Corolla’s hatchback is back
I’m fairly certain that anyone who’s ever had to shop for a car on a budget has taken a close look at the Toyota Corolla. New or used, taking into account reliability and resale value, contemplating a Corolla is a wise consideration.
The Corolla is currently in its 12th generation of production and Toyota replaces the iM with the all-new, and much easier to remember, Corolla Hatchback. Toyota’s sporty compact hatch doesn’t overwhelm with an abundance of space, but the five-door makes sense for the urban dweller who enjoys an occasional escape from the city.
While I hesitate to call it a “hot hatch” the Corolla thrived while navigating Boston’s narrow streets. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes an adequate 168 hp and is well-suited for the city’s stop and go traffic. My XSE test model that tops out at just under $26,000 had a continuously variable transmission with a fixed first gear ratio that gives the Corolla a more conventional feel. However, the CVT’s quirks were difficult to ignore when accelerating to highway speed. The Corolla hatchback is also available with a six-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching feature that smooths out downshifts. I averaged 33 mpg during a two-week evaluation.
The amount of practical safety technology in the XSE Corolla hatchback is impressive. Semi-autonomous driving features, originally only found in the luxury segment a few years ago, have trickled down to the entry level market. My test model with adaptive
cruise control allowed me to travel over 90 miles on the MassPike without touching the brake pedal; as traffic slowed — even rolling to a complete stop in one instance — the system maintained a predetermined distance from the car in front of me, picking up speed as the backup subsided. The Corolla also has lane-keep assist and a precollision system that can detect both cyclists and pedestrians.
The XSE’s handling stood out on curvy back roads, thanks in part to 18inch wheels with standard low-profile tires. The performance setup did transmit a fair amount of bumps and jolts from road imperfections. The Corolla’s electronic power-assisted steering was responsive with a heavy sports car feel. Using steering wheel mounted paddle shifters helped to overcome the CVT’s unpleasant character.
My top-shelf tester had heated, two-tone blackand-white leather upholstery and dual-zone climate controls. The driver’s seat was 8-way power adjustable. Rear seating was limited, with not much legroom. The Corolla’s 60/40 split-folder rear seatbacks allowed me to fit three pairs of skis for a day trip to the slopes. After loading our boot bags and a large cooler for lunch, my daughter and son didn’t have much space to themselves. A rooftop ski rack would probably provide enough room for a third skier.
The Corolla hatch has an 8-inch multimedia touch screen mounted to the center console. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay which takes over once an iPhone is connected via a USB cable. My navigation app was transferred to the screen which enlarged the map with turnby-turn directions alongside. Most, if not all, multimedia functions are transferred to steering wheel-mounted controls. The Corolla also had an outstanding 800-watt, 8-speaker sound system.
The Toyota Corolla hatchback really grew on me during my prolonged test drive over the holidays. However, I was lucky that we only had a couple of rainstorms during that period as I was wary of how the Corolla with lowprofile performance tires would handle snow-covered roads. Fortunately, it has front-wheel-drive, but a set of snow tires would be in order for the winter months. A base model Corolla hatchback starts at $19,990.