Special thanks to our Patreons for their support of the channel! Additionally, special thanks to Toyota for having me out to Charlotte to get a first look at the newly refreshed GR Corolla! It was my first time on a banked track and it was a super fun experience....oh and the car wasn't bad either! GR Corolla or Honda Civic Type R?
A couple issues I have with this car after checking one out at the local dealership. 1. No center armrest. I am not sure about you guys, but I use my center armrest ALL THE TIME so not having one is kinda a bummer. 2. Every time I got out of the GR my left knee would hit the left part of the dashboard. The dash sticks out so far in this car and even my Wife that came with me she was in the front passenger seat and when she got out she hit her knee pretty much on the same spot but on the passenger side of the dash. 3. Back seat has no USB ports or anything for the kids. 4. Trunk is small, and you can't put anything really under the trunk. My Wife and I were considering trading in my paid off MK7.5 VW GTI for it, but after checking it out, we both looked at each other with that same look, PASS. I mean its a cool car, no joke, and I come from a past of driving Lancer Evo's so I get the whole practical sports car point of view, but my Evo's had center armrests, bigger trunk and a bigger back seat compared to the GR. Plus the VW we currently have just felt more premium even though the GR cost almost 2x's what I paid for my GTI (Paid $26k in 2020 brand new, the GR we looked at with an auto trans was a premium at $49k) I just couldn't pull the trigger. In many ways other than outright speed, the GR felt like a Downgrade from my 5 year old GTI.
I think they're going to sell a boat load of these because that auto is good. I don't know what the torque handling is on the transmission but I wish they'd have put it in the IS500.
I was sort of surprised that my local dealership got 2 of them, one was auto the other manual. Apparently only 3 people were in that dealer’s lottery for the manual and 20+ wanted an automatic. Kids these days just don’t want to buy manuals.
Its Sacrilege. Just joking, even though I'm a manual only enthusiast. Having an automatic option means more drivers can get involved, which means Toyota can continue manufacturing these corollas with both the manual and automatic variants
You are absolutely correct 💯. Fact is having a automatic version increase its appeal to Larger audience which means more sales. Importantly GR COROLLA still available with a manual. Infact Toyota is projecting 80% of GR COROLLA buyers going to get the manual version.
@@enlnh the throws were marginal if anything and the front end did seem a little noticeably better, so I’d say improvements all around, some more significant than others
I have heard this a few times. But let’s consider how much this has in common with the regular Corolla; the interior layout & most of the materials, the the platform (chassis) however the GR has a hell of a lot more welds and adhesives and is much more rigid, the door panels, headlights & taillights are mostly the same, the A/C controls/infotainment/floor mats and the gear shift lever are the same… So now what things are NOT the same; The entire driveline, hood, grill, rear diffuser, roof, seats, steering wheel, instrument display, engine, suspension, wheels, brakes and being built in Japan at the Motomachi Plant, and having double the torque and almost double the horsepower but not even being double the price of a fully loaded gas Corolla… These GR4’s are vastly different from the non GR Corolla nameplates. Twice the car for less than double the price. I’m happy to pay $50k for the factory hatchback rally car I’ve been dreaming Toyota would build someday… I gotta support them making a car like this, because they didn’t have to, they built it for people like me to enjoy a hatchback 4-Season Twisty Road Monster… so I’ll put my $ where my big fat mouth is LOL 😂
I sat in one of these and I just can’t wrap my head around the econobox interior at this price point. I get that it’s not what you’re paying for, but still. And the dealer markups make it really ridiculous.
People who are buying the gr Corolla only care about its power performance handling and the driving experience it provides. Not for luxury or premium interior.
@@dwnshftnot nearly as bad as last year but I was seeing that it generally brings the price around $50k or slightly less. Thinking about what else exists out there for $50k… it’s a tough sell for me.
The thing I can't wrap my head around is how much flak the interior gets on the GR Corolla. I have a 2007 Focus ST and I NEVER think about the interior, which is nowhere near as nice as the GR Corolla's interior. I just drive the car and enjoy the handling dynamics and stick shift. As for markups, that varies from dealer to dealer. I'm in the process of buying a 2025 GR Corolla at MSRP. NO dealer markups.
@@wellsbengston4132 you are absolutely correct 💯. Some people online love to complain. That's why its rare to see cars like the gr Corolla or focus RS existing. Then same person say SUVs replacing hot hatchs.
Special thanks to our Patreons for their support of the channel! Additionally, special thanks to Toyota for having me out to Charlotte to get a first look at the newly refreshed GR Corolla! It was my first time on a banked track and it was a super fun experience....oh and the car wasn't bad either! GR Corolla or Honda Civic Type R?
