Go-Kart Feel – The 2025 GR Corolla Just Gets It Right

If you’ve ever driven something truly dialed in — a vehicle that seems to talk back with every corner, every gear change, every flick of the steering — then you know the feeling. It’s rare in today’s world of numbed-down crossovers and over-digitized performance cars. But it’s alive and kicking in the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus, a car that delivers the closest thing I’ve felt to go-kart excitement in a street-legal, all-wheel-drive hatch.

And not just any hatch — one born out of Toyota’s Gazoo Racing program, developed with rally heritage, track input, and a heavy dose of Morizo madness. I’ve driven some impressive cars lately, but I can’t remember the last time I got this hooked. It’s that good.

What’s New for ‘25: More Ways to GR

Toyota didn’t overhaul the GR Corolla for 2025, but it did refine it — and importantly, expand it. This year marks the introduction of the 8-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT). That might sound sacrilegious to the row-your-own crowd, but Toyota engineered it for track use, with close ratios, paddle shifters, and even launch control. It’s serious.

Funny enough, I was supposed to be testing that new automatic. But due to a scheduling swap, I ended up with the 6-speed manual Premium Plus trim — a turn of events I’m honestly thankful for. The manual remains the truest expression of this car’s DNA. Still, I’m now very curious to get behind the wheel of that auto in the future.

Joining the lineup this year is also a new top-tier trim: the Premium Plus. It takes everything from the Premium — heated seats, dual-zone climate, JBL audio — and piles on a forged carbon-fiber roof, functional hood vents, and a vented rear spoiler. It feels like the perfect blend of motorsport spirit and real-world livability.

Design That Talks the Talk

From across a parking lot, the GR Corolla looks like trouble — in the best way. Widened fenders, a triple exhaust, gloss and matte-black trim, and a low-slung hood bulge make it clear this isn’t a dress-up package on a Corolla Hatchback. The stance is aggressive, the details purposeful, and the matte black 18-inch wheels (unique to the Premium Plus) fill the arches just right.

And then there’s the roof — a piece of forged carbon-fiber art, borrowed from the track-focused 2023 Morizo Edition. Unlike traditional woven carbon, this stuff looks almost marbled up close, and it’s not just for show. It helps lower the center of gravity, reduce weight, and boost rigidity.

The hood vents are also functional, aiding cooling and reducing underhood pressure. Add in the bulging fenders, aerodynamic touches, and triple exhaust, and the whole package screams rally-car-for-the-street. Yet, somehow, it doesn’t feel overdone. Just right.

Small Hatch, Big Heart

Under the hood, Toyota packs in one of the most impressive powertrains on the market today — a 1.6-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder that churns out 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s 187 hp per liter. Let that sink in.

It’s not just the numbers — it’s how it delivers them. Boost comes on early, and the car pulls hard all the way to redline. Paired with the GR-FOUR all-wheel drive system, which lets you adjust the front/rear torque split (60:40, 50:50, or a rear-biased 30:70 Track mode), you get total control over how the car behaves.

With the 6-speed manual in this test car, you get crisp, mechanical shifts and a clutch that’s light enough for traffic but firm enough for precision. Toyota’s rev-matching system can be toggled on or off, and it’s one of the best in the game. Official 0–60 estimates sit at 4.9 seconds, but the sensation is even quicker.

How It Feels: The Joy of Driving

Put simply, the GR Corolla Premium Plus is the most fun I’ve had in a small hatch in a long time.

There’s a playfulness baked into this chassis. It loves to dance through corners, rotate on throttle, and blast out of apexes with tenacious AWD grip. The suspension tuning (updated for 2025 with new rebound springs and a revised rear geometry) keeps it flat and planted, but never harsh. You feel the road — in the best way.

The brakes — 14-inch front discs with 4-piston calipers — are strong and easy to modulate. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires offer immense grip without sacrificing daily ride quality. And through all of it, the car remains usable. No quirky behavior, no digital weirdness. Just raw connection.

This car has a vibe that reminds me of the Morizo Edition I drove when the GR Corolla first launched — a stripped-down track special with no back seat and forged carbon details. The Premium Plus isn’t as extreme, but it captures that same spirit. And this time, it’s wrapped in a more livable package.

Interior: Rally with a Bit of Luxury

Step inside the Premium Plus, and it’s equal parts sport and comfort. The Brin Naub® suede-trimmed sport seats with red stitching are bolstered just right for aggressive driving but cushioned enough for long hauls. You get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with GR-specific graphics, a wireless charging pad, dual-zone climate, and an 8-speaker JBL sound system — all standard.

One Premium Plus exclusive that deserves special attention is the Head-Up Display (HUD). It’s crisp, unobtrusive, and genuinely helpful during spirited drives when you want to keep your eyes on the road.

Toyota’s 8-inch infotainment screen runs the latest software, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. There are physical knobs and buttons where it counts, and connectivity is strong with USB ports front and rear.

One cool touch — and something you don’t see often — is the rear chassis brace visible through the hatch. It’s there for rigidity, but also makes a statement. It cuts into cargo flexibility a bit, but in this car, I’ll allow it.

Cargo and Practicality: Just Enough

The GR Corolla isn’t a family hauler, but it doesn’t pretend to be. There’s 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row — enough for a couple of weekend bags or a grocery run. The rear seats fold down (though not flat due to the brace), and the hatch design makes access easy.

Rear seat legroom is tight at 29.9 inches, but headroom is decent and three kids or smaller adults will fit in a pinch. For a car this focused, the fact that it has usable rear seats and decent trunk space is a bonus.

GR Corolla vs the Competition

In this $45K–$50K hot hatch segment, the GR Corolla faces off with some real heavy hitters:

• Volkswagen Golf R: More refined, more grown-up, and faster in a straight line, but not as raw or engaging. DSG is quick, but less rewarding.
  
• Honda Civic Type R: Front-wheel drive only, but brilliantly balanced. Feels more track car than rally car. Less practical and no AWD.
  
• Subaru WRX TR: More affordable and also AWD, but not in the same league dynamically. The GR Corolla feels sharper in every way.
  

None of them match the GR Corolla’s blend of manual + AWD + track-ready upgrades with daily drivability. And none offer the motorsport styling and carbon-fiber roof at this price.

Final Verdict: This One’s Special

There are fast cars. There are practical cars. There are quirky enthusiast cars. And then there are rare blends — vehicles that somehow combine fun, focus, and functionality without losing their identity. The 2025 GR Corolla Premium Plus is exactly that kind of car.It’s a car that makes you want to go for a drive for no reason at all. A car that you feel, not just operate. And in today’s automotive landscape, that’s worth celebrating.