2025 Toyota GR Corolla Review | The Hottest Corolla Gets An Automatic! (And Some Other Stuff)

[@homerfeltheim12345]

I’m a double amputee and cannot physically drive a manual, this as an automatic is a great option

[@JeffreySackman]

Bless you. Hope it works out brother. ❤

[@666chew]

Coming from a '04 RSX and loving the size of it, the available automatic in this GR put it at the top of my list. Factor in Toyota reliability and this being the last car I'd ever buy (I'm 70) and this is a no brainer for the time being. Maybe after time things will cool off but....

[@puga4202]

Here in Canada, the automatic GR Corolla is selling for 61k before any fees and taxes. That is higher than any of the competitors including Type R, Type S, Golf R, WRX, Elantra N or Mini JCW. At the same time, offering the cheapest interior material and design, the smallest cabin space and trunck space. As much as I love the car, No, this is not a deal in any universe.

[@BlazeTomBay]

Yes the interior is a big disappointment compared to the competition.

[@bjsimon802]

ya and honda civic touring is selling for 48g

[@markbade565]

Imo the GRC is way more aggressive than the current FL5 typeR. Comparing it to the previous FK8 there's more of an argument

[@kenkozawa9810]

Agree, it splits the difference between previous and current gen Civic..

[@danhall3450]

Another great review. One of the things that sets Alex apart from many other reviewers is his honest comparison of similar cars includiing likely long term reliablity and ownership costs.

[@txp-tuff4358]

Assuming I get my back issues resolved, this will be on my short list. The automatic would be a big factor. I'm a big manual guy, so let me explain. My wife has many, many redeeming qualities, but being able to drive a manual is sadly not one of them. Didn't know this when I married her almost 20 years ago. I've owned a manual TSX and WRX over the years and from the standpoint of being able to switch out who drive what when I needed 'her' vehicle for the day, it was not harmonious. While she could get me to the hospital in an emergency, AAA might have to tow the car to the shop.

[@Premier910]

Sciatica? That’s what has me looking at this. Left leg issues for me. Getting better but afraid my manual days might be limited/over

[@bjsimon802]

In canada they sell honda civic touring for 47g, I would rather pay the 10 g difference and get this

[@paul5683]

It's too bad that it's such a little shitbox on the inside.

[@sfisosg7904]

Its usable and comfortable

[@janoycresnova9156]

Agreed. I would seriously consider it if they either made the interior more practical (why tf is there no armrest?) or more upscale.

[@JeffreySackman]

You ain't kidding, brother!!

[@JeffreySackman]

Also no center console at all? Wtf

[@alsacs3635]

Great review! Thanks for doing a test drive outside of the track on the street which is where I drive every day. I love this car and when I heard that it has the automatic transmission option, I went down to the Toyota dealership yesterday and put down my deposit/reservation. The dealer had 3 GR Corolla's on the lot but all of them were 2024 manuals. The sales rep was trying to sell me one at a couple hundred dollars "below" MSRP and I politely declined. Paying the extra $2K for the auto is worth every penny. Especially when you live in Houston.

[@marcprobin1659]

I believe that the battery is in that location to offset some of the drivers weight to balance it out better for weight distribution. (in my opinion)

[@kenkozawa9810]

So does the facelift bumper have foglights? I was going to snag one at some point to update our '23 GR Corolla but looking at all the material and launch vids, doesn't appear the facelifted bumper has fogs which is a shame because I like the way the bumper looks overall. How the auto trans does will be interesting but it would never sway me from rowing my own stick..

[@chaarleess]

Pretty cool that you guys drove that Charlotte ROVAL course after the Cup race happend and that blinding T6 and T7 is a new layout

[@JURASSICEDITS09]

I could go either way manual or automatic. Drove semi for 18 years stop and go rush hour with a manual isn't no big deal to me. I do prefer the engagement of a manual but id be ok with the automatic. It's whatever on the lot.

