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What's New for 2025?
An FX Special Edition joins the lineup, and it's more than just an appearance package — it also comes with a lowered suspension and sportier steering. But more notable for most shoppers is the new 10.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is standard on FX and XSE and optional on SE (an 8.0-inch touchscreen continues to be standard on LE and SE).
2025 Corolla Selector
FAST FACTS
"The Corolla asks for compromises on two fronts: its acceleration is sluggish and its backseat is cramped, even for a compact sedan. If you're not bothered by those two aspects after a test drive, you might not find anything else to complain about. Notably, a fresh new 10.5-inch touchscreen debuts for 2025 — it's optional on SE and standard on the higher trims, but unavailable on the base LE. Like some rivals here, the Corolla is also offered as a hybrid, which sends the mpg to the moon but adds nearly a second to the 0-60 sprint (9.0 seconds versus closer to 8 for the standard Corolla). There's an available hatchback body style, too, but its backseat is even smaller than the sedan's, and it can only be ordered with the non-hybrid engine."—Ranked #6 out of 7 Compact Sedans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Toyota Corolla that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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First of all, we should note that the fuel economy here pertains specifically to the Corolla Sedan LE; if you step up to the SE, FX or XSE, you'll drop a notch to 34 mpg combined. Either way, it's a lot of mpg. But perhaps the most notable thing about the Corolla, mechanically, at least, is that its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) has an unusual fixed first gear that makes takeoffs from a stop feel like you've got a regular automatic transmission. There's no zinging up to a high-rpm drone if you ask for more power; it just feels normal. Once you're out of that first gear, the "Direct Shift-CVT" (a.ka. K120 CVT) continues its trickery with 10 simulated ratios that feel like "steps" akin to a regular transmission's gears. That part isn't unusual, but combined with the fixed first gear, it does work to minimize the typical obtrusiveness of a CVT.
The Corolla Hatchback is a full 10 inches shorter than the sedan, which is handy for parking, but you also lose a significant slice of rear legroom in that trade. Otherwise, it's largely the same car, so it's your choice between hatchback versatility (and parkability) and the larger backseat of the sedan.
The sedan-only Corolla Hybrid is more expensive than the regular Corolla and significantly slower to boot, but if you want to maximize your fuel economy, this is the way to do it. Compared to a peak of 35 mpg combined for the standard Corolla, the Corolla Hybrid notches a gaudy rating of 47 mpg combined (last year's even gaudier 50 mpg combined rating for the lower-level Corolla Hybrids with smaller wheels is gone now that the EPA's applying a single estimate to all Corolla Hybrid trims). If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, the difference will likely be even greater, since hybrids shine in city driving and non-hybrids are at their worst. However, note that the Corolla Hybrid's CVT is not the "Direct Shift-CVT" with a fixed starter gear that distinguishes the non-hybrid Corolla; instead, the Corolla Hybrid rocks Toyota's usual eCVT hybrid transmission, so you can expect the usual high-rpm droning when you ask for extra power.
The only Corolla to offer all-wheel drive (well, other than the unhinged GR Corolla) is the Corolla Hybrid Sedan, so that's a notch in this configuration's cap. You might say it's AWD with an asterisk, as Toyota's "Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive" consists of a separate rear-mounted electric motor that only wakes up to assist the rear wheels in the event of traction loss, and only with 40 horsepower (30 kW) at the most. But the car can technically drive both axles, so we'll call it AWD. You do lose 3 mpg combined due to the AWD system and its added weight, but 44 mpg combined will still likely be enough for most tastes. Note that the EPA stopped breaking out the Corolla Hybrid by different trim levels (wheel sizes, basically) for 2025, so all Corolla Hybrid now share last year's lower estimate of 44 mpg combined (47 city/41 highway).
What are the different versions of the 2025 Corolla, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 Corolla specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Toyota Corolla Sedan 2.0 CVT | $22,325 | Gas | 35 | 169 hp | 151 lb-ft |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback 2.0 CVT | $23,780 | Gas | 35 | 169 hp | 151 lb-ft |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan Front-Wheel Drive | $23,825 | Hybrid | 47 | 138 hp | N/A |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan All-Wheel Drive | $25,225 | Hybrid | 44 | 138 hp | N/A |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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