Hot on the heels of the release of its all-new Corolla Cross SUV, Toyota has updated
the evergreen Corolla sedan and hatch variants.
New for the 2023 Corolla are the latest Toyota Connected Services, upgrades to the
multimedia system, and the latest fifth-generation hybrid powertrain.
As before new Corolla comes in three grades: Ascent Sport, SX and ZR, each with
the choice of petrol-only or petrol/electric hybrid.
Exterior changes include new 16-inch wheels for Ascent Sport and SX grades, and a
redesigned front grille for hatch and sedan variants.
The upgraded hybrid system uses a newly-developed high-output motor generator,
power control unit and downsized hybrid transaxle. These provide a 13kW increase
in peak power to maximum combined petrol / hybrid output of 103kW with the 1.8-
litre engine.
Petrol hatch and sedan variants comes with the ongoing 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine
producing 126kW / 202Nm for the hatch and 126kW / 203Nm for the sedan.
Both petrol and hybrid models are front-wheel drive through a CVT with 10-speed
sequential shift mode.
MY23 Corolla is the latest model to get the Toyota Connected Services app-based
communications system. Owners can remotely check the status of the doors and
lights, access information such as the vehicle’s last known location and recent trips,
or start the engine or climate control.
The system can also provide assistance in the event of an emergency where the
airbags are deployed or if a collision is detected, by automatically notifying an
emergency call centre and allowing the driver to communicate with the operator.
An expanded Toyota Safety Sense active safety suite has seen multiple features
introduced or upgraded, starting with the pre-collision safety system which adds
motorcycle detection, intersection collision avoidance support for crossing vehicles
and left/right turn, emergency steering assist, and acceleration suppression at low
speeds, while improving a range of existing features.
All images indicative only.
Cameras and radar sensors have also been improved offering a wider range for
detection of obstacles or vehicles including blind spot monitor in the hatches, while
lane trace assist has been expanded to include an emergency driving stop system
feature if it detects the driver is no longer making vehicle inputs.
New Corolla also gets the latest generation Toyota multimedia system that we’ve
used in our recent tests of the Corolla Cross and RAV4. It has a relatively small (8.0-
inch) touchscreen but one that is easy to reach with improved definition and usability
courtesy of eight shortcut buttons on the side of the screen.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as now is DAB+ digital radio while a
USB-C port has been added below the screen.
For Corolla hatch models, Ascent Sport now features a 7.0-inch multi information
display (MID) in the instrument cluster, while ZR variants gain a full 12.3-inch digital
instrument cluster.
Ascent Sport sedan versions gain in-built satellite navigation in hybrid grades, and
front sun visors with lamps and mirrors, while hatch versions add rear seat reminder.
Both hatch and sedan Ascent Sport variants are available with an optional
Convenience Pack, which adds rear cross traffic alert6 and front/rear parking
sensors for the hatch, and rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitor6 for sedan.
Stepping up to the SX adds rain sensing wipers and electrochromatic rear-view
mirror for both body styles, while the hatch further adds remote climate control pre-
conditioning, and parking sensors front and rear.
MODEL RANGE
Ascent Sport petrol hatch or sedan: $28,130
Ascent Sport hybrid hatch: $30,630
Ascent Sport hybrid sedan: $31,180
SX petrol hatch or sedan: $31,280
SX hybrid hatch or sedan: $33,780
ZR petrol hatch: $35,120
ZR petrol sedan: $36,620
ZR hybrid hatch: $37,620
ZR hybrid sedan: $39,120
Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact
your local Toyota dealer for drive-away prices.
