Behind the wheel Toyota Corolla

AREPUTATION for unparalleled reliability and dependability the world over is a fine thing to have, but for the twelfth-generation model, Toyota is chasing a bit more dynamism and soul.

The rebirth of the Corolla name is significant, as it marks the first time since 2006 Europe’s received the same C-segment car as the rest of the world – hence the death of the ‘Auris’ nameplate.

What’s new? In short, nearly everything. The new Corolla is based on the

TNGA chassis platform, with the same underpinnings as the new Rav4, as well as its Camry and Lexus ES sister cars.

A choice of three body styles – hatch, estate (or ‘Touring Sports’) and saloon– gives plenty of choice for buyers, but those hoping for a diesel will be disappointed. Where a high-powered diesel would otherwise sit in the line-up is a new ‘high-performance’ hybrid powertrain. It’s Toyota’s first acknowledgement buyers don’t want to sacrifice power and cruising comfort when they make the switch from diesel to hybrid.

The bulk of the engine line-up is hybrid, although a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol remains at the bottom of the range, paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic.

Both hybrids are CVT-only, and the range kicks off with the same 1.8-litre powertrain

as found in the current Prius. Its overall power output of 120bhp isn’t necessarily the issue, but accessing that power can be slightly painful – the CVT’s habit of sending revs spiralling at the merest twitch of the throttle soon becomes tiresome.

The 2.0-litre unit is far better, with its modest power increase making for a far more relaxed drive. Both hybrid powertrains are superb in town conditions, though – quiet, refined and with enough shunt off the line to keep up with traffic. They’re also very efficient, with NEDC CO2 figures as low as 76g/km.

The Auris was rather a dull steer, and the Corolla is an improvement. The main issue is with the over-light and remote steering, which doesn’t inspire much confidence when pushing the Corolla into bends.

There are some good points. Body roll is well contained, and the Corolla hides its weight – even the bulky hybrid battery pack – when slinging it about in faster corners. It’s also fairly comfortable, likely thanks to its standard multi-link rear suspension on all

models. As a first for the Corolla, Toyota’s also fitted optional adaptive dampers, which allow the driver to choose between Sport and Comfort modes.

In reality, the former is unlikely to get used much – the powertrain simply doesn’t encourage spirited driving.

There are few surprises with the new Corolla, but is that such a bad thing?

Toyota’s taken what the old car did very well – ease of driving, low cost of ownership and a reputation for reliability – and added a few key improvements that should attract plenty of new buyers.

The new Toyota Corolla still offers buyers ease of driving, low-cost ownership and a reputation for reliability