THE RETURN

THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA COROLLA HATCH

Theall-new Toyota Corolla Hatch, one of the most successful model names in automotive history, makes a striking return. Taking over the Auris name badge in SA, the Corolla recalls a memorable history in the country, and this new hatchback builds on prior celebrated qualities of contemporary design, driving dynamics and efficiency.

DESIGN

With the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) chassis as its basis, the Corolla is longer, lower and sleeker than its Auris predecessor. The striking nose features all-LED lamp clusters, with integral daytime running lights beneath the curved edge of a flatter, clamshell bonnet and narrow upper grille.

Like the front, the rear styling is more rounded than before, and a 14-degree increase in the angle of the rear screen and muscular haunches above the rear wheel arches combine to give the car a more compact appearance.

The new Corolla also comes in six exterior colours, including three new colours – scarlet metallic, oxide bronze and Caribbean blue.

INTERIOR

The highest levels of visual and tactile quality were the goals of the dedicated Toyota Motor Europe Sensory Quality team when styling and designing the Corolla’s driver and passenger environment.

The result is a spacious, modern and cohesive cabin with new textures, colours and trims that are both ergonomically practical and eye-catchingly styled.

The driver’s cockpit has that real wrap-around feel, which is echoed in the sporty front seat design. The revised rear seats feature a new seat cushion material that allows for more even distribution of the occupant’s weight and, as standard, all rear seats can be folded using a remote lever to create a fully flat extension to the loadspace, allowing for an increase in load volume.

SAFETY

With a host of active and passive safety features, the Corolla has a total of seven airbags – driver and passenger, along with two side and curtain, as well as one for the driver’s knee. Plus, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is standard, along with the full suite of electronic aids present (ABS, EBD, Brake Assist and Hill-assist Control). It also comes standard with ISOFIX attachment points for child seats.

ON THE ROAD

That TNGA platform is the foundation for all of Toyota’s future powertrain and vehicle advancement, and the version of this modular platform is designated the GA-C, which brings extensive dynamic handling benefits, thanks to it being both torsionally stiffer (by 60%) and lighter, as well as offering a lower centre of gravity.

Not only does a new multi-link rear suspension mean there’s less intrusion in the loadspace, but handling stability, steering response and ride comfort are notably improved. The latter is also thanks to a new shock absorber valve design in both front and rear suspension systems for a smoother and more comfortable ride.

Under that stylish front bonnet is a 1.2-L four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that delivers 85kW and a constant torque curve of 185Nm between 1 500-4 000rpm through either a six-speed manual or a new 10-speed Sport Sequential Shiftmatic Continiously Variable Transmission (CVT). Fuel consumption has been pegged at 6.1L/100km for both manual and CVT variants.

THE RANGE

Corolla Hatch 1.2T Xs 6MT Corolla Hatch 1.2T Xs CVT Corolla Hatch 1.2T Xr CVT

WARRANTY AND SERVICE PLAN

All models come standard with six 90 000km service plan and a threeyear/100 000km warranty. Service intervals are set at 12 months/ 15 000km.