The highest-selling Toyota Corolla has been tweaked each inside and outside for 2023.
Highlights embody a extra highly effective petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, up to date expertise, and a few beauty modifications.
The mid-spec 2023 Corolla SX Hybrid Hatch on check right here may be distinguished by the brand new 16-inch wheels it shares with the entry-level Ascent Sport, in addition to the LED entrance fog lights and privateness glass.
The Corolla has been Australia’s top-selling passenger automobile for 10 years and competes towards the likes of the Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato, Mazda 3, and Volkswagen Golf.
The small SUV phase can also be heating up, placing the Corolla towards rivals such because the associated Toyota Corolla Cross, in addition to the GWM Haval Jolion, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, and MG ZS in the hunt for economy-minded motoring.
Positive the Corolla could also be a top-seller, however is it nonetheless convincing in 2023 with this mid-life replace?
How a lot does the Toyota Corolla Hatch SX Hybrid value?
The Toyota Corolla SX is the mid-spec variant within the vary. In hybrid hatch type it’s $34,280 earlier than on-road prices, which is $2500 costlier than the non-hybrid.
Our tester was completed in Sunstone Orange metallic paint, which is new for 2023 and prices an extra $575, bringing the overall to $34,855 earlier than on-road prices.
It’s at the moment priced at $39,251 drive-away for Victorian patrons (every state has barely totally different taxes).
There aren’t many hybrid opponents to the Corolla SX Hybrid in the identical bracket.
Two of its closest opponents could be the GWM Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid and Honda HR-V e:HEV L, that are each an SUVs and are at the moment priced at $39,990 drive-away and $47,000 drive-away, respectively.
Inside Toyota are a lot of alternate options together with the Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid ($35,500), Yaris Cross City 2WD Hybrid ($35,840), and Camry Ascent Hybrid ($34,990).
Should you’re not determined for a hybrid, the Corolla additionally competes towards a diminishing variety of small passenger automobiles priced equally.
These embody the Mazda 3 G20e Evolve M Hybrid ($33,340), Hyundai i30 N Line DCT ($32,220), Kia Cerato Sport+ ($31,440), and Volkswagen Golf 110TSI ($35,190).
2023 Toyota Corolla pricing:
- Corolla Ascent Sport hatch: $28,630
- Corolla Ascent Sport sedan: $28,630
- Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid hatch: $31,130
- Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid sedan: $31,680
- Corolla SX hatch: $31,780
- Corolla SX sedan: $31,780
- Corolla SX Hybrid hatch: $34,280
- Corolla SX Hybrid sedan: $34,280
- Corolla ZR hatch: $35,620
- Corolla ZR sedan: $37,120
- Corolla ZR Hybrid hatch: $38,120
- Corolla ZR Hybrid sedan: $39,620
All costs exclude on-road prices
What’s theToyota Corolla Hatch SX Hybrid like on the within?
The inside of the Toyota Corolla has traditionally been considered as largely purposeful, but perhaps somewhat appliance-like.
The up to date Corolla SX Hybrid on check right here brightens issues up within the a few of the most-needed areas, regardless of its darkish color palette.
The fabric seats are inoffensive by way of design and have some funky-looking inserts, together with hexagonal components on the seat again and base.
The entrance seats have a sporty look and are manually adjustable. They’re very comfy to take a seat in, though the driving force’s seat may do with a bit extra lumbar assist to make it excellent. The wheel is nice to carry with its synthetic leather-based trim, and the buttons are logically positioned with a pleasant, tactile click on.
Forward of the driving force is a brand new 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster that’s largely darkish and has one important format consisting a round cost/eco/energy dial that mimics a rev counter. It undoubtedly appears to be like prefer it may very well be changed with a bodily dial at first look.
I primarily had the cluster on the ‘Vitality Monitor’ web page the place it reveals the workings of the hybrid system. It’s very fascinating to look at how quickly the high-voltage battery can cost with on a regular basis driving in city areas.
The digital instrument cluster has a lot of different pages, together with Eco Rating, EV Ratio, radar cruise, gasoline financial system, and a compass. You’ll be able to select between three designs for the cluster, known as Informal’, ‘Sensible’, and ‘Sporty’.
Transferring throughout to the centre of the sprint, the brand new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a big enchancment to thanks partially to its high-resolution show. It’s technically the identical measurement because the pre-update mannequin, however it’s an enormous step up by way of high quality.
