Toyota’s GR Corolla sports car has been blowing the minds of driving enthusiasts since it made landfall two years ago with a 300-horsepower engine, six-speed manual transmission, and all-wheel drive.
For 2025, an eight-speed automatic transmission is available as a $2,000 option. Engine torque has been increased from 273 lb.-ft. to 295 lb.-ft., and suspension upgrades give the GR Corolla’s handling characteristics a nudge. The front bumper is redesigned to accommodate newly available cooling components.
There are three 2025 GR Corolla trims: Core, Premium, and Premium Plus. All three are powered by the same 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine capable of generating that whopping 300 horsepower.
EPA ratings are 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Premium unleaded gasoline is required.
The Premium Plus model is new for 2025 and has a forged carbon fiber roof, vented bulge hood, and 18-inch matte black wheels. A head-up display also comes standard on the Premium Plus.
GR Corolla is a five-passenger four-door hatchback with a front engine and all-wheel drive. Pricing starts at $38,860 for the Core model with a manual transmission.
I drove the new Premium Plus with an automatic transmission. It’s not just a certainly fine transmission. It’s a super Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT), crafted by engineers focused on achieving the fastest possible downshift speed.
Optimized for sporty driving, the DAT control software delicately senses the way the driver steps on the brakes and operates the accelerator. With these inputs, it anticipates when gear shifting is optimal even before changes in vehicle behavior occur, achieving a gear selection that reflects the driver’s intentions, which leads to shifting that is similar to that of professional drivers.
You can imagine how underchallenged the DAT was with me as the driver.
I once road shotgun with Hurley Haywood while he drove hot laps at Laguna Seca, and that will always be the impossible benchmark by which I assess my driving skills.
To experience the GR Corolla’s ability to the utmost requires a racetrack setting. But even within the confines of Snohomish County public roads, I was fully awed by this little car’s acceleration and cornering talents, and knew it was a masterpiece.
For anyone wondering if the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla offers anything other than thrills: It is comfortable, civilized, and practical enough for pleasant daily driving.
2025 TOYOTA GR COROLLA PREMIUM PLUS
Base price: $47,515
Price as driven: $50,024
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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