Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus
Specs
Class: Sporty/Efficiency Automobile
Nation of Manufacture: Japan
Colour: Supersonic Purple
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 101
Actual-world gasoline economic system: 23.3 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | A |
| Match and End | B- |
| Gasoline Financial system | B |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not replicate Client Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Huge & Tall Consolation | |
| Huge Man | B |
| Tall Man | B |
| Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” ranking based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 300-horsepower, 1.6-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged 3-cylinder |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 19/27/22 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gasoline kind: Premium gasoline
Base worth: $45,515 (not together with $1135 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check automobile: Particular paint ($475) computerized transmission ($2000)
Worth as examined: $49,125
Execs and Cons
The good: Absolute pleasure to drive
The nice: Fairly roomy and sensible
The not so good: Agency experience, heaps and many noise
Evaluate
Each one in every of us has a loopy cousin, or possibly a loopy in-law. The man who by no means appears to maintain an everyday job, however has ziplined down the perimeters of mountains, been arrested for streaking, and frequents that membership downtown that commonly makes the night information.
Corolla on Steroids
To not anthropomorphize a well-liked automotive, however the Toyota Corolla has such a cousin: GR Corolla. The GR (Gazoo Racing—a Toyota motorsports sub-brand) is the fearless, hyper-caffeinated, thrill machine that—like your loopy cousin—helps maintain issues attention-grabbing.
Primarily based on the mild-mannered Corolla hatchback—a compelling first-car alternative for kids beginning to make their means on the planet—the GR tosses refined practicality to the wind, and as an alternative embraces efficiency with the kind of madcap madness that may solely be displayed by somebody fairly dedicate to a life exterior of the margins.
Costs and Trim Ranges
Provided for 2025 in Core ($39,995), Premium ($42,575), and new Premium Plus ($46,650), trim ranges, the GR Corolla is dear in comparison with the usual Corolla. However, the usual Corolla purchaser isn’t the GR’s viewers.
Competitors
Whereas direct competitors for the GR is elusive, Volkswagen’s Golf R comes shut, as do some Mini fashions in sporty JCW trim. The Subaru WRX can also be within the ballpark. However although shut in value, and possibly specs, none of these vehicles gives of the kind of uncooked, hot-breathed, visceral expertise the GR does.
Efficiency Upgrades
And although born of humble lineage, the GR boasts distinctive meeting therapy, that includes extra chassis welds and using industrial adhesives to create a extra inflexible construction.
Different GR upgrades included efficiency brakes, severe suspension tuning, and loads of exterior and inside trim bit. Sports activities seats are included, too.
Engines
All GR Corollas are powered by an unbelievable turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine rated at 300 horsepower—and a considerable 295 pound-feet of torque. All GRs additionally characteristic customary AWD, and include both a 6-speed guide or 8-speed computerized transmission.
GR-4 AWD Fashions
The AWD system permits drivers to decide on between three torque-output ratios. Choices embrace a 60-percent/40-percent entrance/rear setting for routine driving, a 50/50 bias for monitor use, and a 30/70 alternative for drifting.
Client Information not too long ago spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus Automated in Supersonic Purple. All advised, our check automotive got here to $49,125.
Room and Consolation
Humorous factor in regards to the GR, it seems smaller than a standard-issue Corolla hatchback, although it’s the identical dimension. That implies that there’s loads up grownup front-row area, and an affordable quantity of room within the second row. So, for all of its delightfully absurd efficiency potential, the GR is definitely relatively sensible.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin itself is nothing particular, and in comparison with the aforementioned Golf R, it seems and feels just a little low hire. That mentioned, every part is properly screwed collectively, and tidy as properly, however virtually each different $50,000 automotive we will consider feels extra upscale.
Connectivity
Luckily, the Corolla’s management and infotainment setup is primary Toyota stuff, which implies it’s straightforward to make use of and glitch free. That mentioned, listening to music and/or podcasts within the GR Corolla is sophisticated considerably by the vehicles prodigious noise output. Extra on that in a second…
Energy and Efficiency
On the highway the GR Corolla is each bit as wild because it seems. Even saddled with the out there computerized transmission, the automotive pulls away briskly from a cease, and midrange energy is each prodigious and simply accessed. And with that energy comes noise, from below the hood and from the exhaust pipes. Whereas this writer typically frowns on excessively tuned exhaust blare, the loopy cacophony of sounds that the GR produces are solely in step with the automotive’s peaky, edgy nature.
Experience and Dealing with
Likewise, the GR’s dealing with is about as uncooked and honesty as any sporty automobile can hope to be. The steering is extremely direct and exact, and helps the automotive really feel extra like its rotating than really cornering. Zipping round city is extra enjoyable than it needs to be, and there’s far more grip than any driver can safely discover on a freeway cloverleaf. The brakes, too, are as much as the duty, and really feel immensely robust, and provide wonderful suggestions by the pedal.
And whereas the experience could be greatest described as uneven, it falls wanting being really harsh. And, issues quiet down properly on the freeway. That mentioned, the noise by no means fairly goes means—know this earlier than you intend to take your new GR on lengthy freeway drives.
Did we point out the noise? OK, transferring on…
Gasoline Financial system
Regardless of every part, together with a really spirited analysis drive, our check automotive returned higher than 23 mpg over about 100 miles. Strive that in a Mustang GT.
Cargo Area
And, as a result of the GR is, at its coronary heart, a Corolla, the automotive nonetheless boasts a totally sensible cargo space situated below a totally sensible rear hatch.
Worth
What’s shocking isn’t how a lot loopy {hardware} has been integrated into the GR Corolla; it’s how properly all of the stuff works collectively. Whereas solely a devoted avenue racer would decide to driving a GR Corolla each day, we envy the parents who select to take action. The automotive is an absolute pleasure to drive, and can doubtless serve fortunate house owners as a type of day by day visceral remedy.
In case you can afford a GR Corolla, and know what you’re entering into, we are saying go for it. Life is brief and your commute needs to be enjoyable. So, possibly you may’t be the loopy cousin in your loved ones, you may nonetheless personal his automotive.
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2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus Photos
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