I half-jokingly pointed to a GR Corolla at a cars and coffee and suggested that it'd make a good family car.
She gave it a shrug of approval, so I have that going for me. 
The GR Corolla occupies a unique niche in the compact performance car segment. It’s not quite as fast or sophisticated as the Honda Civic Type R, but it’s not quite the value of the Hyundai Elantra N.
What it does offer that those other two don’t, however, is all-wheel drive. What about the Subaru WRX? Yeah, no. Without a true STi version of the current WRX, the tS version still falls a step behind the competition from Hyundai, Honda and Toyota at the moment.
And the Golf R? That’s like another 10 grand more than a base GR Corolla.
New for the 2025 model year: The GR Corolla joins Hyundai and VW with a shiftless option, although the Toyota version is torque converter-based and not a dual-clutch box like the Elantra or Golf R.
Still, the recently offered automatic in the GR Corolla–a $2000 option to either the base or Premium Plus trims–is exceptionally implemented. It’s an excellent option that preserves maximum thrust, provides maximum control and suffers minimal parasitic loss.
More good news here is the simplification of the lineup for the GR Corolla. All trim levels now get 300 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, along with Torsen differentials front and rear.
[GR Corolla gets improved rigidity and engine performance for 2026]
You can easily make a GR Corolla cost as much as a Golf R, though. The Premium Plus trim adds $6000 to the $39,920 MSRP of the base trim, but you also get a carbon-fiber roof, additional hood air vents and increased cooling capacity, along with a few creature comfort upgrades. Still, take that $46,000 MSRP, add $2K for the automatic, and you’re nearing Civic R or even Golf R territory.
Both those cars are also far more sophisticated and substantial automobiles all around. While the GR Corolla has the performance bona fides, it’s still a Corolla inside, meaning its feel and materials have a more budget countenance than the higher-end Hondas–or even the more budget-friendly Hyundais.
The GR Corolla does absolutely slay on ergonomics–long a hallmark of sporty Toyotas–but a perfect wheel/seat/pedal relationship can only go so far to make up for buzzy interior trim in a car approaching $50,000.
As for the automatic, it’s a welcome addition that keeps the turbocharged three-cylinder on the boil with zero drop on shifts. Toyota reports a quicker zero-to-60 time for the auto, and we believe them. It also listens to the driver, holding gears to the rev limiter, downshifting on command and having good part-throttle response to help balance the chassis.
While we haven’t track tested an automatic GR Corolla yet, we hope to early next year and won’t be surprised if the automatic version is the lap time champ in the GR Corolla lineup. The standard six-speed may be a slick-shifting companion, and it’s certainly an engaging companion on the road or track, but those looking for ultimate lap times may find their salvation at the other end of the paddles.
What we don’t know about just yet is the track reliability of the automatic versus the manual, which has some driveline heat issues that drivers run into on track. Our friend Dale Lomas, who’s put in tons of Nürburgring laps in a GR Yaris that has the same AWD automatic drivetrain, reports no ill effects from hard use, so maybe there’s some hope here for longer sessions for GR Corolla owners if they choose the juice box.
[Expert tips to make your track car more reliable]
In any case, the GR Corolla is still what we always knew it was: a fun, zippy, capable car that absolutely appeals to Toyota fans and makes a strong case to compact performance enthusiasts in general.
It slots itself into the compact performance wars without a clear case as either the fastest car or the best value, but as a solid choice for those looking for something a little different with slightly more of an edge. The automatic–which, in our limited exposure, truly seems to be ZF 8HP-level good–gives it another potential box to check for a bit wider appeal.
I half-jokingly pointed to a GR Corolla at a cars and coffee and suggested that it'd make a good family car.
She gave it a shrug of approval, so I have that going for me.
I still look forward to driving mine every day. But if I had to go auto for health reasons, I think I'd still be happy.
From what I've read on the forums, people aren't complaining about their autos. I have to admit a launch mode intrigues me.
In reply to Jerry :
For me, as long as I get to control what gear I'm in and when, I'm cool with it–bonus points if it's crisp, too.
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