The show does have giant black bezels and a quantity knob on the fallacious facet (for right-hand drive) although, with the bodily sizzling key buttons getting the axe.
The system itself packs a good quantity of processing energy, which suggests pages load rapidly and also you don’t have to attend lengthy for it to fireside up when the automotive’s switched on.
There are fresh-looking layouts which can be clearly impressed by the newest Lexus system, although navigating by way of them with the beeping suggestions that comes with each display press can get annoying. Fortunately you may swap this off.
The SX receives satellite tv for pc navigation as commonplace, which appears to be like and feels up-to-date. It’s extraordinarily straightforward to seek for places and factors of curiosity.
One new function each single 2023 mannequin yr Corolla receives is wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It appears to be like fairly sharp on the brand new display, and I didn’t expertise any main points or dropouts all through my time with the automotive.
There’s additionally a wi-fi cellphone charger that really labored with my iPhone 12 Professional Max. It’s positioned in a handy spot on the entrance of the centre tunnel with a raised border to maintain your cellphone in place.
Should you don’t wish to use wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto you can even plug your cellphone into one of many new USB-C ports. There’s one within the centre console and one other hidden on the dashboard close to the wi-fi cellphone charger.
Underneath the touchscreen are bodily local weather management buttons and dials which can be unchanged from the pre-update mannequin. To the left of the driving force’s knee is a synthetic leather-wrapped gear selector, in addition to buttons for the ‘EV Mode’, traction management, and drive modes.
This explicit part of the centre tunnel is roofed in piano black which acquired actually dusty and smudgy over the week we had the automotive. It even had scratches though the automotive was nearly brand-new.
Fortunately, the centre console is roofed in largely delicate plastics, apart from the pesky piano black, however you don’t have look far to search out some more durable plastics – though the entrance armrests really feel spongy and cozy for any journey.
The cabin as a complete feels fairly darkish and virtually claustrophobic at instances because of all the pieces being 50 shades of black. This isn’t helped by the black headlining.
There’s a brand new auto-dimming rear-view mirror as a part of the 2023 mannequin yr replace that works as supposed and bodily shakes if you pump the six-speaker sound system.
Transferring to the second row you begin to really feel such as you shouldn’t be there as a result of there aren’t any air vents or USB ports.
At a leggy 182cm I needed to splay my legs both facet of the seat in entrance to get settled. I had simply sufficient headroom, in addition to somewhat little bit of toe room.
I undoubtedly couldn’t journey within the again for longer journeys, although the rear bench seat itself is completely sufficient, plus the door armrest and fold-down centre armrest are properly padded.
It’s protected to say the again seat must be reserved for teenagers, though I’d like to see somebody attempt to put a rear-facing child seat in and attempt to sit comfy within the seat in entrance.
There are three headrests and three seatbelts on the bench, although I wouldn’t suggest going over two passengers within the again in any other case issues will begin to get very squishy.
The boot measures in at a tiny 217L due partially to the high-voltage battery and area saver spare tyre.
The boot itself is somewhat awkwardly formed with my work backpack unable to take a seat upright with out lifting the parcel shelf. There are deep areas on each side for free objects although.
One neat function within the boot is the parcel shelf has a loop in it to assist maintain the false flooring up so you may entry the spare tyre. That is very helpful for these of you who’ve skilled altering a tyre.
What’s below the bonnet?
The up to date hybrid vary is powered by an upgraded petrol-electric hybrid system consisting of a 1.8-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine, an “enhanced” entrance axle-mounted electrical drive motor, a brand new high-output motor generator, a revised energy management unit, and a downsized hybrid transaxle.
Whole system output is 103kW, which is 13kW greater than the pre-update model. Toyota doesn’t quote a mixed torque determine.
Corolla Hybrid variants now obtain a lithium-ion battery, which replaces the previous nickel steel hydride unit. This new battery is claimed to scale back weight by 14 per cent, in addition to improve each enter and output energy.
Drive is shipped completely to the entrance wheels by way of a continuously-variable transmission (CVT).
Claimed mixed gasoline financial system for the Corolla Hybrid hatch is 4.0L/100km, and through our time with our Corolla SX Hybrid hatch tester we noticed that actual common gasoline consumption determine over 500km of freeway and metropolis driving.
All Corolla Hybrid variants include a 43L gasoline tank and may be fuelled with a minimal of 91 RON common unleaded petrol.
How does theToyota Corolla Hatch SX Hybrid drive?
Turning on the Toyota Corolla Hybrid with a push of its shiny blue begin button is intriguing each time since you anticipate there to be a surge from its petrol engine, however for probably the most half there isn’t.
What you get as a substitute is a delicate beep and that’s it. The automotive is on and able to go.
There are a number of exceptions to this rule as I did expertise the petrol engine switching on at startup when it was actually chilly and when the high-voltage battery was largely depleted.
Even when the automotive did this the petrol engine wasn’t obnoxiously loud, however it did throw off the zen-like feeling of electrical automobile (EV) silence.
When you get shifting you begin to realise the Corolla Hybrid is a little bit of a silent operator, particularly at low speeds.
From 0-40km/h you’ll be maintaining with (or pulling forward of) virtually all of the visitors on the lights. It does the vast majority of this on electrical energy solely. That is thanks partially to the “enhanced” entrance axle-mounted electrical motor for the 2023 replace, in addition to the brand new lithium-ion battery pack.
Should you do push the accelerator more durable or have the automotive in “Energy Mode”, the petrol engine surges to life and help the electrical motor. This could be a bit intrusive at instances as a result of the petrol engine likes to rev fairly arduous when electrical energy dwindles.
Even with its comparatively small high-voltage battery pack in comparison with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full EVs, the Corolla Hybrid likes to maintain its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain in EV mode in city driving eventualities as a lot as attainable.
There’s a devoted “EV Mode” that locks the Corolla Hybrid into utilizing its electrical motor solely. This may be simply overridden by urgent the accelerator barely too arduous, or travelling too quick.
Throughout one journey into the workplace in unhealthy visitors I used the electrical motor for 82 per cent of the 45-minute journey. It was like a sport making an attempt to maintain the automotive utilizing electric-only energy and to attain the very best attainable “Eco Rating”. I used to be capable of obtain this ratio by leveraging regenerative braking as a lot as attainable.
The Corolla Hybrid doesn’t have a one-pedal braking operate and as a substitute has a small quantity of regenerative braking factored in if you take your foot off the accelerator, and much more if you begin to apply the brakes.
For probably the most half the regenerative braking feels pure, although there have been instances the place it was obvious the bodily brakes bit somewhat too arduous when coming to a whole cease.
The regenerative braking additionally negates that annoying CVT pace creeping you typically get when travelling down a hill.
The Corolla Hybrid does have a braking or “B” operate that may be activated by shifting the gear selector down one notch from “D”. This operate is to assist the automotive decelerate faster, however I discovered it simply switched the petrol engine on and made it rev so it may engine brake.
When you get the Corolla Hybrid on the freeway and away from the town, the hybrid system isn’t fairly as useful. It’s clearly geared extra in direction of city driving however can nonetheless do the odd rural stint with no fuss in anyway.
At increased speeds the petrol engine is on continuously to maintain the automotive going, and the electrical motor helps out because the petrol engine’s revs down. It undoubtedly doesn’t really feel as speedy because it does from standstill, with 80-100km/h taking a good whereas.
No matter the place you’re driving although you’ll even be getting unbelievable gasoline financial system.
All through my 500km of testing on totally different city and rural journeys I used to be capable of get the Corolla Hybrid’s gasoline consumption as little as 3.1L/100km and no increased than 5.1L/100km.
As famous earlier, I averaged round 4.0L/100km over 500km of driving. Utilizing this common gasoline financial system as a information you may get roughly 1000km on a tank.
Toyota has carried out an excellent job dialling within the suspension tune for the Corolla Hybrid, because it strikes a pleasant steadiness between feeling compliant and managed over all of the lumps and bumps of each city and rural driving.
That is helped by the comparatively small 16-inch alloy wheels with chubby tyres that may assist absorb the imperfections.
Regardless of being heavier than petrol-only fashions because of its high-voltage battery, the Corolla Hybrid nonetheless manages to really feel full of life on the street. It feels extraordinarily nimble and virtually encourages you to drive faster.
At increased speeds this interprets to feeling planted, predicable, and controllable. When you’re at freeway speeds the Corolla Hybrid feels prefer it may keep there ceaselessly.
