Toyota GR Corolla (US) review: automatic satisfaction

Boo! Shame on Toyota! Down with this sort of thing, etc.

C’mon, do you really think Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division would just put in a slushy automatic transmission in its wildly popular hot hatch and call it a day? Believe us, they’re far more invested in elevating the GR Corolla’s standard of performance than any of us on the sidelines, and the changes to the car for 2025 are all about fine-tuning a winning package. That includes the new eight-speed auto ‘box, built for performance from the start. We’ll say it up front: it’s better at shifting than you.

Ouch. But I'm really good at driving and stuff!

No doubt! Toyota has taken all of your mad skillz behind the wheel into account in producing a gearbox to make you even better. It’s called the GR-DAT or Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission, an eight-speed designed for super fast downshifts, paired with software that tries to predict your next move.

Based on your brake and accelerator inputs, the programming - established on extensive track and rally testing - shifts almost before your next move so it’s in the optimal gear when you need it. Basically, it lets us normies shift as fast as the pros, and probably even faster than them in certain instances.

Interesting. What about other upgrades?

The GR Corolla has received a number of small tweaks across the board for an overall good time. To start, the 300hp turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder that powers it now has its torque output increased from 273lb ft to 295 lb ft, which was exclusive to the Morizo special edition model at launch. Cooling has been improved, with automatic versions having specific channels in place to better cool the transmission fluid. A great deal of suspension improvements have been made, right down to using thicker bolts in some cases.

In terms of software, the mode select for all-wheel drive has been mixed up for more varied conditions. Mode selection used to be between a front-wheel bias, rear-wheel bias, or a 50:50 split for the track. The new modes are as follows: Normal retains the 60:40 front-heavy split, but now the 50:50 distribution is reserved for the Gravel setting, due to the GR’s time spent testing in the dirt. Track now has a variable split depending on conditions. It swings between 60:40 to 30:70 when it senses you need one or the other.

Okay, but… what if I still want the manual GR Corolla?

Worry not, the manual GR Corolla isn’t going anywhere. All the upgrades mentioned above that are not specific to the automatic will also be found in the stick-shift. In fact, that’s received some tweaking as well. Toyota says the clutch is now snappier on the return stroke for a more responsive feel. Toyota says both can still hit a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds, topping out at 143 mph, so staying true to the manual doesn’t mean getting the short end of the… stick.

Whew. How do they feel side by side?

Surprisingly distinct. With some cars, the move from AT to MT isn’t particularly significant. It's usually ‘X car but now with Y gearbox’ and is all but identical save for whatever you like or don’t like about the transmissions. We were caught a bit off guard when we discovered this to not be the case with the GR Corolla.

Let’s start with the eight-speed elephant in the room: how’s the automatic? Fine. Great even. The rigorously tested and tuned gearbox is robust enough to take all the beatings you can give it on the track, so much so that it can facilitate a launch control sequence. Left to its own devices, it's rare to be in a situation where the transmission isn’t setting you up for success, and you’d have to be deliberately snooty to turn your nose up at its choices.

With that mental load off your shoulders, you’re free to focus on pointing the GR Corolla where you’d like and sending it there as fast as possible. With power going to all four wheels, the hatchback hugs the tarmac lovingly, even with the traction control off and the power sometimes having a rear bias. Can it rotate? It can, particularly under braking, but in terms of speed and efficiency, the GR’s new automatic is great for cranking out smooth, fast, consistent lap times.

If you’re feeling left out, the paddles are there for manual activation, and that also changes the dynamics of the drive quite substantially. The automatic is still doing the heavy lifting, but you’re free to do the thinking, for better or for worse. The paddles come awfully close to letting you try to break it. Leave it in a low gear and the auto will actually let you redline. Dive deep into a turn and downshift lower than needed and the transmission will likely give it to you. That said, it’s easier to get into the slide-y gears now that there’s fewer steps in the sequence: brake, flick, turn in, power down, smile.

On the subject of smiles, the manual GR Corolla remains the most fun to play with. The auto might be great for lap times and the forgiving paddle function save the AT from being all business, but the MT version is goofy by comparison. Toyota mentioned clutch improvements but we’re certain there were other upgrades made because the new manual gearbox feels punchier and more solid than we remembered it to be.

Apart from how the two gearboxes function differently, the manual-equipped GR Corolla felt way lighter than the firm and planted automatic-laden hatchback. “What’s the weight difference between them?” we hear you ask. 45 pounds. One plate, in gym parlance. Not substantial at all and yet, the MT GR Corolla’s corners would lift ever so slightly higher when rounding a bend. Curious, but it just added to the more playful personality of this version.

Sick. How much?

You’ll be paying a bit more for the automatic’s features. Of the three grades, the base Core GR Corolla is $40,860 for the AT over the MT’s $38,860 starting price. The price goes up with the Premium trim that adds a JBL stereo system, parking sensors and a few cabin conveniences, along with glossy body bits.

The Premium Plus trim maxes out at $47,515: that gets you the new automatic box, a carbon fibre roof and a bulge in your roof to match the one in your, uh, wallet.

So what’s the final takeaway?

We’re reassured that Toyota hasn’t rested on its laurels after the GR Corolla’s initial, wildly successful run. Along with a number of incremental improvements, the new auto ‘box is a significant boost to the car’s virtues. It’s now more accessible than ever, but it’s in no way a simple gimmie to anyone who can’t row their own gears: it’s a very serious option that will give drivers of all skill levels pause as they consider where their priorities lie.

It would be a shame to cheat yourself out of performance due to some unrequited loyalty to a car part. All told, the new GR Corolla makes going fast easier and is more fun, and that’s all we ever asked for.