We Drove Every New Toyota GR Sports Car Back to Back

Toyota has announced its modifications and improvements for the Gazoo Racing sports car range for 2025 and we were lucky enough to be invited to test them out both on the road and on track. Recently, the brand has launched a full-scale assault on the sports car market and we can’t help but get excited when we see the focus on fun and excitement is back. Here’s a quick drive review of every car in their line-up!

Quick Drive: 2025 Toyota GR Yaris

• Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-three
• Power: 221 kW (296 hp) @ 6,500 rpm
• Torque: 400 Nm @ 3,250–4,600 rpm
• Transmission Options:
  • 6-speed manual
  • 8-speed automatic (available from mid-2025)
• Drivetrain: All-wheel drive (AWD)
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): ~5.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 230 km/h (electronically limited)
• Fuel Consumption: 8.7 L/100 km (combined)
• Kerb Weight: ~1,280 kg (manual variant)

While the rest of the world gets GR Supras, Corollas, and GR86s, Australia is one of the few markets that has its hands on the small and mighty GR Yaris. Derived from Toyota’s highly accoladed rally car pedigree, the 2025 GR Yaris arrives with several changes all taken from the knowledge learned in racing.

This model has long been a favourite for enthusiasts, and its keys were the hardest car to snaffle from the other journalists on the trip.

While the previous generation GR Yaris was far from underpowered, Gazoo Racing has turned the wick up on the 2025 model. The 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in the 2025 GR Yaris now produces 221kW (+21kW) of power at 6500rpm and 400Nm (+30Nm) of torque from 3,250rpm. This is more than enough power and torque in a car with a kerb weight of only 1,280kg (manual) and 1,300kg (auto).

Yes, there’s now an automatic GR Yaris to open the model up to a few new buyers. Matched with the 3-cylinder turbo engine the 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission has been designed to match the sporty nature of the Gazoo Racing line up with Toyota stating they have tested it thoroughly on more than 10 circuits around the world in heavy usage conditions to ensure its durability and usability in racing format.

We only had a quick dash in the GR Yaris, but the standout was the suspension. You instantly note the car’s rally heritage with a surprisingly compliant ride that tends to absorb bumps on the road better than expected. You might think this is a track toy at first glance, but this set-up gives the GR Yaris a GT feel, and we’d be happy to take it on a long-distance drive without worrying about the chiropractor visit on the way home.

Of course, there’s more than enough power for such a small package, and the noise from the 3-cylinder is not loud but surprisingly angry. Meanwhile, we made sure we tried the 8-speed automatic and while great for everyday driving, the gear selection didn’t quite sit where we wanted it to when pushed hard. The solution is to switch to manual mode where it becomes a whole different story. Toyota claims 300ms for an upshift, and they do feel rapid enough. You can hit the red line for a brief second, but it will intervene on you if you work it too hard in the top end.

Take a look inside the new GR Yaris and you’ll notice the re-designed dashboard now has loose similarities to a Mark IV Supra in that it’s ever more driver-focused.

Technology includes the usual suspects in wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto displayed on a large 8.0-inch touchscreen. Meanwhile, the driver cops a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for easy viewing.

Next to the significant power update and changes on the inside, you also get an updated front and rear design to provide increased aero, cooling, and importantly, more protection from damage. Grilles are now back to metal and modularisation is deployed to enable quick and easy replacement and repair of common stone chip areas.

The GR Yaris comes in two models, GT and GTS. If you’re an aggressive driver, the GTS gains a Torsen limited-slip differential, tweaked suspension, sub-radiator and intercooler sprayer as well as a few visual standouts inside and out. Here’s the full list of pricing for the GR Yaris in Australia:

• 2025 Toyota GR Yaris GT manual – from AUD$55,490 plus on-road costs
• 2025 Toyota GR Yaris GT automatic – from AUD$57,990 plus on-road costs
• 2025 Toyota GR Yaris GTS manual – from AUD$60,490 plus on-road costs
• 2025 Toyota GR Yaris GTS automatic – from AUD$62,990 plus on-road costs

Quick Drive: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla

• Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-three
• Power: 221 kW (296 hp) @ 6,500 rpm
• Torque: 400 Nm @ 3,250–4,600 rpm
• Transmission Options:
  • 6-speed manual
  • 8-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: All-wheel drive (AWD)
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): ~5.3 seconds
• Top Speed: 230 km/h (electronically limited)
• Fuel Consumption: 8.4 L/100 km (combined)
• Kerb Weight: ~1,485 kg (manual variant)

The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla is offered to customers in a one-grade GTS model in Australia. It’s priced from AUD$67,990 plus on-roads in manual form and $70,490 plus on-roads with a torque converter automatic.

Compared to the GR Yaris, only a few changes have been made to the 2025 GR Corolla given it was only launched a few years ago. With a price hike and a single model grade, a few features have trickled down from the Morizo Edition that was previously offered to the market, including the carbon fibre roof.

Power remains the same at 221kW @ 6,500rpm, but torque is now up to match the GR Yaris with 400Nm (+30Nm) @ 3,250rpm.

