A SHOT OF STYLE, NEW TECH AND MORE POWER
CARMEL, CALIF. • Come for the meal, stay for the show. That is what happened during the launch for Toyota’s new 2019 RAV4, by surprising all in attendance and pulling the covers off the brand-new 2020 Corolla sedan.
This is “take 2” for the 12th-generation Corolla. The new Hatchback arrived earlier this year and now comes the sedan, the Corolla’s bestselling body style. Both cars are based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.
Far more dramatically styled, the new Corolla sedan has the same 2,700-millimetre wheelbase as its predecessor, yet any commonality ends there. The 2020 model brings with it a wider front and rear track by 11 and 22 mm, respectively. The front overhang is shortened by 33 mm and the rear extended by more than 15. Height is reduced by 20 mm and the hood is lowered another 35 for better forward visibility, made possible by a lower mounting of the engine. Those changes, plus others, lower the car’s centre of gravity by 20 mm.
The sedan’s stronger front fascia varies by model, with the SE and XSE putting on the sportiest faces, including a body-colour chin spoiler and aero-stabilizing fins. The slim, J-shaped “bi-beam” LED headlamps wrap deeply into the front fenders. The SE and XSE trims also use triple J-shaped clearance lamps with LED light guides, along with LED turn signals. At the rear, narrow combination lamps wrap deeply into the fenders.
For the first time, 18-inch wheels are on the menu, available on the SE and XSE. A new multi-link independent rear suspension replaces the old torsion-beam setup.
L, LE, and XLE models will be powered by the same 1.8-litre four found in the outgoing Corolla, yet with more horsepower and better fuel efficiency. XSE and SE models get the same 169-horsepower, 2.0-L direct-injected four engine found in the new Hatchback. A hybrid model is coming.
The new Direct-Shift continuously variable transmission now comes with the more direct driving feel of a traditional geared automatic, thanks to a physical first gear used for start-off acceleration, before handing off to the CVT’s pulley system. Because the launch gear is handling the higher input load at launch, the size of the CVT’s belt and pulley components are reduced, yielding shifting speeds that are 20-per-cent faster than in a conventional CVT. Dedicated followers of manual shifters will be pleased to find the 2020 Corolla sedan offers an all-new “intelligent” six-speed manual, complete with downshift rev-matching control. Standard hill-start assist — also on the CVT models — helps prevent rollback when starting off on an incline.
Inside the cabin, a slimmer instrument panel features a high-res eight-inch touch screen for the standard Entune 3.0 infotainment on all trim levels except the base L, which gets a seven-inch touch screen. The centre stack screen provides vehicle settings, audio controls, navigation, and Entune 3.0 apps. Climate controls are below the multimedia portal. Compared with the previous Corolla, the instrument panel, cowl, hood and beltline height are all lowered to increase visibility and create a more open feel.
The Corolla comes standard with a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster, while a seven-inch display is available. With the larger display, the driver can switch between analog and digital speedometer styles. The topof-the-line Entune 3.0 Audio Premium package, available on XSE and XLE trims, includes a JBL nine-speaker, 800-watt system with ClariFi, Dynamic Voice Recognition, Dynamic Navigation, Dynamic Points of Interest Search and Destination Assist Connect.
Pricing will be announced closer to the car’s launch in the spring.