This sporty version of the regular Corolla sedan nets a new 10-speed CVT among other modest aesthetic updates.
Toyota Malaysia has certainly kicked 2025 off with a bang this year, as it launches locally two of its recently refreshed hot GR models, in the form of the GR Yaris and GR Corolla. Though for those who can’t afford the RM 300k+ for those true-blue GRs, there was also another GR(-ish) car launched by the big T recently — the Corolla GR Sport.
Now yes, the Corolla GR Sport was technically just launched locally a little over a year ago. That said though, Toyota Malaysia nevertheless thought that now was a good time release a mildly-updated version of this slightly sportier version of its regular Corolla sedan.
So what’s new a year on then? Well starting from the outside first, the refreshed Corolla GR Sport gains a slightly different face from a mildly altered front grille and bumper. Also new on this sporty(-looking) are for its rear combination lights to now feature a darkened smoked look from a tinted cover.
Moving on within meanwhile, a new 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is the major tech change in the cabin. Aside from that, the refreshed Corolla GR Sport since further gained red seatbelts to go along with its leather-suede combination sport seats, as well as a subtle change in the colour of its interior trim pieces from gloss block to smoked silver metallic.
Finally onto what lies under the hood, the beating heart of the Corolla GR Sport remains unchanged. So that unfortunately means it does not now miraculously come with the true-blue GR Corolla’s bonkers turbo-triple, but instead still soldiers on with the naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre 2ZR-FE four-cylinder, which makes a modest 139 PS and 172 Nm of torque.
What is however different with this refresh though is the transmission, as the Corolla GR Sport now nets a 10-ratio Sport Sequential Shiftmatic CVT relative to the 7-speed that came before. Other powertrain improvements this sporty sedan has over its sensible sibling includes a reprogrammed ECU, that when SPORT mode is engaged, activates Auto Brake Downshifting and Cornering Gear Fix Control for the ‘driver to have better accelerator pedal control and modulate power flow to the front wheels when exiting a corner’.
And while on the topic of corners, the Corolla GR Sport comes packing a “track-tuned” suspension setup. Its shock absorbers, rear coil springs and stabilisers have apparently all been tuned from extensive track sessions, with Toyota further highlighting that it has since also made adjustments to the Sport ECU for the electric power steering following feedback from owners for smoother steering during multi-turn movements.
Like its more sensible sibling, the Corolla GR Sport comes with the full suite of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS package. This includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Lane Trace Assist, and Automatic High Beam (AHB).
The 2025 refreshed Toyota GR Corolla Sport is currently available from RM 149,800, which incidentally is a RM 4,000 cut over how much its pre-facelift predecessor costed when it first landed locally back in late 2023.
As with all current models offered by UMW Toyota Motor as well, the refreshed Corolla GR Sport comes with a 5-year unlimited warranty. The fully-backed factory warranty is transferable to the next owner if it is still in effect when sold off.
Customers can choose to have the exterior body colour in Attitude Black Mica, Red Mica Metallic or Platinum White Pearl Mica. For the latter two colours, the roof is now finished to be finished in a contrasting black for a sportier look.
