It has been brought to my attention that not everyone wants a car with 700 horsepower. There are others who prefer a sedan to the ubiquitous SUVs that fill almost every parking lot across America making it nearly impossible to see who’s coming when you try to back out of your spot. And some people would rather not have to take out a 30-year mortgage to buy their next car. Yes, compact cars do still sell in America, as evidenced by the fact that Toyota sold 232,000 Corolla sedans and hatchbacks last year.
I get it. Most people aren’t enthusiasts. They just want a car that gets them from point A to point B with as little drama as possible. They want a reasonable degree of comfort, enough tech to stay connected, and a bucketful of safety features. Even better if they don’t have to raid their kids college fund to pay for or maintain it. Corolla ticks all these boxes with the added benefit that it’s a Toyota, so when the odometer hits 200,000 miles in 2040, it’ll finally be broken in.
Refreshed Styling
Corolla Hybrid was updated last year to fit more within the design ethos seen on Crown and the upcoming Camry. There are sporty touches like the upper character line on the side that rises from the front fender through the doors resolving just above the tail lamp. Up front, the facia features an air intake above the grille which flows naturally into the narrow headlamps, adding a sense of width to the compact sedan. The SE trim that I tested adds blacked out trim, the subtle flip of a color keyed rear spoiler, and 18-inch graphite colored alloy wheels with with lower profile Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires. But let’s be clear this is not a sporty car.
It’s All About Efficiency
Stuffed under the sculpted hood is a marvel of mechanical evolution, especially if your joy comes from using as little gas as possible. The foundation of Toyota’s 5th generation hybrid system is a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder gas engine with two motor-generators that drive the front wheels via a CVT. The revised hybrid system increases output from 121 to 138 hp making an unremarkable 105 lb-ft. of torque. The EPA-estimated combined fuel economy reaches up to 50 MPG for FWD models, while the AWD Corolla I drove is rated at 44 MPG combined.
All-Wheels On Deck
The AWD system on the Corolla, like all Toyota AWD hybrids, is not mechanical. It eschews a driveshaft running from the front to a rear differential to power the rear wheels, instead using a separate, rear-mounted electric motor when more traction is required. The two most likely scenarios in which AWD would be engaged are to minimize wheel slip during off-the-line starts and to provide extra grip when traction is compromised by rain or snow. If you live in northern climes like I do, this is a nice benefit and if you were to toss on a set of winter tires, there are very few places you couldn’t go in this little four-door. Just don’t plan on getting there quickly. Acceleration is lackadaisical, reaching 60 miles per hour in 9 seconds and and it does not occur without some serious complaining coming from under the hood. This powertrain is at its best when driven calmly. Just drive it as if your grandmother is in the backseat drinking tea and you’ll experience optimum Corolla. If you really want a small Corolla that’ll rattle your bones in a good way, try the GR Hatchback.
The Inside Story
While Toyota took great pains to add style and flair to Corolla’s exterior, the interior is a nod to conservatism. In the entry level trim, it’s down right dour, with acres of black cloth and plastic creating a vibe that screams economy car. When you move to higher spec models like the SE, gray sport fabric trimmed seats and a leather steering wheel, things improve a bit, but still not to the level of the high end interiors in Elantra and Civic. Everything is comfortable and high enough quality. It just feels like they didn’t try very hard to make it interesting.
Safety and Technology
Where Corolla really shines are the things you don’t really see. First of all, the 8-inch touchscreen which is standard in all grades, now features Toyota’s improved audio entertainment and information system. This was redesigned by US engineers and is much more intuitive than the previous system. Using a combination of hard buttons, knobs, touch, and voice control, it allows the user to interact in the way that’s most comfortable for them. The voice recognition is very active and when awakened after using the “Hey Toyota” command, can be used to adjust the temperature, change the radio station, check the weather, and a number of other tasks. While there is a volume knob, there isn’t one for tuning, so you’ll want to get good at using voice commands. If you have a subscription to Toyota’s Drive Connect service, you’ll also get a native navigation application that can be controlled via voice commands. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard on all grades, and you can connect up to two phones at one time.
Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on all Corolla grades as well and is both class and industry leading. It includes everything from radar cruise control to lane trace assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and auto high beams. Premium grades add blind spot detection, parking assist with automatic braking, and adaptive headlights that provide a wider field of light and turn the low beam lights in the direction of the turn, improving visibility while cornering.
The Final Word
Now in its 12th generation, Corolla is exactly what it’s always been, and more: a highly efficient, moderately comfortable, stylish sedan that’s loaded with safety features. It also has enough of the tech people are looking for to feel good about their purchase even if they opt for the gas-powered LE sedan that starts at $22,050. Add the hybrid powertrain ($1,450), the goodies that come along with the SE trim ($2,440), AWD ($1,400), a few other goodies and a $1,095 destination charge and your Corolla becomes a $30,483 economy car. Given that the average transaction price of a new vehicle is now $47,244 according to Cox Automotive, that’s on the affordable end of the spectrum but it’s still not cheap. The good news is if you don’t outgrow it, the Corolla Hybrid should provide you with decades of service with proper maintenance.
