The Toyota Corolla is in a higher market segment than the Toyota Yaris. In this test, between two Toyota models, can we expect a more mature car in other respects in addition to extra space, or are we doing the Yaris short with that? And how far is the manufacturer going to push through its brand identity? We find out in a test between the two Toyota models. A double test that we give in the magazine the rubric name Class Battle.
Packing
Two melodious names cross swords today. The Toyota Yaris is named after the Greek goddess Charis with, among other things, charm in her portfolio. This compact Toyota model came on the market in 1999 and received a warm welcome, because the first generation Yaris made it to Car of the Year 2000. We have now arrived at the fourth generation, which entered the arena last summer and meanwhile his rounds are dribbling through our endurance bead. The bigger size is called Corolla. No nameplate in the world has featured as often on an automobile as Corolla, although the model was called Auris between 2006 and 2018 (with the exception of the sedan). Insignificant detail? Then know that our news item from two years ago, in which we announced the return of the name Corolla, is among the most clicked of 2018.
Boring
Whoever says Toyota says hybrid and that alone is reason enough to compare both models with that powertrain. And since the importer was very generous in awarding our endurance test Yaris and putting it on the doorstep as Launch Edition, an Executive with a few extras, let’s push the Corolla as Executive as well. If there is one thing that is clear from the first second, it is that Toyota has managed to shake off its somewhat boring image with this new Yaris. That is not only, but to a large extent, in the roof line and the C-pillar, which are much more slender and also look extra good in this two-tone color scheme. Those slender lines and slanted stern also have their price, and it will not surprise you that they have to be paid in the interior space. But more on that later. The rear wheel arches have been knocked out considerably and that gives the Yaris, together with the Darth Vader-like grille and angry-looking headlights, a nice potent appearance.
When you see them next to each other, the difference in height is evident. The Corolla is lower, but also wider and longer, making it a lot more ‘serious’ on the retina. This impression is reinforced by the wide and low horizontal lines in its front view. It may look a bit more anonymous than its smaller brother, but the Corolla also makes a convincing step towards a less boring appearance for the brand. The rear lights are also low and wide and are part of a kind of cross-shaped fold that extends into the bumpers. Just like the Yaris, this Corolla has a large roof spoiler to give it some extra visual zest. Set of nice wheels on it, nothing more to do. And that goes for both.
Workplace
The very first Yaris astonished friend and foe with its dashboard, a kind of deep, centrally placed tunnel with an extremely futuristic-looking 3D display. Unfortunately, it disappeared in the history books a long time ago, but there were other beautiful things in return. Toyota has taken great care of the dashboard in this fourth generation Yaris. The materials are, with the exception of some less successful plastics here and there, of excellent quality, but it is mainly the design that will make the owner happy. This top version has a digital clock cluster, of which the two main displays are incorporated in originally formed tunnels. The dashboard consists of two levels, with two practical storage compartments in between. Unfortunately, only the one in the middle has a non-slip bottom. In the center of the dashboard is a nice large screen, which is a touchscreen but is also flanked by a number of physical buttons. The navigation is sometimes a bit slow, so you just press something when the screen jumps and therefore enter the wrong street. The music is provided by JBL and sounds above average, with sparkling highs and solid basses.
The seat upholstery has a beautiful, 3D-like diamond pattern that significantly enhances the feeling of luxury. It is quite a compromise in the back seat. Even for a car in this segment it is very tight there. The trunk also does not break pots with its 286 liters. Remind the kids to charge their devices before departure as there is only one USB port on board.
The family ties are not to be missed, yet the Corolla’s cockpit is not just that of the Yaris with a little extra. The clock cluster is somewhat more conventional in terms of overall design. But the layout makes it nice and high-tech, with even – not self-evident with a hybrid with stepless automatic transmission – a rev counter.
RICH AND LUXURIOUS
The screen and navigation are identical, the added value of the Corolla is in, among other things, the beautiful leather with red stitching on the dashboard. That gives this interior a very rich, luxurious atmosphere. The steering wheel is, just like in the Yaris, exuberantly covered with buttons, so that you can operate a lot with both hands on the wheel. That busyness does mean that they are small buttons with ditto icons. For reading glasses wearers it is therefore important to know the buttons by heart, all the more because the layout is somewhat illogical. For example, the audio buttons are partly on the left and partly on the right. Furthermore, remarkably enough, you have to save for the Premium for the JBL speakers that are in the Yaris Executive (even from the Style) with the Corolla. Apparently Toyota thinks that the younger target group of the Yaris is more sensitive to hip brands and that may be the case, but the older buyer is just as sensitive to refined sound reproduction. That’s certainly not bad in the Corolla, but less dynamic than in the Yaris. Those who prefer the Corolla over the Yaris because of the space, should definitely sit in the back. Because although the Yaris is very tight there, the rear seat space in the Corolla is downright disappointing. And the Corolla’s luggage space is also not groundbreaking at 361 liters.
On the way
Not only the appearance of the Toyota Yaris has improved considerably, you also get a lot more driving pleasure out of it. The steering may be fairly light and on the insensitive side, the car responds quickly and exactly to what you do with it and the rather firmly sprung chassis provides a sporty feeling when you smoothly steer the car through the bend. The rear axle reacts a bit grumpily on bad road surfaces, but who would like to take that compromise for granted in exchange for the dynamic character of the car as a whole. The hybrid powertrain means that it does not respond very quickly to the accelerator, but once on track, there is a lot of pizzazz. The one and a half liter three-cylinder delivers 91 hp and is assisted by an electric motor with 80 hp, the combination peaks at 116 hp. That is more than enough to make the for a hybrid quite light (1,055 kg) Yaris nice and smooth and with medium load, the stepless automatic transmission can keep the speed quite within limits. Only when you really roll up your sleeves does the Yaris become a bit noisy and that is not only due to the engine, but also from the tires and the wind noise.
At those points you notice that the Corolla is a bit ‘more car’. It is quieter and the chassis adjustment is not only more refined, but also more focused on comfort. Nevertheless, it can feel quite sharp and sporty when you go crazy. Here, too, fairly light steering, although it does give a bit more feedback than the Yaris. For both cars, the extensive assistance systems work nicely and keep the car neat and smooth between the lines. Even better is that both cars also show a very low consumption, whereby in practice with the larger Corolla we still needed a little less gasoline per 100 km: 4.4 liters, which is even lower than the manufacturer’s specification.
FACTS AND NUMBERS
- Gazoo Racing, say Toyota’s AMG, makes a super-fast Yaris, the GR Yaris. With 261 hp and 360 Nm from a three-cylinder, it has the change cup for the most powerful three-cylinder in a regular road car on the mantelpiece.
- The Yaris has been around for more than twenty years and has been sold nearly nine million times.
- The first Corolla rolled off the production line in 1966, and eight years later it was the best-selling car worldwide. Today it is built in 15 factories worldwide and sold in 150 countries. Every fifth Toyota ever built is a Corolla. The counter has now passed the 45 million mark.
- Corolla means something like Little Crown. And the Crown was the model that stood above the Corolla at the time. That Crown is corona in Spanish … well.
- The Corolla is currently experiencing its twelfth generation, the Yaris is in its fourth edition.
- The United States is by far the most important market for the Corolla. In that land of gigantic pick-ups, the model is almost a symbol for no-nonsense.