The adaptive cruise management system within the Corolla Hybrid for probably the most half works nicely. For 2023 the cruise management can now apply the brakes if you’re travelling too quick to maintain you at your set pace. Beforehand the automotive would go over the set cruise management and play an annoying chime to inform you to decelerate.
The radar cruise system likes to brake early which may be each useful and irritating when navigating peak-hour visitors.
Lastly, the lane-keeping and emergency steering assists work fairly nicely. There have been solely a few instances the automotive acquired a bit confused the place the lane markings have been and tried to steer me within the fallacious course.
What do you get?
Corolla SX hatch highlights:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Short-term spare wheel
- Automated LED headlights
- Automated high-beam
- LED daytime working lights
- LED tail lights
- LED entrance fog lamps
- LED rear fog lamp
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- Auto-retracting door mirrors
- Heated door mirrors
- Privateness glass
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 6-speaker sound system
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- 2 x USB-C ports
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Keyless entry
- Push-button begin
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
- Leatherette-wrapped gear lever
- Paddle shifters (excludes hybrid)
- Electrical park brake
- Material upholstery
- Toyota Linked Providers with Distant Join (12 months)
The Corolla SX Sedan receives single-zone local weather management as a substitute of dual-zone local weather management.
Corolla ZR hatch provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- ‘Excessive-grade’ LED headlights
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Head-up show
- 8-speaker JBL sound system
- Inside ambient lighting
- Leather-based accented and fake suede upholstery
- Heated entrance sport seats
- 8-way energy adjustable driver’s seat
- Driver’s seat lumbar assist
The Corolla ZR sedan receives a nine-speaker JBL sound system as a substitute, in addition to leatherette upholstery.
Is theToyota Corolla Hatch SX Hybrid protected?
The Toyota Corolla has a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out in 2018.
It acquired scores of 96 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 83 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 86 per cent for susceptible street person safety, and 76 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security options for the hatch vary embody:
- Seven airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Bicycle owner detection
- Motorbike detection
- Junction help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Protected exit help
- Rear cross-traffic alert (non-compulsory on Ascent Sport)
- Lane Hint Help
- Lane departure warning
- Emergency steering help
- Emergency Driving Cease System
- Velocity signal recognition
- Adaptive cruise management
- Reversing digital camera
- Entrance, rear parking sensors (non-compulsory on Ascent Sport)
- Seatbelt warning
The Corolla Sedan vary doesn’t have any parking sensors, plus blind-spot monitoring with protected exit help and rear cross-traffic alert are non-compulsory on the Ascent Sport and Ascent Sport Hybrid.
How a lot does theToyota Corolla Hatch SX Hybrid value to run?
The Corolla Hybrid, like all Toyota fashions, is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee that may be prolonged one other two years in case you service inside the Toyota vendor community.
The high-voltage lithium-ion battery can also be lined by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee that may be prolonged to 10 years in case you service inside the Toyota vendor community and have the annual hybrid well being checks.
Logbook servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, with the primary 5 providers capped at $245 every. This equates to $1225 over 5 years.
CarExpert’s Tackle theToyota Corolla Hatch SX Hybrid
The Toyota Corolla is a good automotive – it’s no surprise it has been the top-selling passenger automotive for 10 years working.
Toyota has carried out an excellent job sprucing up the Corolla each inside and outside with the 2023 model-year replace. The brand new infotainment system was desperately wanted.
Regardless of all of the positives, the Corolla Hatch’s second row continues to be cramped with barely any facilities, and the boot is genuinely small. It’s effective for only one or two folks.
The Corolla SX Hybrid hatchback guise shapes because the choose of the Corolla vary if you wish to get the real fuel-saving advantages of the petrol-electric hybrid system, in addition to all of the out there security options as commonplace.
Positive the mid-range Corolla SX mightn’t look as flash or sporty because the Corolla ZR hatch, however its smaller 16-inch alloy wheels assist with journey high quality, and it has sturdy material upholstery as a substitute of leather-based and fake suede upholstery.
Should you’re budget-minded you would go for the entry-level Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, however you’ll must pay additional for an possibility pack that will get you options equivalent to rear-cross visitors alert and entrance and rear parking sensors.
Additionally in case you’re after a bit extra inside area, you would select a similarly-priced Corolla Sedan, Corolla Cross crossover, or Camry as a substitute.
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MORE: Every part Toyota Corolla