We probably all knew a smart sensible nerd from high school who went off to college, maybe joined a fraternity, and hit the gym with the transformation into a refined athlete complete. It’s kind of like that with the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla.
Somewhere under all of the accoutrement is the body of a basic Corolla hatchback, but it’s clear this is no bargain bin grocery getter. Nope, this one was sent off to Toyota’s Gazoo Race team for a thorough re-working, which explains the fender extensions sheltering 18-inch black alloys shod in Michelin Pilot performance tires. You might also notice the angry black grille, functional hood vents, fender air extractors, and a carbon roof to reduce weight. Check the three exhaust outlets poking through the lower diffuser.
Not a normal Corolla! Apparently, our inquisitive lad has been bulking up…and he’s been hauling home new furnishings too.
The flowing dashboard with layers of stitched coverings could be from any other Corolla, but the deeply bolstered sueded and heated seats not so much. Same for the heated red-stitched steering wheel. Dual-zone automatic climate control, JBL audio with subwoofer, and head-up display are definitely not base Corolla fare. Wireless phone charging and connections are as expected.
Unlike some key competitors whose seats grip your ribs so tight bruises emerge, I could ride all day in the GR Corolla’s. Back seats are tight, but kid-friendly. The hatch opens wide, and seats split-fold, but a body brace across the compartment impedes loading. There’s no spare tire beneath the floor, so tread carefully if you don’t want to learn the finer points of inflator kits.
When I started the car, it sounded like a farm-dwelling Smart car in a very bad mood. Which, isn’t too far from reality. Nestled behind the snarling facia is a 1.6-liter turbocharged…three-cylinder engine throwing down 300 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. All-wheel-drive is standard, but drivers can choose between a six-speed manual or our car’s 8-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters. Even while dishing enough attitude to pause a Mustang, it delivers a reasonable 19/27-MPG city/highway.
Gazoo finessed the chassis too. The suspension – multi-link in the rear – was stiffened to grip corners and to provide balanced handling, but is also livable even on rougher city streets. Front and rear locking differentials help put power down smoothly. I especially like the drive mode selector that changes power balance for varying conditions. In Normal driving, 60% of power goes to the front while 40% goes to the rear. In Gravel mode, it’s 50/50. A rear bias of 30/70 is perfect for Track days. With proper tires, snow is but a nuisance.
Keeping safety a priority, systems include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, blind spot warning, rear cross path detection, and lane tracing assist.
To become the GR Corolla, our lad has gone through quite a transformation from geek to athlete, but it’s good to see his sweet personality remains intact. This little hatch is entirely more capable, but remains a practical little car for everyday life. Race it on Sunday, take the kids to school on Monday. All of this primping and pruning has definitely elevated our friend’s station in life. While base Corolla Hatches can be had for $24,180, the GR starts at $39,160 and came to a healthy $50,144 as-tested.
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Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.