2025 Toyota GR Corolla | Automatically Better?

We drive the updated 2025 Toyota GR Corolla, which has a new automatic transmission and mechanical updates. We also talked with the Chief Engineer to discuss the updates and performance issues and how they addressed them. Others to consider are the VW Golf R, Civic Type R, and Elantra N.

Index:

#cars #engineering #business

00:00 Intro and Changes
1:38 Interview with Chief Engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto
10:51 Driving Impressions
15:43 Final Thoughts

[thomaschristopherwhite]

Imagine being a badass engineer and because you're a badass engineer now you have to learn a whole new language so you can answer questions from Savagegeese's resident man-gorilla.

[colin-nekritz]

Mark must be chained to his desk to edit this much content, no wonder he keeps getting so many divorces. We’re swimming in Geese videos. This is the best week ever!

[.wheel.therapy]

Hearing chief engineers speak is honestly so satisfying. My biggest complaint about the car is going into limp mode, but hearing him say the car should be treated as entry level for Motorsport is refreshing. The car is super easy to drive and gives a lot of confidence, but it’s not meant for an experienced driver pushing the car to its limits. He obviously can’t directly say you should get a different car for intense Motorsport activity, but he was indirectly hinting at it.

[TheRealJeffSmith]

Customer base - "Can you fix the transfer case heat issue?"
Toyota - "Best I can do is an automatic."

[funkycarlover]

Does the automatic come with an 84.9 MPH speed limiter? You know, since Toyota officially states engine fires are to be expected at 85 MPH and above. Because of the, ah, *checks notes* tires.

[seafooddiablo]

Sakamoto san interview was super interesting. Im a muscle car guy, but the 2 times he has been on the channel made me appreciate this car. Much to my fathers dismay, lol.

[heathergreylive]

Dave Grohl may not have saved our marriage but he did teach me to love roast beef again.

[camryt]

I’ve had my 24 GR Yaris automatic for a couple of months and close to 5kkm. I was super doubtful about the AT, having experience with Toyota’s and Lexus’ sporty automatics from the past, but it truly is fantastic. I’d compare it to a 8hp in BMW’s, speed wise.

The gearbox programming in GR Yaris is rather aggressive. It rarely slips on the converter, during steady load it always keeps the revs above 2000 rpm even in Eco mode (about 2500-2800 rpm in sport more). The downshifts are immediate, it can kickdown multiple gears. It’s really impressive in mid range.

I’ve noticed it was learning my driving habits for the first 1-2kkm, was occasionally sluggish, but now I can’t fault it. I just wish eco mode was more relaxed for everyday driving.

I had my doubts about this gearbox, but it’s fantastic. I don’t think it reduces anything from the driving experience, if anything it helps to utilize massive mid-range surge of the engine. Love it.

[thor]

I love the interviews with the chief engineers. Great stuff

[steve-real]

Toyota has lead the world in manufacturing processes but I never really got too excited over their cars. This Corolla GR has it.

There’s a certain je nais se pais that i can’t put into words. Very impressive. I wish I had the money to buy one but I have family commitments and they would despise me for getting this car. lol

That said. Congratulations Toyota! You built a classic. Something pure and true. Why though? Idk why some music is popular when the same style just doesn’t click in the imagination. This is something special. Really cool Toyota.

[diydrivenGA]

Just like when the GTI introduced their dsg, this is going to help to sell more cars.

And more cars sold means a longer run of the manual version of this car as well.

Every enthusiast car that has only been manual has had a hard time selling, especially within the last decade.

The entire ST line at Ford were solid cars but limited themselves to manuals, while great for cred and "real car guy reviews", doesn't keep the lights on for too long.

[haad]

Interviews with the actual design engineer gives a whole new context about the tradeoffs designers chose. You get to appreciate the thought that went into the ultimate product and its hard to gather that with reviews that just describe the vehicle and make comparisons with other vehicles.

[eppyz]

I appreciate Toyota for making this car, so please don't think I am hating on this car. The #1 problem right now is not the car itself but the dealers that sell them. I keep hearing "Base Price Under $40k" No dealer within 200 miles of my home will sell you a GR with a manual for under that price. I walk into a VW dealer and can get a fully loaded Golf R with DSG for $47k and they will work with you. I have been in both cars. Say what you will about VW but the Golf R for around the same price point (realistically) is just the better value. Keep in mind that most likely 95% of these cars on either side will ever see a race track. Most if any may autocross the car but they will never see a race track anyway. The VW rides better, has more options as standard and is just more comfortable to be in and not to mention bone stock will hit 60 in 4 seconds flat. I am leaning towards the Golf for the dealer experience too. VW comes to me and right away will work with you. Toyota and the GR? This is what we are selling it for with our markup if you don't buy it someone else will mentality just really turns me off. That's been my experience thus far. Haven't bought anything yet, but leaning towards the VW.

[royshavrick]

Ah man that 50k price tag is a killer man, that's why the only GR product I'm interested in is the GR86 which is nearly 20k cheaper than the top line Corolla.

[joncaseyclary]

Huge fan of SG and thankful we have a connection to GRC designers. Last GRC videos we were told you would ask about the AWD overheating…. what a waste of an opportunity to push them on the AWD overheating question. No solution in 3rd model year ? I’m an “entry level” driver and 3 track days have lead to 5 overheating sessions. We finally had a chance to have an answer and didn’t even get the question. If it’s an ECU programming question why did they not solve it? If it’s a mechanical issue why are there no solutions?

[StraightUpRainbows]

As long as Mark isn’t taking marriage classes from Garand Thumb, I think he’ll do just fine.

[caryg]

I think your $60, 000+ gr corolla build has jaded you somewhat or taken away your realistic reference point for this car. For someone who has never driven a modified gr corolla, I’m sure these changes will be more pronounced or noticeable. Either way, thank you for producing this video and for asking all of these questions!

[drakeoe]

Man idk what it is with these cars but i LOVE THEM. I know theyre not the fastest but theyre so awesome. I pray i get to own one, one day

[SlowDriverSean]

So, they made all of these changes to make it a more “track-focused” car, but have not actually fixed the major, dealbreaker problem for track use, the diff overheating assumed value issue? This car has so much potential but this is a very silly thing! The engineer basically said that they designed a $50, 000 car for first-timers to do parade laps around a track.

[jfishcake]

The more the engineer says “Entry level sports car” the more I question paying a cent over $35K.