Is it as good as it looks?
After a trip under the name Auris, the Toyota Corolla has been back in Europe since 2019. It’s an instant hit. With its sharp looks and – in most cases – hybrid powertrain, the new model has already attracted at least 17,500 Dutch people to the showroom. 43 of them share their experiences on AutoWeek.nl. How do you like the C-segmenter in practice?
A strong asset of the Auris is the presence of a station variant under the name Touring Sports. This body style is traditionally strong in our country, so it will come as no surprise to anyone that a large proportion of the cars described here are designed as such.
Space and comfort
The choice for a station wagon is not an unnecessary luxury. When Corolla drivers complain about the lack of space, it’s mainly about their hatchback. “Rear legroom is rather tight with the hatchback,” according to the owner of a black 2.0 Hybrid Premium. He finds not only the legroom too modest: “I also overestimated the trunk space. It is really not enough for a C-segmenter.”
The station wagon is also not a gigantic space miracle, describes a parent. “The seating space in the back doesn’t really cut it if you’re dealing with taller kids.” Once seated, the rear seat turns out to be relatively short, something we see more often in modern cars. It turns out to be no problem for this owner. “In the back, the seats are a bit too short, but that doesn’t bother me,” he writes with a wink.
Better for drivers
Driver and co-driver are better off, although the seating furniture is not free of comment here either. The short seat cushions in particular are regularly mentioned, even by drivers who are not above average in height. “Would have liked a little more support with my not-so-massive six-foot-tall, it would have been so much more relaxed on longer rides.” Perhaps a different implementation could have made the difference. “There are fantastic sports seats in my Executive,” writes the owner of a hatchback, “I (1.86 meters) sit nice and comfortable in them.”
Taller people get into trouble even faster. “Quite a nice interior, but not suitable for tall people,” concludes the owner of a Corolla 2.0 Touring Sports.
Most criticism is about the space for loose items. This appears to be quite limited, regardless of body shape. “The storage compartments in the front doors are small and awkwardly shaped,” we read. Another writer knows how to hit the AutoWeek reader: “barely even a magazine fits in the side pockets.”
How does the Corolla drive?
Drivers are almost unanimously positive about the chassis and handling of the Corolla. “Compared to the Auris, the driving characteristics have improved considerably on all fronts. Calmer, firmer, quieter and more relaxed are actually the words that come to mind.” The seamless transition between the electric and petrol engine is praised by several drivers.
The 2.0 ‘High Power Hybrid’ also lives up to expectations in most cases. “The driving characteristics are really good, especially for this class,” writes the regular driver of a hatchback after 27,000 km, “The automatic transmission is extremely comfortable and the handling is actually more than fine in the C-segment.” The owner of a GR Sport version had different expectations. “It may be quite fast, but the experience is really zero. The chassis screams for more power or at least for more pit.”
The Corolla is not a logical caravan tractor, with its maximum towing weight of 750 kg. That does not prevent this driver from traveling to Italy with a light Kip Shelter on the towbar. “What a good draft horse that Corolla turned out to be! Once properly loaded, apart from the fact that you accelerate more slowly, you really don’t feel much of the caravan.”
Infotainment and updates
As befits a modern car, the Corolla has an extensive infotainment system. Owners are not entirely satisfied with its operation, which we have already seen with the Toyota RAV4. “For a 2019 car, I don’t think it feels technologically advanced. I expected more from the best-selling brand in the world,” writes the owner of a 2.0 Hybrid Premium.
“The screen is small and of low resolution. Also the slowness is really just irritating,” notes another, “Android Auto has been my life saver.” Android Auto and competitor Apple CarPlay were not present in the infotainment system from the start. New cars have had this functionality as standard since October 2019, previously delivered models received an update in the autumn of 2020 that enables the use of this telephone link. The update can be performed at a Toyota dealer.
Driving assistance
The Corolla comes with optional driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Owners report varying experiences with these systems. One thinks that Toyota has mastered these systems and dares to let his car run its course with ‘lane trace assist’. Others don’t like the regular lane correction: “I have now experienced a number of times that when switching on, the car steers towards the line, corrects, overshoots to the right line and corrects again.”
A Belgian owner also has driving aids on board and has the following experience: “I was not enthusiastic about the LTA (Lane Trace Assist) and LDA (Lane Departure Alert) at first. After almost three years, I can say that both systems intervene less than in the beginning. Exactly whether the system is self-learning, or is it me who has adapted?”
For those who are not a fan of adaptive cruise control, there is good news: the system can easily be used in the Corolla as a regular cruise control. You do this by pressing the activation button of the system for three seconds.
Malfunctions Toyota Corolla
Toyota aficionados will say that the headline contains a contradiction in terms. Judging by the experiences of Corolla drivers on this site, they are almost completely right. Structural problems do not seem to occur, except for an incident with a non-closing tailgate, the car appears to be very reliable. However, several drivers report rattles and creaks in the interior.
In short, does the Corolla taste like more? According to this owner of a Corolla Touring Sports 2.0 Hybrid GR Sport Plus, despite the heated seat and tailgate incident: “I have to drive hybrid or electric and want a higher model. After a test drive, the choice has now fallen on… a Corolla Cross.”
This Corolla has now been given a facelift and renewed powertrains. You can read and see how the AutoWeek editors like it on Monday 20 February.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl