The Toyota GR Corolla Is More Expensive for 2025, But Don't Be Mad

The 2025 GR Corolla Is Pricier, But Don't Be MadToyota

We've all grown unfortunately comfortable with inflation in the last few years. After almost three decades of hovering below 4% in the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftershocks sent prices spiking for several years, with inflation peaking at 8% in 2022. Generally speaking, prices have gone up nearly a quarter since we watched the ball drop at the end of 2019. Like death, taxes and Thanos, it's become inevitable.

But it still stings to see costs go up for no apparent reason — especially when it's for something you had considered a bargain.

Such as, say, the Toyota GR Corolla. For the 2025 model year, the base price of Toyota's all-wheel-drive hot hatch is climbing from $37,365 to $39,995 — a $2,630 increase. In other words, the cost of getting into a new GR Corolla inflated by 7% over the last year.

It's easy to find that irritating — but in this case, it's not as bad as it might seem at first glance. Unlike many products that see their costs climb year over year for no apparent reason, the GR Corolla's increase in MSRP comes with upgrades that make it worthwhile.

For the 2025 model year, all GR Corollas from the bottom on up now come with the front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials as standard. Previously, buyers had to spec the $1,180 Performance Package on the entry-level Core model in order to snag those — and since that was the only mechanical change the package packed, it's safe to suggest Toyota basically rolled that cost into the '25 model, leaving the GR Corolla's true year-over-year price difference at $1,450.

This could be you, for $39,995.Toyota

But Toyota also gave the hot hatch another powertrain upgrade for 2025 — and no, I'm not talking about the new eight-speed automatic option. (That costs an extra two grand, by the way, so the base price of a slushbox GR Corolla lands at $41,995.) As of the new model year, Toyota has boosted torque on all models to match that of the former Morizo top trim, bringing it to 295 lb-ft — an increase of 23 lb-ft over last year's base model. Plus, Toyota also updated the front bumper and brake ducts for better cooling, revised the clutch for crisper operation, and adjusted the suspension to reduce inner wheel lift and improve traction in the corners.

So: more torque, standard limited-slip diffs, and a suspension and brakes that should be happier on track. In this economy, getting all that for a 7% increase doesn't sound bad at all.

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