2025 | automobile opinions | toyota | toyota gr corolla
The Toyota GR Corolla has all of the makings of a fantastic scorching hatch: a small, turbocharged engine with ample horsepower, all-wheel drive, efficiency brakes and suspension, and aggressive styling. For its first two years, it got here solely with a guide transmission. Now, a brand new, fast-shifting automated doesn’t disappoint and opens the automobile as much as many extra patrons.
Whereas the GR Corolla shares a part of its title and rolls on the identical TNGA-C platform as Toyota’s entry-level hatchback, it is an entire totally different automobile in terms of efficiency and driving dynamics. Developed in collaboration with Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division, the automobile options some important upgrades in comparison with a inventory Corolla hatch. Even from the skin, its variations are notable. It has practical air ducts on its hood and entrance fenders and rolls on 18-inch black rims wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber. 14-inch entrance disc brakes with 4-piston calipers and 11.7-inch rear discs with 2-piston models present wonderful stopping energy.
The actual magic occurs because of the GR Corolla’s 1.6-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine. Regardless of its diminutive measurement, this tiny beast outputs as much as 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. Energy heads to the wheels through both a 6-speed guide or 8-speed automated transmission. Whereas the automated model weighs about 50 kilos greater than the guide, any distinction in acceleration is negligible, with each automobiles doing 0-to-60 in about 5 seconds. Whereas we did not get to push this automobile on a race observe, it is acquired a rated high pace of 142.9 mph.
From a useless cease, the GR Corolla launches quick and affords implausible traction. Its GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system defaults to a front-biased 60:40 break up however can ship as much as 70% of torque to the rear wheels in Monitor mode. Customary entrance and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials assist guarantee torque is correctly distributed throughout the wheels for optimum cornering. Coming round sharp turns at pace, the automobile is spectacular and by no means looks like it can break free. The game-tuned suspension has MacPherson-type struts up entrance and a double-wishbones multilink setup within the rear. Mixed with a beefed-up stabilizer bar and rear strut brace, it affords nice highway suggestions, in addition to spectacular stiffness and stability. The brand new 8-speed automated transmission is stellar, detecting whenever you’re cornering or accelerating aggressively, and holds gears proper as much as the 7000 RPM redline as wanted. Whereas no automated is as participating as a row-your-own guide, this one is sharp, sensible, and much more entertaining whenever you interact the paddle shifters.
This hatchback seems nice from each angle, however we particularly take pleasure in trying out its rear finish, which contains an aerodynamic diffuser surrounding its triple-pipe exhaust. Whereas the automobile’s exhaust observe is not as soul-stirring as that of a bigger engine with extra cylinders, it nonetheless gives a delightful quantity of suggestions when accelerating and can crackle a bit at larger revs. That mentioned, aftermarket exhaust choices could make the GR Corolla sound like a professional rally race automobile.
Our Premium Plus take a look at car included upgrades like a raised hood, matte-finish 18-inch wheels, a gloss black rear spoiler, a black sharkfin antenna, and a solid carbon-fiber roof. Whereas it would not scale back weight meaningfully in comparison with the usual steel roof, it does look superior in individual.
Inside, the Premium Plus grade has upgraded seating surfaces lined with a suede materials referred to as Brin Naub and trimmed with convincing artificial leather-based. The sports activities seats provide wonderful bolstering and assist to maintain you planted firmly on observe days. The middle console homes a floor-mounted gear shifter, an actual mechanical handbrake, and switchgear for choosing drive modes and adjusting the AWD system between its Regular, Gravel, and Monitor modes. So far as tech options go, you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a head-up show, an 8-inch touchscreen working the newest Toyota Multimedia system with wi-fi AirPlay and Android Auto, Toyota Security Sense 3.0. An 8-speaker JBL audio system punches above its class. There’s additionally a wi-fi telephone charger, however the iPhone 16 Professional Max we examined saved dropping connectivity with the charger regardless of sporting solely a slim, Magsafe-compatible case.
Crimson accents on the seatbacks, door panels, steering wheel, and shifter add to the sporty look of the inside, as do the embroidered GR logos on the headrests. Past that, the inside is fairly primary, consisting principally of plastics in numerous textures. We’d have appreciated to have seen some carbon fiber or aluminum trim in a sports activities automobile that may value greater than $50,000.
Like different Corollas, the rear seat is appropriate for teenagers and shorter adults. The headroom and shoulder room are good, however the knee room is restricted. These seats have the identical premium surfaces because the entrance ones. We would prefer to see at the least one charging port for rear-seat passengers, however alas, there are none. There are two USB-C charging ports up entrance, so you can at all times run an extension cable to the again.
As a hatchback, you get higher than sedan cargo area, with 17.8 cubic toes behind the rear seats. Like the usual Corolla Hatchback, the rear seats can fold in a 60/40 break up, however carrying area is restricted due to the elective rear chassis brace put in in our take a look at automobile. With the brace in place, you may nonetheless move via lengthy and thin objects like skis or hockey sticks. In the event you plan on taking the automobile to the observe, there’s sufficient room for 4 tires mounted on rims in entrance of the bar with the again seat folded.
The primary time we drove the Twelfth-generation Corolla Hatchback, we hoped that Toyota would sometime make a souped-up model. With the GR Corolla, they gave us greater than we may have ever requested for. Its small however mighty engine is a powerhouse, and it handles brilliantly. It corners like a dream, and its steering is crisp and direct. It is surprisingly snug as a every day driver, too. Like many issues, the worth for the GR Corolla has crept up since its launch in 2023, and the tricked-out Premium Plus grade with the automated has the very best base value of the bunch – $47,515. A handful of choices and costs introduced the ultimate sticker value to $50,433. That mentioned, you may get right into a GR Corolla Core with a guide for as little as $38,860, and you continue to get the identical wonderful engine, suspension, AWD system, differentials, and brakes.