Visually, the GR Corolla cops an updated front grille with a meaner look that offers increased cooling and aero. Meanwhile, there’s a higher output cooling fan on the automatic model for keeping things in check on sporty drives. Other updates include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and active noise control which helps keep things quiet in the cabin at cruising speeds. It’s nice to see additional safety features are now on board, including a parking support brake with object and vehicle detection and all-speed adaptive cruise control. However, they’re only offered on the automatic variant.

We had the unique chance to drive the GR Corolla back-to-back with the GR Yaris, and two things stand out when you compare the larger GR Corolla to the smaller GR Yaris.

First, it’s noticeably louder than the Yaris. Put your foot down and it gets loud and proud, and you can’t help but want to hear it sing. Second, it’s the suspension. While the Yaris can feel soft and compliant on the road, the Corolla is stiff, very stiff. If you’ve ever driven a car with an aftermarket set of coilovers you’ll be familiar with the feeling of crashing over bumps and feeling everything through the seat. It’s not a deal breaker, but it was just a stark contrast between the models, and after driving them on the skid pan and track, the direction of each car is very clear. The GR Corolla felt at home on the track, even though both performed great in all settings. The same 8-speed auto is present, and it still works remarkably well given that it’s a torque converter and not a DCT.

We’ll also note that both the GR Yaris and GR Corolla have an updated differential controller that offers automatic variable diff settings in track mode (50-50 up to 30-70 power transfer) and the normal, sport, eco and custom drive modes.

Quick Drive: 2025 Toyota GR GR86 GTS

• Engine: 2.4-litre naturally aspirated flat-four (boxer)
• Power: 174 kW (234 hp) @ 7,000 rpm
• Torque: 250 Nm @ 3,700 rpm
• Transmission Options:
  • 6-speed manual
  • 6-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): ~6.3 seconds
• Top Speed: 226 km/h
• Fuel Consumption:
  • Manual: 9.5 L/100 km (combined)
  • Automatic: 8.8 L/100 km (combined)
• Kerb Weight:
  • Manual: 1,298 kg
  • Automatic: 1,316 kg

Priced from AUD$43,240 plus on-road costs the 2025 Toyota GR GR86 is the most affordable vehicle in the GR line-up. It’s undergone a few tweaks to give the driver even more feeling and control on track for this model year.

Dampers and power steering have been tweaked for improved response, while a revised throttle map has been deployed to give a more linear delivery of power. Those who chose the automatic transmission will notice how the gearbox allows downshifts at a higher rpm.

While it’s not an underpowered vehicle since being updated with the 2.4-litre 4-cylinder boxed engine, power and torque remain the same at 174kW of power @ 7,000rpm and 250Nm of torque @ 3,700rpm.

On the track, the Toyota GR86 shined as the most fun and accessible of all the GR cars, allowing the driver to extract all of the car’s potential without unmanageable speed. It’s still the standout model for honing your skills as a driver.

The GR86 comes in two variants priced from $43,240 plus on-road costs and $45,390 plus on-road costs respectively. However, Toyota is also offering a limited edition variant with only 86 units on offer starting from $49,600 plus on-road costs. This limited edition is based on a GTS with the optional performance pack as standard, it’s available in a special colour called “Forest Shadow Green” and is equipped with “Bronzed” 18-inch alloy wheels with bright red Brembo brake calipers.

Quick Drive: 2025 Toyota GR Supra

• Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six
• Power: 285 kW (382 hp) @ 6,500 rpm
• Torque: 500 Nm @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
• Transmission:
  • 6-speed manual
  • 8-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): ~4.4 seconds
• Top Speed: 250 km/h (electronically limited)
• Fuel Consumption: 8.9 L/100 km (combined)
• Kerb Weight: ~1,503 kg

The halo car of the GR lineup is the GR Supra, and it remains largely unchanged in both GT and GTS variants. However, Toyota has announced a limited-run Track Edition is on the way which will be based on the GTS with chassis and suspension enhancements, including rear under-floor bracing, reinforced subframe mounts, larger front anti-roll bar, aluminium anti-roll bar brackets front and rear and more.

Visually you’ll gain a carbon fibre ducktail rear spoiler, upgraded front tyre spats and matte black 19-inch wheels. Inside, there are red seat belts, GR logo embroidered headrests, and a red ring around the shift knob on the manual.

While we didn’t spend much time behind the wheel of the Supra on this occasion, even after all these years, it still puts a smile on your face with its focused suspension and never-ending acceleration down the straights. We did find space was a little compromised with a race helmet on, but if you do you will find that the car has a special essence about it with more than enough power for its weight and a shorter wheelbase than the GR86. However, compared to the GR86 it’s better suited to tracks with longer straights to make full use of the engine. Oh, and keep the stereo off, it’s a good listen.

One thing is very clear for the Toyota GR lineup. Toyota is giving car enthusiasts what they want and more. While so many brands turn a nose to their enthusiast customers, the brand is putting a continued focus on the sports car and that’s exciting to see. According to Sean Hanley, that’s going to continue well into the future as well.