Move over VW Golf R and Subaru WRX: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla finally gets a long-awaited automatic gearbox and more grunt

Toyota has broadened the appeal of its rally-bred GR Corolla hot hatch with a suite of changes — including a new transmission.

The GR’s punchy 'G16E-GTS' 1.6-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder makes a return for 2025, though this time with an extra 30Nm, taking the total to 400Nm – a figure that was previously reserved for the special-edition Morizo.

Power remains unchanged – but still plenty adequate — at 221kW, with upgraded examples expected here before the end of 2024. 

The addition of a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, shared with the revised GR Yaris, means the GR Corolla is no longer restricted to those who can drive a manual.

It is a torque converter transmission rather than a dual-clutch, which is used in rivals such as the Golf R. Though Toyota claims the GR Corolla's 'box is more responsive than those fitted to the GR Supra or GR 86. 

Where those models look at g-force to shift gears, the GR corolla accounts for driver patterns such as acceleration and braking in its logic. Manual control can be taken by wheel-mounted paddle shifters. 

No doubt this will mean a faster lap time at the Fuji Speedway, but whether automatic uptake supersedes manual is another question.

Dedicated sports cars such as the Mazda MX-5 and Subaru BRZ have traditionally sold more manuals than automatics, but for hot hatches, Volkswagen has proven autos are more popular with Aussies entirely ditching shift-yourself options of the Golf R and GTI.

The GR has also received a face-lift that includes a broader bumper with larger intakes, increasing both aerodynamics and cooling capacity. 

The GR’s all-wheel drive system, which allows the driver to split power to the front or rear wheels depending on the driving conditions, remains standard, as do brake cooling ducts.

Toyota has revised the GR Corolla front strut and rear muli-link suspension settings to make the car dynamic, "particularly when accelerating through corners", claims the carmaker.

No changes have been made to the interior, which includes a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, an 8.0-inch multimedia screen, a drive mode selector and sport seats.

The automatic version also keeps its traditional manual handbrake.

The GR Corolla will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year (October-December), though no price has been determined yet. The current GTS variant starts at $64,190 (before on-road costs).

“When we first launched the GR Corolla here in 2023, it was an immediate hit with driving enthusiasts combining the performance of a track-day car derived from our Toyota Gazoo Racing motorsport experience with the practicality of a five-door hatch,” said Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley

“We have now further enhanced that unique combination with even greater performance and the addition of a new powertrain option that offers the ease and convenience of a race-bred automatic transmission,” he added.