Toyota Corolla Sedan 2,0 Xr CVT
The Toyota Corolla Sedan goes upmarket. Does its price justify it over the new Quest?
FAs expected, a good product, which now looks the part. Noisy engine, though ollowing 11 generations and more than a million units sold in South Africa, the nal locally manufactured (since 1975) Corolla rolled off the assembly line in 2019. With the introduction of the 12th generation – which is now imported from Japan – Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has repositioned the Corolla Sedan as a more premium product alongside the expanded new Quest range.
A product that remains true to the Corolla moniker but with some added avour
TSAM has trimmed the Corolla Sedan line-up (remember, there’s a hatchback, too, sharing much of the four-door’s componentry) from 11 in the previous iteration to three. A fourth, hybrid variant will likely be introduced at a later stage. Tested here is the priciest of the trio: the 2,0 Xr CVT. Priced as is, this agship derivative demands R100k more than the topspec Quest. Does the box-fresh
The move upmarket cleverly makes space for the expanded Quest range Sedan set the bar high enough as an upmarket product to justify its price tag?
Adopting design cues from the Hatch, the Corolla Sedan cuts a dashing gure. It’s much less conservative with arrow-shaped headlamps (LED units with auto high-beam functionality in Xr trim), LED daytime-running lights (standard across the range) and the trapezoidal grille endowing
Chic styling and a tasteful interior have turned the Corolla sedan into a mini Lexus the front facia with some pizzazz. Track widths fore and aft have increased by 11 and 22 mm respectively, lending the Sedan a more imposing stance than before. The rear light units also incorporate LEDS. There are eight colour options, seven of which feature a metallic nish. Our test unit was wrapped in Satin Silver Metallic. Eighteen-inch diamond-cut alloys are standard on the Xr. Finding facorolla Wilhelm Lutjeharms Nikesh Kooverjee Ryan Bubear Jarryd Neves
vour among the CAR team, we did wonder whether buyers traditionally associated with the Corolla will nd the exterior too edgy.
The new Corolla Sedan’s interior is suitably upmarket (a word various testers used to describe our test unit) and contemporary. Perceived build quality is typically Toyota solid. Xs- and Xr-badged derivatives feature Rezatec upholstery – a synthetic fabric resembling hide – and a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel and gearshifter. Blue contrast stitching in top-speci cation level complements the illuminated switchgear. Soft-touch materials are used on the facia and door cards, while ( ngerprint-attracting) gloss black nishes are kept to a minimum.
The uncluttered dash is a highlight. An eight-inch touch display is within easy reach of front occupants. As crisp as the graphics may be, the software does feel dated and isn’t as user-friendly as its rivals. Two CAR team members mentioned they would have preferred a setup similar to the more modern one in the Mazda3 Sedan, which eschews a touchscreen and is less fussy to navigate. The Japanese rm may want to consider this when the Corolla is handed a mid-cycle update.
Infotainment features include Apple Carplay and Android Auto screen-mirroring and Bluetooth functionality, and in-car Wi-fi. A USB port is sited in the centre console, while another is conveniently hidden next to the cubby on the passenger’s side. Volume and frequency as well as the automatic climate control system are modulated via refreshingly physical dials. The instrument cluster