2025 Toyota GR Corolla Automatic Driven: Still A Hoot To Drive!

I’m surprising no one when I say that the Toyota GR Corolla is a fabulous hot hatchback. Although I once complained about the fact that it doesn’t quite manage to accomplish everyday hatchback chores as well as, say, a Honda Civic Type R or a Volkswagen Golf R, the GR Corolla is still one of the greats in terms of pure driving joy. It’s also a hyper-focused enthusiast car, powered by a feisty turbocharged three-cylinder engine, fitted with a pretty neat and adjustable all-wheel-drive system, and a six-speed manual gearbox.

But when Toyota announced that the updated 2025 model would get an automatic transmission, I was genuinely curious to find out if the lack of a third pedal would hinder the GR Corolla’s greatness. I mean, on paper, there was nothing to party about. This wasn’t some fancy dual-clutch setup like in a VW. It’s not even a rapid-firing ZF unit like what you normally get from a BMW. Nah. This is a run-of-the-mill, torque converter automatic. Has it ruined the GR’s experience? Not really.

2025 Toyota GR Corolla First Impressions

Still Looks Mean And Purposeful, One Of The Coolest Hot Hatchbacks On Sale

For the 2025 model year, the GR Corolla gets a slight update in the looks department, notably in its front fascia. The entire bumper was redesigned and opened up for improved breathing. It allows the car to look considerably meaner than before, but at the same time, that new face looks like the car is smiling all the time. Weird.

Overall, this is still the same wide-bodied Corolla hatchback we expect from this nameplate, a properly purposeful look that helps connect the dots back to Toyota’s rally racing heritage. No, the GR Corolla isn’t a homologation special. That title belongs rather to the smaller, forbidden fruit GR Yaris. But Toyota does a bang-up job here of making us believe the GR Corolla is a WRC rally car for the road. It’s wide, hunkered down, mean-looking, and wears a set of upgraded brakes, to say nothing of its triple exhaust system.

I’m not a fan of that, as it’s too boy-racer for my tastes. And black wheels are way too overdone at this point. But the GR Corolla is obviously one of the coolest cars on sale today. Not because it’s pretty, but because it looks like it’s ready to gobble up a gravel road.

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Exterior Dimensions

2025 Toyota GR Corolla: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Markets

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown And Starting MSRP (model tested in bold below)

Driving Impressions And Performance

The Slushbox Takes None Of Its Rowdy Character Away

About that new transmission. Yes, it’s a conventional torque converter setup and, in many ways, it’s derived from Toyota’s existing eight-speed automatic unit it utilizes in other applications. But Toyota also says this GR-DAT (for Direct Automatic Transmission) has been engineered for performance, adding only about 40 pounds to the car’s final curb weight, and offering its driver the possibility of manually shuffling between gears through a set of paddle shifters. It also grants the GR Corolla a launch control system, shaving about 0.2 seconds off its 0-60 MPH time.

And you know what? That transmission works rather well. I mean, if you want to nitpick, then, sure, this isn’t as rapid as Volkswagen’s DSG setup. But the GR’s automatic never really penalizes the car. It fits beautifully with what is still one of the most fascinating powerplants out there. For 2025, Toyota’s G16E-GTS turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine gets a slight torque increase, from 273 to 295 pound-feet, with horsepower still rated at an impressive 300 hp. Other changes for 2025 include standard front and rear limited-slip differentials as well as an entirely retuned suspension that aims at improving the car’s overall traction.

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Technical Specifications

It’s hard to truly notice these suspension changes on public roads. I’d need to push the GR Corolla on a track versus a 2024 model to truly assess the improvements. But I will say that, even with an automatic gearbox, the GR Corolla loses none of its rowdy character. That three-cylinder engine doesn’t sound particularly refined. It’s actually even a little thrashy at times. But it’s so potent, with such a linear delivery of power and torque, that you’ll never really notice there’s a full cylinder missing.

