Unless Ford changes its mind and retains the Falcon nameplate then Toyota Corolla will replace it as Australia’s longest-running passenger car having been on sale here since 1967.
Despite its longevity Corolla has never been more popular, tipping out Mazda3 as Australia’s biggest selling motor vehicle during 2013 and doing so despite carrying an ageing sedan variant throughout the year alongside the new hatchback.
The new sedan finally joined its hatch stablemate in February this year and set another milestone. At 4.62 metres it’s the largest Corolla so far, a significant 365 mm longer than the hatch, 75 mm longer and with an increase of 100 mm in wheelbase over the outgoing sedan.
Unlike the hatch which is built in Japan the sedan comes from Thailand and so takes advantage of that country’s free trade agreement with Australia to keep the price down to $20,740 plus on-roads for the entry level Ascent manual. That’s $250 less than the previous sedan and also includes extra features that Toyota values at $2000.
STYLING
As is common in small cars, the new Corolla sedan can’t match its hatchback sibling for looks. It’s neat and attractive enough but without anything to make it stand out from its many competitors. Perhaps, as Toyota’s tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign suggests, it is indeed hip to be square.
We loved the smooth, wavelike dashboard not only for its appearance but also for the placements of its various components and their ease of use.
INTERIOR
We often talk about small cars being frequently used as family transport in Europe but that trend has never really applied here. Until now that is, because the extra interior space within the new Corolla sedan provides sufficient rear legroom for two adults to travel in comfort even with the front seats fully extended.
While taller passengers will appreciate the extra 92 mm of kneeroom this is likely to be offset by the limited headroom caused by the dipping roofline. We found it quite awkward to enter and then had to hunker down a little to avoid scraping against the roof once seated.
Boot capacity has been increased by 20 litres to 470 litres. The space is long (1088 mm) with a wide opening for ease of loading but not especially deep.
EQUIPMENT
Three equipment levels are available. As before the entry-level model is called Ascent, with the previous higher-specced Conquest and Ultima now renamed SX and ZR
Now standard across all three models are cruise control, reversing camera, rear parking sensors and a multi-information display (MID). The Ascent wheels are 15-inch steel.
The mid-range SX adds interior chrome door handles and door belt moulding, front fog lamps, push button start/stop front parking sensors, enhanced MID system and 16-inch alloys.
The auto-only Corolla ZR gets automatic air-conditioning, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, auto on/off LED headlights with automatic levelling, LED daytime running lights, satellite navigation, leather seat trim, powered driver’s seat and acoustic windscreen.
ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
New Toyota Corolla sedan comes with the same powertrain combination as the hatch, namely a 1.8-litre petrol engine with either six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission, the latter with seven preset overrides via the floor lever on all, as well as paddles in the topline version, the Corolla ZR.
Engine outputs peak at 103 kW and 173 Nm, fractionally different (+ 3 kW and -2 Nm) from the outgoing sedan but with maximum torque down from 4400 to 4000 rpm.
INFOTAINMENT
Central to new Corolla sedan’s information and entertainment package is the Toyota Link multimedia system. Standard in the SX and ZR models Link is a first for any Australian Toyota vehicle. It joins the growing list of similar systems that use smartphone technology to provide a variety of information, which is displayed on the 6.1-inch touch-screen dashboard monitor.
Features include the ability to pre-set travel routes prior to getting into the car, locate nearby service stations with current fuel prices and other businesses and points of interest, weather conditions as well as many other smartphone Apps.
All Corolla sedans come with a single disc CD player, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming and USB/Auxiliary inputs. A number of features, including a useful mute button, can be controlled from steering wheel mounted control.
DRIVING
Our test Corolla was the top-spec automatic-only ZR. Tweaks to the tried-and-true 1.8-litre petrol engine have made it quieter and more refined to such an extent than when we pulled up at our first set of traffic lights we assumed – incorrectly – that a stop/start feature had been added.
There’s excellent vision all round and sharp acceleration for safe urban manoeuvring.
On the open road it feels like a car the next size up, which it effectively is. It cruised through the hilly motorway segment of our test route without any stress and with little of the hunting that can plague CVTs thanks to the inclusion of a torque converter. Steering is nicely weighted and responsive with safe and dependable cornering.
Although it’s far from being a performance car there is a sportier feel to the new Corolla sedan. Despite it increased size it’s about 20 kg lighter than before for which translates into better fuel economy. Toyota’s official numbers are 7.0 litres per 100 km from the manual and 6.6 L/100 km for the automatic transmission. We used around 7.1 L/100 km during our week in the ZC.
SUMMING UP
With buyers abandoning large family cars in droves car makers are hunting around for the Goldilocks car – not too big, not too small. Toyota might have just about nailed it with this new Corolla sedan which fits the bill as being small enough for city commuting but large enough for long-distance family holiday travel.
With prices starting at just over $20,000 and with nearly 50 years of sales on the board Corolla is still the benchmark Australian small(ish) car.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Corolla Ascent 1.8-litre four-door sedan: $20,740 (manual); $22,990 (automatic)
Corolla SX 1.8-litre four-door sedan: $22,990 (manual); $25,240 (automatic)
Corolla ZR 1.8-litre four-door sedan: $30,990 (automatic)
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Toyota dealer for drive-away prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking Sensors: Standard in all models
Reversing Camera: Standard in all models
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in all models
Satellite Navigation: Standard in ZR, not offered in Ascent or SX
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Toyota Corolla ZR 1.8-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.798 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 80.5 x 88.3 mm
Maximum Power: 103 kW @ 6400 rpm
Maximum Torque: 173 Nm @ 4000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Not offered in ZR (six-speed in Ascent and SX)
Automatic Transmission: CVT
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4620 mm
Wheelbase: 2700 mm
Width: 1776 mm
Height: 1460 mm
Turning Circle: 10.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1295 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Towing Ability: Not provided
Boot Space: 470 litres
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson strut with coil springs, gas-filled dampers, stabiliser bar
Rear Suspension: Torsion beam with toe-correcting bushes, coil springs, gas-filled dampers
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 91RON
Consumption – Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.6 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 7.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000km