[@joec1774]

Sorry I missed this, are the 0-60 runs that you quoted with both of you aboard? that's a bit... unorthodox?

[@CodeBonYT]

The headlights and tailights were on the GR before the regular corolla so they used to he special.

[@Rioichi4]

My first car was a Geo Metro with 3 cylinders and my mom used to joke "it's one step up from a mortorcycle". This is definitely not a Geo metro lol

[@chrgav1286]

Hello Alex!

[@Roadbunny777]

I got to say that red looks really nice 👌 dose it come in green? 💚

[@moorewr]

Red plus boring colors (white, grey, black), alas.

[@rblbatb]

Fun car with a starting price of $39k. I like it.

[@Mr99Burns]

39k plus tax is a lot some dealers will still mark these up

[@isaacmeyers-c8b]

1.6 liter

[@billshoe22191]

Too bad they didn’t fix the overheating diff that puts it fwd mode.

[@dongidongi]

The Subaru performance transmission has a take rate of 17% apparently. Wonder if this Toyota automatic will do 25%?

[@janoycresnova9156]

5.9 seconds is pretty pathetic for this car.

[@GungHo1234]

Beyond the Toyota halo of reliability, I don’t know why you’d get this over a Golf R for the same money, or even jump up to an S3 or Integra type S. I know VAG reliability can be… spotty and Acura dealers can be hard to find (and the VW dealers are as snakey as Toyota dealers), but I don’t see how this wins the comparison once you sit in the thing.

[@tinhinnh]

its not 5.9 dumdum

[@chrisg5101]

I think he misspoke or he didn’t use launch control. Many people saying it’s the same speed as manual which is 4.9

[@nathanu8821]

Is this Daytona? Would you prefer this one or the Golf R?😄

[@chaarleess]

Charlotte Roval (Road Course)

[@janoycresnova9156]

Golf R

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

I have the Integra Type S with standard sticky steering :(

[@txp-tuff4358]

Does it have engine 'start/stop'?

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

No

[@AceEverett]

I just remember Mitsubishi 3 cylinders which are weak and slow, and how many people recommend extended warranties on Chevy 3 cylinder cars. Toyota's may be more reliable, but the perception is bad. Toyota needs to separate themselves from the others in their marketing.

[@michelb.8953]

I still can't get used to a Corolla being a sports car. Too old, I guess.

[@bikingmoments]

Honda has no ‘sport’ AT to fit in Civic Type - their 8DCT cannot handle the torque, 10AT is blamed for being slow.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

That is exactly our point… Honda could however, develop one or buy one

[@naveenthemachine]

@@bikingmoments their 10 speed isn’t slow If that were true then why is an accord 2.0 way faster than a v6 Camry?

[@bikingmoments]

@@naveenthemachine faster thanks to the low end torque and first gear ratio. Slow for real track purpose.

[@tinhinnh]

@7:21 its 1.6L

[@pewpewpower]

Japan lost its way. This much for just this…. In 2024…. With that kind of lazy packaging and lousy interior? Bye Japan and hello Korea.

[@faheemabbas3965]

A shame Korean cars aren’t as reliable. Because otherwise I do definitely agree that their cars are light-years better what Japan is putting out right now. Japanese carmakers are charging too much for stuff other carmakers already have for less, if not better than what the Japanese offer.

[@bjsimon802]

this is not luxury sport sedan

[@JeffreySackman]

I don't like the inside either.

[@WestUCoog]

Manual all the way!

[@Gadfly2025]

Manual with 4+ cyl

[@Pamlicojdjdj1487]

Don’t go over 85MPh😂😂😂😂

[@pewpewpower]

Why don’t you do ratings anymore? What’s the point of having a blank space at the top right corner? Used to be an excellent channel.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

As we've explained in previous videos, when we're not able to fully test a vehicle on the same roads and test surfaces it does not present an accurate comparison. We will have full ratings when we can get this in for a full week and a complete test.