You do need to spool up that turbo to get things moving, however, but the automatic does a good job of hanging onto revs to let that happen. But while quick off the line, the GR Corolla rather excels through its brilliantly engineered chassis. Throw the GR hard into a corner and, in many ways, it reminds me of a late model Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in the way it claws into the tarmac. No matter what you throw at it, the GR Corolla somehow regurgitates it back into immense grip and control. And fun!

The GR-Four all-wheel-drive system is mostly why this happens, and remains the GR Corolla’s main party trick. Through a console-mounted knob dial, you can choose between different power-distribution modes, such as a 60/40 front-to-rear split or even a 30/70 to help you practice your drifting skills. There’s also a 50/50 option for optimal grip. And it’s all felt from behind the wheel, especially if you’re driving the car on loose surfaces such as gravel or snow.

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Fuel Consumption

A performance-minded Corolla obviously won’t be a fuel-saver. According to the EPA, the GR is a full 10 MPG below a standard Corolla hatchback. Interestingly enough, the new automatic transmission doesn’t really improve the GR Corolla’s fuel consumption. It’s rated below its manual counterpart by 2 MPG, losing a full 3 MPG during city driving. After a full week of driving the car both enthusiastically and casually, I was averaging 21 MPG.

EPA And As-Tested Fuel Consumption (Automatic Transmission)

Interior Design And Comfort

Functional, But Cramped With Cheap-Feeling Materials

This is where the GR Corolla falls a bit short, at least, compared to its direct rivals, the and the . Yes, it’s expected that Toyota wouldn’t necessarily change the GR’s cabin just because it’s a more performance-oriented model. And the GR-specific modifications, like the sports bucket seats and small-diameter, three-spoke steering wheel are exactly what you need while cornering hard in this hot hatch.

But the Corolla hatchback, by default, was always plagued by a cramped-feeling cabin that also looks and feels a bit low-rent. There’s just less room in there than in a Civic or a Golf. If, say, tall adults are sitting up front, good luck fitting two more adults in the rear. I tried, and it wasn’t all that fun. The car’s entire dashboard design is also rather uninspiring, and the cheap-feeling plastics would be acceptable in a $24,000 Corolla, but not in a $41,000 hot hatch.

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Relatively Straightforward And Easy To Operate

The GR Corolla carries over most of the standard Corolla technology, including its infotainment interface. But it also gets its own dedicated digital instrumentation that’s loaded with useful data to help you focus on the art of driving your GR fast and sideways. Generally speaking, it’s all rather easy to comprehend and operate, although transitions between the displays do come with a bit of lag.

Toyota’s eight-inch infotainment setup is compatible with wireless Android Auto and and connects quickly. What I like about this interface is that it mostly acts as a docking screen for projection apps, where the system’s native interface is more-or-less a setup screen. I also appreciate how small this screen is, giving the car’s focus on driving and performance. Physical buttons for climate control settings and audio are also a welcome touch. Cabin ergonomics are on point.

Cargo And Storage Space

Not All That Great

Another area where the GR Corolla misses the mark versus key rivals is in its available cargo space. A good hot hatch must also be able to hatch accordingly, and, unfortunately, the GR’s cargo space is dwarfed by both the Civic (24.5 cu-ft) and the Golf (19.9 cu-ft) by a good margin. The last time I had this car in my possession, it was almost impossible to cram a baby stroller back there.

2025 Toyota GR Corolla Cargo Space

The GR Corolla Is A Gem Of A Hot Hatch

Imperfection is usually one of the quirks that constitute a great sports car. After all, the Italians have made an entire business case around machines that, while often fantastic, also often come with one defining flaw.

So, while the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla isn’t all that practical, spacious, and looks and feels cheap inside, there’s no denying how great of a hot hatchback it still is. Its turbocharged engine feels all big and tough, even if it’s actually very tiny. The car is properly quick off the line, handles like a supercar, and comes with neat gimmicks like a manually adjustable all-wheel-drive system. The extra icing on the cake is an automatic transmission that takes none of that fun away. If anything, it opens the GR Corolla to even more people looking to have a good time behind the wheel, but prefer not operating a clutch.