There’s no denying that Toyota is one of the best automotive brands in the world, and that’s simply because they create vehicles that people want to buy. They look great, feel great and rarely let you down. One of the models that has spearheaded their brand is the Corolla; it’s the best-selling car ever, and since it’s inception 50 years ago, 44 million have been sold and counting.
That highlights Toyota know how to make an awesome car. But, they now want to tap into other markets with the Corolla, which is why they’ve manufactured the Corolla Hatchback. Personally, we feel they’ve done an outstanding job with it, and it’s a vehicle that could honestly appeal to any age group.
As soon as you spot the car from a distance, you think ‘WOW’. That’s especially the case if it’s dressed in its Blue Flame colourway. Although, there are 2 other colourways, and they too look incredible. The exterior is built to look sleek, compact and mean, with smooth lines and sporty aesthetics.
You’ll find J-shaped, curved LED lights, both at the front and rear, with chrome surrounds. Everything points to it being a hot hatch – the dual exhaust system, the aggressive grill at the front and the optional spoiler that slides naturally off the roof line. But, let us assure you, it definitely isn’t a hot hatch. We’ll explain why when we get to the performance, but first let’s delve into the interior.
Toyota have chosen to go with a simplistic feel to the Corolla Hatchback. There’s no unnecessary features, there’s no clutter and there’s certainly no wasted space. Even the dashboard is very minimalistic. You’ll find an array of controls which cater for the climate and volume, and then a raised 8-inch touch screen for the infotainment system just above it. The infotainment system is jam-packed with technological features, though, including Apple CarPlay and Alexa voice-command.
As for the appearance inside the cabin – it’s stunning. There’s sport-style seats which are wrapped in a soft leather, which is contrasted nicely by the cloth material around the rest of the cabin, and that sets it apart from most other hatchbacks. If you really want to go all out with your driving experience, you can purchase the JLB eight-speaker audio system from the optional extras.
Now, moving on to the performance. Toyota have gone with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine to be the workhorse of the vehicle. That produces an acceptable 168-BHP and 151 pound-feet of torque, but can you see why it’s far from a hot hatch? All of that power is pushed through a 6-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching technology, or a Dynamic-Shift CVT if that’s your preference. Despite the horsepower and torque not being enough to blow your socks off, it still feels pretty nippy from a standstill and you can feel the pull as you progress into higher speeds.
With the utilization of Toyota’s own platform – TNGA – with superb traction control and lowered centre of gravity, you’ll have bundles of fun putting it through its paces around twisting bends. In addition, Active Cornering Assist will bolster your steering and prevent any understeer if you slightly tap the brakes.
No matter what driving mode you put it in, you’ll notice how exceptional the steering is; it’s as light as a feather, but still sharp and accurate at the same time. However, if you do decide to whack it into sport mode, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It opens up the throttle which makes the accelerator more sensitive, throws more revs into each gear, and if you’ve opted for the Dynamic-Shift CVT transmission, allow you to stay in gears for longer. Plus, with that transmission, the paddle shifters will make it feel like it’s a 10-speed automatic.
All in all, it’s hard not to be excited about the Toyota Corolla Hatchback. If you place it side by side with its competitors, there’s a strong chance it will come out on top in every department. There’s plenty of safety features, comfortable cabin, phenomenal performance for what it is and a sexy exterior – everything you want from a hatchback.
The pricing structure has still not been released or confirmed, but judging by its competitors, the base price should come in around the $20,000 mark. If that’s the case, it’ll be a hell of a bargain!
Tags: Toyota, Toyota Corolla, Hatchback, Reviews