THE Toyota Corolla only comes as a hybrid – which is actually good news because that means another quality car choice for those seeking alternatively fuelled cars.
Although the Japanese car giant never stopped selling the Corolla across the world, here in the UK it became the Auris for about 10 years.
But with a wave of its magic wand, Toyota decided to reinstate the Corolla to its rightful place on the forecourts of the nation’s dealerships – and in answer the Japanese manufacturer was sent a massive wave of affection.
It seems we in the UK retain a deep affection for the cars we remember from our childhood. “We received a lot of love after we announced the name was coming back,” said Richard Seymour, of Toyota.
“We wanted to create something different but that’s when we realised people still loved the Corolla. So, in homage to that car, we brought back the name.”
And the Corolla, like most everything else Toyota produces, is reliable, safe and, most importantly, takes to the road smoothly and efficiently, with absolutely no nonsense. This is Toyota’s great gift – that when they produce a car and tell you how it will work, that’s exactly what happens, with no fuss.
So here we have an attractive five-door hatch in top Excel trim, which in this case means it has black leather inside trimmed with red contrasting stitching. The dash is clean and uncluttered and the car can be set to Eco, Normal or Sport mode, which is when the speedometer lights up in red.
It can be used in electric mode around town to save petrol and reduce emissions or the electric motor will kick in and work in tandem with the internal combustion engine when you need a bit of power.
The battery is recharged by regenerative braking and there is a handy little graphic on the instrument binnacle to show you what is happening. When you are driving in EV mode, this is also when you will see a little green car light up on the instrument display.
The practical consequence of this is a CO2 emissions figure of just 89g/km for the 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid powertrain – great for road tax and air quality.
Toyota is a master in the environmental game. It has been making hybrids and going green long before these kind of measures were a glint in government eyes.
And it is not just excellent hybrid technology that makes the Corolla an attractive option for anyone considering a hybrid. Toyota has packed it full of all sorts of features and systems.
There’s park assist, a reversing camera and dual-zone air con, which is always a big hit with me. The infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen is also clear and easy to use.
From a safety point of view, there’s pre-collision assist, lane departure alert and lane trace assist, as well as sway warning and road sign assist. It comes with vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist and, for parents, there are ISOFIX point on the outer rear seats.
The Corolla comes from a fine heritage but now in this latest incarnation is set to do well for the next decade.
Factfile:
- Model: Toyota Corolla Excel hatchback
- Engine: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid
- Power: 180hp
- Top speed: 112mph
- 0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
- Average mpg: 50.4-53.2
- CO2 emissions: 89g/km
- Warranty: Five years/100,000 miles
- Price: £29,955
