-track shenanigans you’re interested in.
We like both versions of the 2025 GR Corolla, though we found the DAT model did change gears mid-corner. Overall, the GR Corolla is a strong entry for someone who prioritizes driving fun. A couple Corolla hatchback limitations appear here, too, however. The rear seat is a bit cramped, and the interior—which might be perfectly acceptable in a sub-$30,000 Corolla hatch—is outclassed here by the Civic Type R. Still, if you’re moving up in size from a GR86 and want to stay in the Toyota family rather than pick the excellent Civic Type R, the GR Corolla could be a good fit.
Performance and Efficiency
The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla’s 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-three is good for 300 hp and, new this year, 295 lb-ft of torque across the line.
Efficiency is decent. The new automatic GR Corolla comes in at an EPA-rated 19/27 mpg city/highway, while the manual is rated at 21/28 mpg. For comparison, the 2024 Volkswagen Golf R, which also has standard AWD, manages 22/31 mpg as an automatic and 20/28 mpg with a manual.
Safety Ratings
The current-gen Toyota Corolla hatchback earns a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick. Not bad, but the Honda Civic hatchback gets a 2024 Top Safety Pick thanks to better crash test performance in one evaluation. Even so, the 2025 Corolla hatch gets a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA (five is the best you can get).