GR COROLLA without a question after all its the Best hot hatch/class leader in its segment 👑🤴👑.
A couple issues I have with this car after checking one out at the local dealership. 1. No center armrest. I am not sure about you guys, but I use my center armrest ALL THE TIME so not having one is kinda a bummer. 2. Every time I got out of the GR my left knee would hit the left part of the dashboard. The dash sticks out so far in this car and even my Wife that came with me she was in the front passenger seat and when she got out she hit her knee pretty much on the same spot but on the passenger side of the dash. 3. Back seat has no USB ports or anything for the kids. 4. Trunk is small, and you can't put anything really under the trunk. My Wife and I were considering trading in my paid off MK7.5 VW GTI for it, but after checking it out, we both looked at each other with that same look, PASS. I mean its a cool car, no joke, and I come from a past of driving Lancer Evo's so I get the whole practical sports car point of view, but my Evo's had center armrests, bigger trunk and a bigger back seat compared to the GR. Plus the VW we currently have just felt more premium even though the GR cost almost 2x's what I paid for my GTI (Paid $26k in 2020 brand new, the GR we looked at with an auto trans was a premium at $49k) I just couldn't pull the trigger. In many ways other than outright speed, the GR felt like a Downgrade from my 5 year old GTI.
well I like my circuit but wish I had some of the fixes oh well still a good car. thanks for the video it was great
Fixes?
I think they're going to sell a boat load of these because that auto is good. I don't know what the torque handling is on the transmission but I wish they'd have put it in the IS500.
hahah seriously....the 8 speed in the IS500 is so meh, but this new DAT is good!
I was sort of surprised that my local dealership got 2 of them, one was auto the other manual. Apparently only 3 people were in that dealer’s lottery for the manual and 20+ wanted an automatic. Kids these days just don’t want to buy manuals.
Its Sacrilege. Just joking, even though I'm a manual only enthusiast. Having an automatic option means more drivers can get involved, which means Toyota can continue manufacturing these corollas with both the manual and automatic variants
You are absolutely correct 💯. Fact is having a automatic version increase its appeal to Larger audience which means more sales. Importantly GR COROLLA still available with a manual. Infact Toyota is projecting 80% of GR COROLLA buyers going to get the manual version.
How was the manual shifter in the 2025? Any better throws? Also, was the front-end push a bit better this year?
@@enlnh the throws were marginal if anything and the front end did seem a little noticeably better, so I’d say improvements all around, some more significant than others
I never thought I'd see a $50k Toyota Corolla.
I have heard this a few times. But let’s consider how much this has in common with the regular Corolla; the interior layout & most of the materials, the the platform (chassis) however the GR has a hell of a lot more welds and adhesives and is much more rigid, the door panels, headlights & taillights are mostly the same, the A/C controls/infotainment/floor mats and the gear shift lever are the same… So now what things are NOT the same; The entire driveline, hood, grill, rear diffuser, roof, seats, steering wheel, instrument display, engine, suspension, wheels, brakes and being built in Japan at the Motomachi Plant, and having double the torque and almost double the horsepower but not even being double the price of a fully loaded gas Corolla… These GR4’s are vastly different from the non GR Corolla nameplates. Twice the car for less than double the price. I’m happy to pay $50k for the factory hatchback rally car I’ve been dreaming Toyota would build someday… I gotta support them making a car like this, because they didn’t have to, they built it for people like me to enjoy a hatchback 4-Season Twisty Road Monster… so I’ll put my $ where my big fat mouth is LOL 😂
I sat in one of these and I just can’t wrap my head around the econobox interior at this price point. I get that it’s not what you’re paying for, but still. And the dealer markups make it really ridiculous.
oh no...how bad is the dealer markup now....?
People who are buying the gr Corolla only care about its power performance handling and the driving experience it provides. Not for luxury or premium interior.
@@dwnshftnot nearly as bad as last year but I was seeing that it generally brings the price around $50k or slightly less. Thinking about what else exists out there for $50k… it’s a tough sell for me.
The thing I can't wrap my head around is how much flak the interior gets on the GR Corolla. I have a 2007 Focus ST and I NEVER think about the interior, which is nowhere near as nice as the GR Corolla's interior. I just drive the car and enjoy the handling dynamics and stick shift.
As for markups, that varies from dealer to dealer. I'm in the process of buying a 2025 GR Corolla at MSRP. NO dealer markups.
@@wellsbengston4132 you are absolutely correct 💯. Some people online love to complain. That's why its rare to see cars like the gr Corolla or focus RS existing. Then same person say SUVs replacing hot hatchs.