2025 Toyota GR Corolla

Two years ago, Toyota’s Gazoo Racing changed the Corolla forever. No longer would the Corolla name be associated strictly with affordable, practical transportation, as the GR Corolla was a track-worthy weapon aimed at both fun and affordability. So, what’s changed for ’25? Well, let’s shift things over to the track and find out!

In the words of one of our test drivers, the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla is a car that mathematically shouldn’t work. A three-cylinder? Three-hundred horsepower? A Corolla?

Okay, that last one isn’t a number, but you get the point. The Toyota GR Corolla has been an entertaining enigma since it flashed in the hot hatch pan for 2023. We loved it since day one and couldn’t wait for an excuse to drive it again. Well, a 2025 update was reason enough. We brought this Fuji-tuned compact with us to Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway to feel out two big gains: more torque and an all-new automatic transmission.

Purists need not fret, the slick six-speed manual is still the default, but Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division took it upon themselves to create the eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission, D.A.T. for short. It’s tuned for sporty showdowns, derived from lessons learned on racetracks and rally stages alike, and said to anticipate shifts based on driver inputs.

What do we think? Well, it is ‘DAT’ good. A close gear ratio means the powerband is always eager for another set. Despite not being a dual-clutch, shifts are quick and almost always make sense, with few moments of miscommunication; specifically, wishing to hold third gear just a tad longer in Roebling’s back section. But in those instances, drivers can click the paddle shifters to stay dialed in.

Speaking of, the GR Corolla D.A.T. retains the super cool drive mode dial located behind the shifter, adjusting the GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system’s power bias. We swapped Normal mode’s 60:40 front-rear split for Track mode’s 30:70 rear-biased delivery; that is, until a rare coastal Georgia snowstorm dropped fresh powder for us to shred in the 50:50 Gravel mode.

This G16E-GTS 1.6-liter engine may share the same displacement as the 4A-GE found in the Corolla’s AE86 ancestor, but with one less cylinder. This logic-defying inline turbo-three puts out an astounding 100 horsepower per cylinder and now 295 lb-ft of torque, up from 273.

That’s regardless of transmission, as is the estimated 4.9 second 0-60 time, which you can ignite with the D.A.T.’s launch control. No chance for us to test it on Roebling’s front stretch, but previous launches at Charlotte Motor Speedway were evidence enough.

Back further down south, not once did this punchy powertrain feel lost, unlike some compacts we’ve tested prior. Reeling it in are four-piston front and two-piston rear brakes, which we rate as good with solid initial bite. They’re hidden behind 18-inch wheels wearing 235-wide Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Bountiful grip, aided by front and rear Torsen limited-slip diffs, now standard for 2025. And body roll? Enough to feel what’s happening without getting sloppy.

Taking a pause, you can spot the GR’s new, meaner face. The larger openings are functional, sending air to a new automatic transmission cooler and an available sub-radiator. In back you’ll find hatchback versatility and 17.8 cu-ft of cargo space behind the second row; and even the battery for better weight distribution.

Not much of a reno to this cabin. The 12.3-inch gauge cluster and 8-inch infotainment screens are functional without being too flashy. The same can be said for the physical climate controls and the seats, which held us in place with each weight transfer.

Government fuel economy ratings list the Toyota GR Corolla with the automatic at 19 city, 27 highway and 22 combined. 13.5 barrels of oil annually and 6.5 tons of CO2 emissions is the about average Energy Impact Score.

Available in three grades, 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Core starts at $39,995; and if you want the D.A.T., tack on an extra two grand across the board, with a Premium Plus DAT topping the range at $48,650.

It’s not lost on us that spending $40- or even $50-grand on a Corolla sounds nuts. But the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla is nuts. It’s fast, fun, and something you can actually live with every day. But, would we go auto over manual? Some purists on staff say nay, while others say yea. It’s a win either way, as there’s now more GR goodness for everyone.