Presentation and road test: the Corolla arrives as a revolution in the form of a hybrid compact

The revolution is being felt little by little in every single segment, with the compact segment being one of the most frequent places where brands receive major improvements in every aspect. This philosophy of progress and innovation was adopted by Toyota when developing the new Corolla, a model that comes full of freshness and character, two traits that can be seen both in its design and in its behaviour. Without a doubt, the Japanese firm has managed to move one of its flagship models up a rung and, to learn first-hand about all the changes the Corolla has undergone, we travelled to Palma de Mallorca, the location where its presentation took place.

The fine weather characteristic of the Balearic Islands greeted us alongside a line of Corolla Sedan, Hatchback and Touring Sports ready to meet our demands and to be put to the test. With this in mind, we got behind the wheel of the estate with both the most modest engine and the top-of-the-range model, a heart that was also present in the five-door unit we borrowed.

Refinement, muscle and character: this is how the design of the new Toyota Corolla is defined

Without a doubt, one of the aspects the Japanese firm focused on most when developing the new Corolla is its design. This generation of the Japanese compact par excellence has been endowed with a design language in the purest Japanese style, in which important touches of aggressiveness, sportiness and elegance can also be seen.

The front is dominated by a prominent bumper, which houses a sharp splitter alongside a grille in the lower area and a chrome trim that seeks to highlight a more exclusive character for the new Corolla. This front end is seasoned with very slim, elongated headlights, a technique that has been used recently and that gives the whole car a great sense of dynamism.

It is at the side where the engineers at Toyota decided to relax and give the compact a more restrained and calm look, allowing observers to appreciate greater elegance. But the harmony in this area is quickly broken to give way to a much more radical and irreverent rear, which seeks to reflect this new design path the firm will follow with future models.

The rear of the new Toyota Corolla again draws on the canons used to bring the front to life, where a robust yet dynamic bumper makes its appearance. Alongside it are two trims that simulate a double exhaust outlet on the higher-displacement version, a feature that does not entirely convince us but is quickly offset by very clean-designed light clusters, aiming to give the Japanese compact a futuristic and modern spirit.

An ergonomic and refined cabin

The feeling upon entering the interior of the new Toyota Corolla is very similar to that experienced when looking at its exterior. This is because the brand’s designers have also used sharp, clean lines to shape different areas of the cabin but, even so, the arrangement of the controls is very well judged and makes them easy to operate.

At first we are met with a dashboard with a very futuristic design in terms of shapes, an effect it achieves thanks to the protrusions it shows especially on the right-hand side. Once we have taken in this ergonomics, we find a large floating screen, 8 inches to be exact.

I must confess that before meeting the Toyota Corolla in person I was not convinced by this screen, but its convenient position makes it really easy to operate each and every one of the buttons it features. That is another point in its favour and worth highlighting since, in a world that prizes minimalism and the removal of buttons, Toyota has decided to go against the grain and offer a touch-based multimedia system with physical controls.

It shows great fluidity whether we operate it via the buttons or the screen itself, but its somewhat dated graphics and the absence of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will cause it to lose some of its appeal. However, these shortcomings are offset by an instrument cluster that combines a digital display with analogue instrumentation and which is simple and intuitive to use. Through it we can access information on fuel, consumption, navigation and energy flow, among other things.

Alongside the aforementioned screen, we find a steering wheel of good proportions and a very pleasant feel, a sensation that continues in other areas of the compact by Toyota. But it is in the centre console, dashboard and some door areas where hard plastic is still present, along with that piano black finish that causes our fingerprints to remain.

Two engines for the new Corolla: this is the philosophy of Toyota

One of the biggest novelties of the new Toyota Corolla is the availability of two powertrains and three body styles. With this in mind, customers can choose between the Sedan, Hatchback and Touring Sports, the last two being the options chosen by the Highmotor test team to travel through the towns, motorways and secondary roads of Palma de Mallorca.

Before getting into details, let us briefly introduce the similarities and differences between the two hearts offered to power the new Toyota Corolla. At first we find the 1.8 petrol engine, which, as in the case of the larger-displacement unit, is paired with a second electric motor. The combination is capable of delivering 122 CV of power at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm.

If we opt for the more powerful option, we are talking about a 2.0-litre engine that produces 180 CV at 6,000 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. Another difference between the two powertrains is that the smaller-displacement one uses a lithium-ion battery, while the 2.0 uses a nickel-metal hydride one, which sits in the spare wheel well , somewhat reducing boot capacity.

We got behind the wheel of both the Hatchback with the 2.0-litre engine and the Touring Sports with both hearts. At first we noticed no major dynamic differences between the two body styles, the former simply being slightly lighter and, therefore, more lively on the road. Both powertrains are paired with an e-CVT gearbox which, in the case of the top-of-the-range engine, includes two paddles behind the steering wheel that seek to simulate gear changes through engine braking.

We must bear in mind that the new Toyota Corolla is a vehicle focused on comfort and very low consumption, so we should not expect sporty behaviour despite its styling. This is why the 1.8-litre engine is a faithful companion for tackling the urban world, where the electric heart will do most of the work. Its smoothness and ride comfort are impeccable, but when we press the right-hand pedal we miss a more forceful response, especially when overtaking.

Once the combustion engine kicks in, its rev range climbs to around 5,000 rpm, generating a constant noise that can become irritating. However, once things return to normal we find a very capable vehicle that will take us from A to B without any hardship. If we do not demand much from the Japanese compact’s engine, we get a very linear power delivery without fuss, which matches its dynamic behaviour perfectly.

We find a vehicle capable of offering a direct and firm cornering feel, an effect achieved thanks to a direct steering, although we would have liked a little more weight. On the other hand, the suspension tuning is very well achieved, offering a perfect balance between comfort and handling: the new Toyota Corolla can absorb every imperfection in the road with composure but, at the same time, we noticed no body roll either in the five-door or the estate.

Last but not least, we should highlight the behaviour of the 2.0-litre engine which, as we noted, is capable of delivering 180 CV and 190 Nm of torque. These figures give a firmer and more robust power delivery, making it feel like driving a heavier car. The paddles on the steering wheel let us play a little more with the engine’s gear selection and help us when overtaking or in manoeuvres where we need a firmer and quicker response. However, the way this powertrain behaves is quite similar to that of the smaller one, offering linear but reassuring behaviour.

Conclusion

The new Toyota Corolla does not only come to revive a legendary name within the Japanese firm, but also to keep making history. Toyota has very clear goals and wants to offer its customers a vehicle with a striking design, an interior with the latest technology and safe, correct behaviour, sweetened with fuel consumption typical of vehicles equipped with smaller and less powerful engines.

At the same time, Corolla customers will benefit from the much-anticipated ECO label , a very useful designation in cities such as Barcelona or Madrid. It will be granted regardless of the engine chosen, but we believe the 1.8-litre engine will be the more sensible choice if your intention is to drive exclusively in urban areas. If your goal is motorway or open-road driving, our advice is that customers consider the top-of-the-range engine.

With a starting price of €20,850, the new Toyota Corolla can already be ordered across the entire official dealer network in Spain. This figure will rise depending on the engine, trim and body style chosen, but the Japanese brand is clear that it wants to carve out a place in the market as one of the few manufacturers offering a hybrid vehicle at a price capable of challenging models such as the SEAT León or the Volkswagen Golf, two of the great benchmarks of the C-segment.

Technical specifications of this car

SedanToyota Corolla12 versions · from 31,400 €