[@pewpewpower]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide Then maybe put “ratings tbd” or “ratings coming next week” to fill in that blank space. It’s confusing to viewers when some videos have ratings and some don’t. We don’t all follow every single of your videos. Just want the best for your channel!

[@Mr99Burns]

It’s still is a Corolla.especially the interior.

[@naveenthemachine]

And the cheap build quality too. And the fact that it’s overpriced

[@ethanmckibbin]

It's a track car, who wants an expensive heavy interior?

[@naveenthemachine]

@@ethanmckibbin go look at a CTR Elantra N or Golf R and say that again

[@ALMX5DP]

@@naveenthemachine all depends on what the owner wants and needs out of their hot hatch. There is space in the market for all these offerings, which all have pros and cons depending on use case and perspective.

[@johnkonde1975]

Corollas are no longer the cheap econoboxes they used to be pre-pandemic. New Corollas are much more expensive and premium. A fully loaded 2025 Toyota Corolla XSE sedan (not GR) goes for 34k OTD here in Texas

[@soledadmonstabreh]

Too hot, it may catch on fire 🔥🔥🔥😭

[@chibbyylol]

The story is the dude had a hole in his block already and oil was spewing onto the turbo. The whole 85mph tire thing came from the inspection the fire inspector did after the fact as a note like ‘hey your fluid was low, tires are bald and x y z needs maintenance’ like any other inspector / mechanic would note

[@KendrasEdge757]

Buy the manual, have more fun and get an added security system!!

[@CyberTankMan]

👍

[@drumboy256]

I'm a car guy--- have been my entire life. Driven Stick, Auto, CVT, DCT, etc. and it is appalling to me that car manufactures do not have a standardized DCT as STANDARD for all automatics. CVT's are a complete joke and a slap in the face of the driver / consumer. Standard automatics are interesting, but should no longer be "standard" with an automatic vehicle. DCTs have been around now for what, almost 2 decades and while I know you don't like them Alex, they get the job done better than the alternatives. Would I pay $50k for a Corolla GR automatic if it wasn't my money? Perhaps. The bigger point out of all of this, Honda is dropping the ball, Subaru is dropping the ball and even Audi/VW aren't providing the value / competition to the "hot hatch" segment that you would expect. Dream car would be a jellybean '08 STI with a DCT--- will that ever happen? Probably not. :(

[@Gadfly2025]

A $40-50k 3 cyl car ? 😆😆😆 no way

[@caryg4638]

Porsche: 80,000 for four cylinders

[@Gadfly2025]

@@caryg4638 why I bought 6.2 V8 C8 $75k instead of and in past Supra A-91 $53k

[@fpsinvader]

@@Gadfly2025lmao so many better options for 75k. M2 RS3 etc etc

[@Timmayytoo]

I feel like you focused too much on the idea that it’s an automatic without really mentioning that it’s a DCT which is a fundamentally different transmission than a traditional automatic

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Because it is not a DCT.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Alex and Travis, After listening to you damn the 8 speed automatic with faint praise, we all agree the 6 speed manual is the only way to get your GR Corolla. 🤩🤩

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Me thinks you misunderstood us ;)

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide For the stop and go traffic you seem so concerned about, the Corolla Hybrid is probably your best bet. 😛

[@stevenrachal8517]

$39k way too much

[@brenttitus2134]

$50k 😆 nope!

[@josephboot1]

Mercedes AMG GLA? Really? Maybe in performance but definitely not in reliability! It's your responsibility to mention things like that! Also, please stop telling us what's attractive and what isn't, your taste is yours, stop nit picking about how things look to you!

[@Soh90]

The GLA is plenty reliable. Just keep up with your maintenance. My cousin has one with 150,000 on it 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@janoycresnova9156]

Definitely not in interior quality and tech wise. This Corolla has a $20k interior with 15 year old tech.