A Corolla for everyone
TOYOTA: NEW SEDAN COMPLETES JAPANESE CAR MAKER’S ‘BUFFET’
‘You can now have a Corolla for every member of the family’
By introducing the new Corolla Sedan on the eve of the national lockdown in March, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) hasn’t merely updated a South African favourite.
It has, in fact, completed a buffet table TSAM believes will cater for everyone’s taste.
The Corolla family consist of the new Quest, which was rolled out in January, the Corolla Hatch, which has been available locally for the last year, plus the 12th generation of the Corolla Sedan.
“The Corolla badge has traditionally been associated with the family-biased sedan, but that has all changed,” says Leon Theron: Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM.
“You can now have a Corolla for every member of the family. There’s the value-for-money Quest, the dynamic and performance-orientated Hatch, as well as the versatile, tech-laden and extremely handsome new Corolla Sedan.”
While the new Quest is based on the 11th generation Corolla, both the Hatch and Sedan ride on the new TNGA platform. Two design features include increased body rigidity and an all-new multi-link rear suspension.
The Sedan and Hatch feature virtually the same front-end design, which is at 20mm lower a more expressive design than the previous generation with a more powerful stance.
Inside, the new Sedan shares the same elegant simple design, reduced upper-panel height, softtouch finishes and brushed metal accent strips. It features an eightinch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, with XR models also equipped with a seven-inch instrument cluster with digital speedometer.
The new Sedan is available with two engine options. The 103kW/171Nm powerplant from the outgoing model is kept in XS guise, while the flagship XR models feature the new 2.0-litre TNGA engine which produces 125kW of power 200Nm of torque.
The sole XS derivative comes with a seven-step Shiftmatic CVT, while the XR is available with either six-speed manual or 10-step CVT.
Fuel consumption for the 1.8-litre is claimed to be 6.2l/100km, with the 2.0-litre manual returning 6.5 and the 2.0-litre CVT at 6.0.
While additional drivetrain options are mooted for the Hatch and Sedan, diesel has been ruled out entirely.
“With Toyota’s global drive for hybrid technology, diesel just isn’t part of the focal point in its passenger range going forward,” says Riaan Esterhuysen, Manager: Product Comms & Marketing
Fleet. “We believe the two current engine options for the Sedan feel right in the current market, with a hybrid being under consideration.
“There is scope for more powerful derivatives in the Hatch range, as this offering is the more sport focused of the trio. There might even be a GR model in the pipeline in Hatch guise.”
Safety on the new Sedan is top notch, with all models featuring seven airbags, active electronic safety aids (ABS, EBD, BAS, VSC, HAC) and an impact absorbing bodyshell.
The XR grade features Toyota Safety Sense, which includes a pre-collision system, blind spot monitor, all-speed cruise control, automatic high-beam and lane trace assist.
The new Sedan is available in six new colours: Celestite Grey, Crimson Red, Moonlight Ocean, Scarlet, Dark Blue and Pearl White. Glacier White and Satin Silver are also still available.