By Paul Gover.
Back in the day, the Toyota Corolla was the best – first and only – choice for a small car.
If you didn’t have enough money, the Mitsubishi Lancer was first runner-up among the Japanese babies.
The Corolla still has a solid reputation in Australia and a growing number of people are looking at the hybrid version for short-haul city work.
But, how does it score in 2019, not back in 1969, or ’79, or ’99?
The honest answer is that the Corolla’s heydays here are gone, as Toyota has failed to even keep pace – let alone stay ahead – of the latest developments at the affordable end of new-car showrooms. Korea now makes cars as good, or better, than Japanese brands and does a lot better on value.
The latest Corolla is a good looker and has the T-badge that has driven generations of Australians, but Kia and Hyundai are now the benchmark.
Toyota has polished the car’s reputation with a hybrid drive system, combining battery-electric drive with a claimed fuel economy of just 4.2 litres/100kilometre, around 30 per cent better than a pure-petrol Corolla.
It’s also around $8000 less than the cheapest Prius, the hybrid that was first into the market and has been a huge success.
But there are some buts, including the loss of boot space to the hybrid battery. There are only 217 litres of storage in the tail.
The Corolla is a quiet drive and the around-town economy is impressive. The seats are well shaped and supportive, the instruments are simple and clear, and it has enough safety equipment to do the job.
But the transmission is noisy and unresponsive, a Hyundai i30 is much more spritely in city traffic, and the Kia Cerato is smooth in the suspension with better grip in bends.
For me, the deal breaker is the boot. There isn’t one, unless you only carry a gym bag or laptop pack, and anyone with a pram will have to fold the back seat to take it along.
Toyota has finally recognised that Corolla buyers are demanding Apple CarPlay, but its addition has put an extra $500 onto the price tag, and the headlights are feeble for country driving.
The Corolla name still resonates in Australia, but the reality in 2019 is that it’s no longer the class benchmark, even as a trendy hybrid.
If you want a Toyota hybrid then the Camry is the best choice today, while a Hyundai or Kia is a smarter selection as a small car.
THE BASICS
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Price: from $25,870
Power: 72kW/140Nm
Position: small hatch
Plus: frugal, reliable, great air-con
Minus: tiny boot, poor value, noisy on highways
THE TICK: No
