Toyota’s new Corolla blends sharper style with upgraded features

Toyota has introduced its 12th-generation Corolla to the local market.

Although the sedan segment might not nearly be as popular as it was in the late 1990s, Toyota has endured and demand for Corolla remains strong.

Taxi, Uber and fleet users value the Corolla highly, for its blend of comfort and durability. With this latest model, Toyota shows that its design team can be daring. With its large and dramatically edge-shaped headlamps, this is the most boldly styled Corolla in years.

The new Corolla range has been greatly simplified too, offering only three derivatives. One of these is powered by a 1.8-litre engine, with the other two driven along by a 2-litre capacity powerplant. There are two gearbox option for new Corolla, a continuously-variable transmission or six-speed manual.

Entry pricing to the new Corolla is set at R372 700, which buys the 1.8 XS. Its engine is good for 104kW and 171Nm. Those numbers convert to a claimed 0-100kph acceleration run of 10.5 seconds and top speed of 195kph.

Specification for the 1.8 XS includes cruise control and a reversing camera. Safety is catered for with seven airbags and infotainment provided by Toyota’s Display Audio system, , which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality). Aware of South African rural road conditions, Toyota has mindfully included a full-size spare wheel.

Cheaper of the 2-litre Corolla variants, is the 2.0 XR six-speed manual, at R412 300. It is powered by a 125kW engine, which managed 0-100kph in 8 seconds.

There are generous equipment upgrades in the step from XS to XR specification, with the latter adding adaptive cruise control, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, brake assist and lane-departure alert.

Rounding off the new Corolla range is Toyota’s 2.0 XR CVT, priced at R425 500. It uses the same 125kW 2-litre engine, but with the benefit of intelligent shift technology, Toyota is claiming average consumption of only 6l/100km.

Feature image: Toyota