Test of the new Toyota Corolla car

Driving through the busy rush hour of Marbella, Spain, I wonder if the driver of the oncoming Corolla has noticed that I’m coming towards him in the newly upgraded successor to his car. The best-selling car of all time, and one of the most reliable overall, is coming to the European market with a subtle facelift that only the trained eye will recognize from the outside. However, Toyota has improved its most successful model with a major technical innovation, and the most striking new imprints of Japanese engineers can be found under the hood.

The latest Corolla follows on from the Corolla Cross crossover introduced at the end of last year and is presented with the most modern fifth generation of the brand’s traditional hybrid drive. Even in the Czech Republic, Toyota is starting sales of the new Corolla with a new hybrid combined with a weaker 18-liter and a stronger two-liter. In crowded Spanish cities as well as on empty districts and highways, I get the opportunity to ride with both engines and I surprisingly come to the conclusion that I like the weaker one better.

Let’s introduce the new technique. Electrified four-cylinders are the heart of the fifth-generation fully hybrid drive with autonomous recharging, and they are now stronger and faster. Thanks to the latest evolution, it brings a new design of the energy control unit, a new 15 percent lighter e-CVT continuously variable transmission, a new calibration of the drive in favor of better driving pleasure and a more natural feeling during acceleration, and a new more compact and powerful lithium-ion battery. It is 14 percent lighter in weight and at the same time has 14 percent more power.

Experienced Toyota engineers worked on improving the efficiency of the hybrid, the continuous development of which they have been working on since the introduction of the first Prius into series production in 1997. With the new PCU energy management unit alone, they reduced the electrical losses of the drive unit – for the weaker 18-litre engine by 14 percent, for the more powerful two-liter engine by 14 percent 6 percent. In addition, a more modern oil with a lower viscosity, helping to reduce the internal third, also contributes to the overall improvement in operating efficiency.

For the latest Corolla, a weaker engine with a combustion unit with a displacement of 1.8 liters and a combined output of 140 hp (103 kW) or a more powerful 2.0 liter unit with a total power of 196 hp (144 kW) is available in the Czech Republic. Not only that, Toyota also succeeded in reducing CO emissions2 per kilometer by 2 grams (a total of 100 g/km) for the 18-litre and 12 grams for the two-litre (a total of 98 g/km), but at the same time it also improved the acceleration of both variants. The weaker nove accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds (-1.8 s), the stronger one in 7.4 seconds (- 0.5 s).

The theory is over. It was lengthy, but necessary to learn about the most fundamental innovations of the modernized Corolla. Now you’re no doubt wondering how the new Corolla drives in the real world. Let’s zoom in. First, I get behind the wheel of a more powerful two-liter and drive on a long route leading through busy and sleepy towns, districts in the hills and along the highway. And I’m curious to see if the more powerful model will perform as well as the recently introduced Corolla Cross.

With a two-liter hybrid, the popular Corolla is pleasantly dynamic, mainly thanks to the immediate, more direct response of the electric motor, but unfortunately also noisier. Especially during more vigorous accelerations or on long climbs, the four-cylinder connected to the continuously variable automatic transmission revs up and makes itself known. But Toyota has worked on the overall flow of power, and the hybrid drive feels gradated during acceleration, so that the feeling of weak acceleration as with previous models does not repeat itself.

However, even the two-liter Corolla calms down afterwards and is generally comfortable and relatively quiet even during highway movements. And this is the main attraction of the stronger variant, because at our first acquaintance it seems like a more suitable version for people who often travel on the roads or highways. However, most Corolla drivers are more likely to move around in cities, where they take advantage of one of the most efficient hybrid drives in the world.

And when I switch to a weaker 1800 two hours later, I realize that I would rather choose this one for everyday life in cities. Driving dynamics are understandably weaker and fuel consumption is lower on Spanish roads, but noise is essential for me. The slower Corolla is also more refined and quieter to drive. Even the sharp acceleration uphill is not as loud as with the more powerful two-liter variant, and other colleagues confirm that they notice it too.

Weaker and stronger Corollas have an edge over their competitors thanks to the comfort chassis technologies. As standard, all models are manufactured with multi-link rear suspension, which makes them more comfortable and more willing to go through corners. In addition, technicians have improved the prediction of recuperation, which, in cooperation with navigation, stores regular routes in memory, adapts the operation of the hybrid drive to them, and during predictive control of the system, monitors ascents, descents and traffic density in real time. This has a beneficial effect on fuel consumption, as newer hybrids use even more electricity.

Here in Spain, however, we only have one day to get to know the latest Corolla. The automaker also improved today’s twelfth generation model with a subtle styling rejuvenation, equipping it with new LED headlights with a new light signature inspired by the letter “J”, a new radiator grille, new fog lamp frames or new alloy wheel designs. And the body colors are also new – Juniper blue as the main color of the new hatchback and Touring Sports station wagon, blue-green for the sedan and ash gray for all three variants.

In the modernized interior, we can find an improved offer of safety, assistance and parking assistants Toyota T-Mate, more modern digital technology of the user environment with a 12.3″ digital instrument panel and 8 or 10.5″ Toyota Smart Connect touch infotainment with new graphics. Also new are the decors and upholstery, with the Touring Sports hatchback and estate having the typical dark interior theme, while the sedan impresses with a brighter light environment.

The Toyota Corolla is the second best-selling new car in the popular C segment in the Czech Republic, and the brand’s Czech representative office adds that it already has more than 1,900 signed orders for the newly introduced facelifted variant. Up to 75 percent of all new Corollas in the Czech Republic have a hybrid drive, while the greatest interest is in the Touring Sports station wagon with a 60 percent market share. It is followed by the sedan with 38 percent and, surprisingly, the elegant hatchback with just two percent.

The new Toyota Corolla in the 18-seat body variant in the Czech Republic starts with a basic price of CZK 667,900, while for the more powerful two-liter you will pay at least CZK 782,900. The more practical Touring Sports station wagon with an 18-seater costs from 697,900 CZK, with a two-liter from 812,900 CZK.