The Toyota Corolla Altis sedan might not offer a true performance variant like the GR Corolla hatchback, but the GR Sport trim tries to add a bit of spice with some sporty styling and a handful of chassis tweaks. Making its debut in Thailand, the refreshed hybrid variant now sports a slightly updated battery and a redesigned body kit for the GR Sport, aiming to give it a bit more visual appeal. This second redesign is a stopgap, aimed at keeping the Asian market Corolla Altis relevant until the next-generation Corolla finally arrives in the not-too-distant future.

Up front, the Corolla Altis GR Sport gets squared-off intakes, a design cue lifted directly from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, and a slimmer grille that gives the face a sharper edge. A new set of 17-inch black alloy wheels adds to the aesthetic, paired with gloss-black accents around the bodywork. The smoked LED taillights with clear lenses add a bit of flair, while a new rear spoiler rounds out the updates. However, the side skirts and rear diffuser remain untouched, a reminder that this is still a Corolla at its core, not a true GR model.

 

Inside, the Corolla Altis GR Sport is distinguished from the rest of the lineup thanks to the perforated Suede leather upholstery on the seats, red contrasting stitching with matching seatbelts, Smoked Silver inserts, and the GR emblem on the steering wheel and start/stop button. Standard equipment also includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch infotainment display, and a color head-up display. As with its predecessor, the Corolla Altis GR Sport benefits from a model-specific setup for the electric power steering, shock absorbers, and coil springs, alongside a rear stabilizer bar. However, the self-charging hybrid powertrain with the 1.8-liter engine doesn’t get any performance upgrades, producing an uninspiring 121 hp.

New for 2025 is the lithium-ion battery pack, which replaces the old nickel–metal hydride battery. The capacity has grown to 4 Ah (from 3.6 Ah), resulting in improved fuel efficiency. The updated HEV has a rating of 4.2 lt/100km (60 MPG), which is slightly better compared to the 4.3 lt/100km (54.8 MPG) of the model it replaces. Aside from the self-charging hybrid, the Corolla Altis is also offered with conventional 1.8-liter and 1.6-liter gasoline engines in Thailand, although these options aren’t available in the GR Sport trim. The hybrid GR Sport remains the flagship for those craving a very subtle hint of sportiness.

Now available in Thailand, the updated Corolla Altis HEV GR Sport is priced at 1,129,000 baht (US$ 32,900). For comparison, the HEV Premium model with the same powertrain comes in slightly lower at 1,009,000 baht (US$ 29,400).