The GR Corolla has always been an enthusiast hot-hatch, but the 2025 model year outing has managed to increase its broader appeal for those looking for both a good daily driver and an exquisite performance hatch thanks to some massive upgrades to the core aspects of the vehicle. If you're looking for a good performance-focused hatch for your travels throughout Windham County and thinking about something spicy and sleek either as a pet car or as a weekend vehicle, then consider adding the 2025 GR Corolla to your shopping list and visiting us here at Faith's Toyota, your premier Toyota dealer near Brattleboro. The GR Corolla for the model year has seen some impressive new updates.
From the powertrain and drivetrain enhancements to the new suspension tuning and aerodynamic modifications, there is a lot to enjoy about the 2025 GR Corolla if you're looking for a sleek new ride to park in your driveway. Whether you're into tuner culture or just like something sporty and snappy on the road to cruise throughout southern Vermont, the GR Corolla has a little bit of something for you. So here are five big reasons you will want to check out Toyota's performance hot-hatch for the 2025 model year.
#1 - 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
One of the biggest and most notable changes to the 2025 model is one that actually makes the Toyota GR Corolla much more accessible to a much wider potential audience looking to get behind the wheel of a modern hot-hatch. What is that change? Adding the option of an 8-speed automatic transmission in addition to the 6-speed manual transmission that has been standard across the GR Corolla line-up. The manual transmission has been a very popular feature among the enthusiast performance culture who enjoy the classic powertrain profile of the GR Corolla that hearkens to the touring car and rally culture.
The ability to now get the GR Corolla in the optional 8-speed automatic transmission brings a lot of versatility to the driving mechanisms of the vehicle for those who may not be comfortable with a manual transmission and shifting with the clutch. While manual clutching can be fun for enthusiast drivers, it can also be daunting for those just getting into the segment and can put off those who might otherwise be interested in it. The automatic transmission for the Corolla adds a very neat option whether you're a veteran clutch driver who just wants to relax with an automatic for once, or you're new to the segment, and you want to experience the GR Corolla but don't feel comfortable with a clutch.
Not only does the 8-speed automatic make the GR Corolla more enticing to casual drivers, but it also features launch control. You can now get off the line quickly just like you could if you were burning rubber with a manual, but with the added assist so you don't mistakenly burn out the clutch or ruin your gearbox. While some enthusiasts might say that this is simplifying the appeal of the GR Corolla, it actually opens it up for a much broader audience looking to dip their toes into the hot-hatch performance segment without requiring the high skill ceiling to do so.
#2 - New Suspension Tuning to Reduce Squat
The handling of the GR Corolla has always been one of its major selling points. Ask anyone who has driven or owns a GR Corolla, and the response as to why they love it so much is its low center of gravity and pin-point precision handling. The all-wheel drive design lends itself well to keeping the car focused and centered on the road, and that has been a big part of the GR Corolla's appeal. This has also been a strong element of the engineering that make up the GR Corolla's formula, but now Toyota's engineers have upped the ante with the new suspension tuning for the 2025 model.
Additional rebound springs were added to the front and rear suspension while rear coils and stabilizers were improved for reducing jounce while the rear axle was tuned to reduce squat. This gives the GR Corolla an even better feel when handling sharp turns or reaching top speeds without feeling unwieldy. Whether you're banking around corners or gunning it down Interstate 91, there is a strong sense of stability in the way that the GR Corolla handles, so that it always feels grounded, always feels nice, and always feels like you have complete control.
With the improved suspension tuning and the ability to maintain stability whether going high speeds or navigating through tight corners, it gives you a sense of traction and grip regardless of the road conditions or where you're driving. This is one of the benefits of the 2025 GR Corolla that makes it such a desired hot-hatch, as you can easily get to and from your destination without feeling like you have to fight the car to do what you want. Whether for daily driving, leisure driving, or performance driving, the GR Corolla is tuned to accommodate your driving style.
#3 - Improved Powertrain Performance
One of the other big benefits of the 2025 model year outing for Toyota's popular hot-hatch is that it has increased its performance output over the outgoing model year. The turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder still manages 300 hp, but the torque has been increased to 295 lb-ft. This gives it nearly 7% additional torque over the 2024 model year, which translates into better overall distribution of power for off-the-line performance, as well as smoother acceleration, which you should definitely notice with the new 8-speed automatic transmission.
To facilitate the new boost in power, the GR Corolla has also received improved cooling and available cooling packages as part of the new trim options. This ensures that you're never running the vehicle too hot over what it's capable of nor pushing it beyond its limits. Basically, the GR Corolla has received overall upgrades to just about every aspect of its design, from handling to performance, which is great if that's what you're looking for out of a pet car, a daily driver, or a starter vehicle. All of this is also buffered by added ways to stabilize the power output.
For the 2025 model, you have front and rear limited-slip Torsen differentials so that you have improved torque distribution for enhanced traction control. In simple terms, the vehicle is more responsive than ever before, especially on different types of terrain or during different types of weather conditions. The added drive modes also make the GR Corolla much more efficient, with Normal, Gravel, and Track options available to use the all-wheel drive to get the most out of the traction.
#4 - Aerodynamic Airflow Improvements
One of the newest improvements to the 2025 model year GR Corolla is the aerodynamic profile. The changes to the front fascia have included improvements to the airflow and giving the vehicle better overall handling at higher speeds and improved cooling. This was accomplished with the redesign of the front bumper, featuring all of the basic components but also making room for the new available sub-radiator for additional cooling.
Some of the more obvious changes include improved air curtain construction and a wider stance for the fascia for the side inlets to help with airflow over the tires to reduce turbulence. The less complicated way of thinking about it is that you now have a vehicle that rides low, has improved balance, and is now more stable than ever before, thanks to the changes in the suspension, powertrain, and cooling. This basically gives you a very well-rounded hot-hatch that you can get a lot of longevity out of if you treat it right.
Best of all, these changes actually help improve the look of the 2025 GR Corolla. It feels even more sports-oriented and looks even more menacing than ever before. If you were keen on owning a compact hot-hatch like the GR Corolla not just for performance, but because you want something that looks like it could fit easily into the line-up of exotic cars featured in films like the Fast & Furious, then the new changes to the 2025 GR Corolla are going to be right up your alley.
#5 - New Trim Lineup
The outgoing model year offered three distinct trims: the Core, the Premium, and the Circuit. For the 2025 model year, they switched things up a bit while still offering the GR Corolla in three trim formats. The trim grades now include the Core, the Premium, and the Premium Plus. There are some neat alterations to the Premium Plus that make it even more exciting for those interested in purchasing this sports-tuned Corolla.
The Premium Plus features 18-inch matte black wheels tucked into Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, as well as a carbon fiber roof, and dual-gloss back vents on the hood. The Premium Plus also comes standard with a sub-radiator, heads-up display, and Black Brin Naub-trimmed seats with red stitching. It offers you an extra premium experience that heightens both the luxury appeal and the exterior aesthetics.
If you are really interested in a performance-driven hot hatch, a 2025 GR Corolla is a great option. It's something to consider for those of you in Vermont looking for a worthwhile vehicle to shop for if performance is at the top of your list. With the improved trim offerings, enhanced aerodynamics, enhanced powertrain performance, and new suspension tuning, you have a lot of reasons to shop for a new model year GR Corolla.