Added safety tech for new Toyota Corolla hatch

The new Toyota Corolla hatch is set to arrive in Australia next month, and it will bring with it advanced safety equipment to match or better its rivals in the small-car segment.

Alphabetically topping the list is active cruise control, which is a camera-based system operating between 30 and 180km/h. It can bring Corolla models equipped with continuously-variable transmission to a complete stop behind a car in front. Toyota advises that this feature will be standard for all three trim levels: Corolla Ascent Sport, SX and ZR variants. Of these, only the Corolla Ascent Sport will be offered with a manual transmission.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and pre-collision warning systems are also standard, incorporating cyclist and pedestrian detection for the protection of those other road users. The Pre-Collision Safety (PCS) system will alert the driver to an obstacle ahead by audible and visual means. Should the driver fail to react, the car's AEB system will apply braking and, if necessary, bring the car to a halt.

Also standard across the range is a Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system that not only uses audio-visual tell-tales to warn the vehicle is leaving the lane, but also 'nudges' the driver to steer back into the lane with some steering assistance in the right direction. The system also monitors instances of the vehicle weaving out of the lane and feeds that information to a new driver fatigue warning system, prompting the driver to pull over for a rest.

Another on-board system is lane trace assist (LTA), a self-steering function that keeps the car tracking true in a lane when the active cruise control is operational. It relies on line markings and the vehicle in front to ensure the Corolla maintains the right course. All CVT-equipped variants are fitted with LTA as standard. As with other similar systems, LTA requires the driver to keep hands on the wheel.

A reversing camera is standard for all models, as are seven airbags, automatic dipping for the headlights and traffic-sign recognition. Additionally, SX and ZR models gain blind-spot monitoring. The flagship Corolla ZR is also offered as standard with a heads-up display.

"The all-new Corolla hatch is set to make its mark as one of the safest small cars in its class with many of its standard advanced safety technologies usually only found on luxury or higher grade vehicles," says Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice-president sales and marketing.

"But along with its new found stylish design and fun to drive attitude, we considered safety an absolute priority for the new Corolla hatch to ensure whatever market our customers are shopping in, they have the highest levels of protection and driver assistance possible."