WHAT’S NEW

PRICE The cheapest ticket into the new auto is $27,000 drive-away — for the past 18 months, the starting price for a Corolla auto has been $22,990 drive-away. Toyota has dropped the base model.

TECH All grades come with autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, speed sign recognition, lane-keeping assistance and rear-view camera. Still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

PERFORMANCE The 2.0-litre replacement for the 1.8 has substantially more power yet roughly the same thirst for regular unleaded. The hybrid’s carry-over 1.8 is now paired with a 53kW/163Nm electric motor, down from 60kW/207Nm, and it’s slightly thirstier due to extra weight.

DRIVING The CVT in the 2.0 has a launch gear to eliminate much of the typical drone . Most grades come with paddle-shifters to select from the 10 ratios.

DESIGN The first completely new Corolla since 2012 is longer, wider and sleeker. The exterior design is more daring and the underpinnings are completely new, with a larger footprint for better roadholding.