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Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Test Drive
THE TWELFTH RETURN
Words by Carlo Brema / Photos by Ian Waltteri
2019, the twelfth return. It could be the title of any science fiction movie with Tolkien’s tendencies, but in reality it is the business card of a car that certainly needs no introduction, the world best-selling since 1966. These last 12 years the Toyota Corolla was missing from the European market, but now it is back taking the place of the outgoing Auris and aiming even higher, thanks to the experience of the Japanese brand as a hybrid engine producer. This is not just the specific case of our test, since the twelfth generation Corolla is only available with hybrid petrol engines, in two different variants: saloon and wagon, the latter called TS (Touring Sports). The sedan is nothing more than a five-door hatchback based on the new modular platform shared with the new Prius, ideal for urban use, an environment in which the Corolla knows how to give the best of itself thanks to its small dimensions, which however do not give up on board comfort, including a more than decent luggage compartment, also thanks to the fact that the batteries are positioned under the rear seats.
Two engines available, the most powerful 180-horsepower 2-liter and the 122 hp of the entry-level 1.8, the one of our test. Why did we choose this one? Very simple, the Corolla is not a car designed to burn neighborhood bullies at the traffic lights, but an object that must be able to take you around the globe without costing you a fortune and keeping everything comfortably under control through the 7-inches touch display in the middle of the dash. Needless therefore to say that the extra horses of the 2.0cc will be convenient for those looking for a bit more grunt, but “our” version proved to be equally capable of not making us suffer when overtaking. After all, on the motorway – respecting speed limits – you get closer to the 26 km/l declared by the company, figures that further improve in the city (28.5 km/l) where you have the opportunity to exploit the electric unit and really understand the intentions of the new generation Corolla.
Starting from the extremely edgy design and which develops the stylistic traits undertaken by the brand with the most recent models, the Corolla’s look is fresh from whatever side you look at it, with a front end made even more aggressive thanks to the thin optical groups virtually joined together and which overlook the large honeycomb grille under the badge. Toyota opted for a sober interior environment without too many buttons, with the exception of those of climate controls, which fortunately remain the only physical ones at the base of the display that governs the excellent satellite navigator, radio and the classic vehicle information you get on a 2019 car. Behind the steering wheel, however, there is another display with a fully digital instrumentation, which also allows you to monitor the amount of electric energy used while driving or that stored by the battery while braking. Five people would have a pretty comfortable trip in here, thanks to seats and the ample space for legs and head, so you have proof that this is not a simple city car, but a car that can leave the city center and accompany you everywhere.
After just a few hours at the wheel, it’s as if you’re driving this by ages. Simple to maneuver, to park and comfortable even over long distances, the Corolla also offers excellent safety features, with 7 airbags, electronic stability control and the much acclaimed Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including a pre-collision system with pedestrians and cyclists detector, lane keeping assistant and adaptive cruise control. Finally, what we usually consider as a sore point, the CVT transmission, a continuously variable automatic, that to be completely honest with the hybrid engine you get here is actually able to accomplish a good job, as long as you don’t ask for blistering performance, where at that point you suffer from the traditional skidding effect that we have already discussed in other tests. It is no surprise that Toyota care a lot about the new Corolla and after having driven it, we are finally aware that it will be able to keep up the important legacy it collect from the Auris and mostly from its previous generations, once again strong of one of the best hybrid units on the market. There are three different versions available: Active, Style and Lounge, with prices starting from € 27,950 for the 1.8 Active and € 32,500 for the 2.0, available only in Style and Lounge.
TOYOTA COROLLA HYBRID 1.8 STYLE
Layout – front-engine, front wheel drive
Engine – 4 cylinder 1.798cc + electric unit
Transmission – CVT automatic gearbox
Power – 122 hp / 142 Nm
Weight – 1.360 kg
Acceleration – 10,9 sec.
Top Speed – 180 kph
Price – from € 30.100
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