Toyota Corolla – What you need to know

Toyota’s long-running Corolla small car has all bases covered across a broad range of model grades, hatch or sedan body styles and petrol or hybrid powertrains

The Toyota Corolla has been part of the Australian landscape for almost six decades, and this latest version has a broad variety of sedan and hatchback models.

With two body styles, a petrol and petrol-electric hybrid engine, and two transmissions offered, starting with the Ascent Sport, then the SX, followed by the top spec ZR, it makes for a maze of combinations.

To top it off, there’s also now a high-performance Toyota GR Corolla, but given hot hatch is only available in limited numbers – and was sold out at the time of writing – we’re focusing here on the broader non-GR range.

Let’s delve into the features that largely mirror each other by body style and model to find which one is right for you.

Starting from $29,270 plus on-road costs, the Ascent Sport with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and direct-shift continuously variable transmission (CVT), in either hatch or sedan, comes with the following standard equipment:

• LED headlights, tail-lights and daytime running lights
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• 8.0-inch infotainment colour touch-screen
• Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto connectivity
• Lane departure alert with steering assist
• Reversing camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Manual air-conditioning

Options on the Toyota Corolla are limited to eight colours, with all except one being a premium finish that adds $575.

If you’re keen on a two-tone look, you’ll first have to stump up for the top-spec ZR model and then fork out an additional $1350.

Offered on the Ascent Sport sedan and hatch is a Convenience Pack. For $1000 it adds blind spot sensors to the sedan, and front and rear parking sensors to the hatch, with both versions also receiving rear cross traffic alert.

The Toyota Corolla comes with a host of driver assist safety systems, with all models offering lane trace assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, a pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, speed sign recognition, auto high beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera with guidelines, blind spot monitoring with safe exit assist, plus hill start and active cornering assist.

Naturally, all Corollas come with anti-lock brakes, an emergency drive stop system, traction and stability controls and seven airbags, including a driver knee airbag.

Also standard fit across the range is a rear seat occupant reminder and ISOFIX child seat anchor points at the outer rear seat positions.

If you want your Corolla Ascent Sport hatch to come with rear cross traffic alert and front and rear parking sensors, you can option them with the previously mentioned Convenience pack or move up to the SX.

For the Ascent Sport sedan, if you want blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert you must step up to the SX or tick the optional Convenience pack.

Strangely, no hatch gets rain-sensing wipers, which is standard on all sedans, but all variants have heated door mirrors.

The Toyota Corolla sedan and hatch both have a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2018.

An 8.0-inch colour infotainment touch-screen sits in the centre dash of all Toyota Corolla models.

There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, along with AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio, a six-speaker audio system, USB input, Bluetooth phone and music connectivity and voice recognition assist. The steering wheel has audio and phone functions.

Is sat-nav a deal-maker? You can use it on your smartphone or glide over to the Ascent Sport sedan or SX hatch, where it comes standard.

The SX in either body style is also the entry point for wireless phone charging, with the ZR exclusively offering a nine-speaker premium JBL audio system.

You get 12 months’ complimentary access to Toyota Connected Services and its range of safety, security and multimedia features accessed through the myToyotaConnect app in the Corolla Ascent Sport, with all other variants adding remote connect.

A 7.0-inch instrument cluster is in the Ascent Sport and SX variants, with a 12.3-inch unit and head-up display an exclusive ZR feature.

Missing in the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport but standard in the SX hatch and sedan and upwards is a premium-grade steering wheel and transmission lever, along with shift paddles and an auto-dimming mirror.

The SX hatch is also where you’ll gain extra shading from the privacy glass on the rear and rear-side windows, along with auto-retractable door mirrors and front LED fog lights.

If you want single-zone climate-control air-con, tick the Ascent Sport sedan box, as the hatch equivalent comes only with manual air-con. But if a dual-zone system is on the wish list, then it’s the Ascent Sport Hybrid hatch as a minimum.

Another variation between the two is keyless entry/start. It’s standard in all sedans, but this feature begins with the Ascent Sport Hybrid in the hatch.

Fancy being able to select different drive modes? Whichever body or model you go for, they all have drive mode select, adding a touch of sportiness and personalisation to the driving experience.

The convenience of bottle and cup holders, with four of each, are found across all models and both body styles.

Does the ease and comfort of heated and powered sports seats grab you? You’ll have to fork over enough for a Corolla ZR in either body style for its heated front seats, with the driver’s position eight-way power-adjustable and offering lumbar support.

The ZR variants are the only ones with ambient interior lighting.

Want to treat yourself to leather trim? It comes in black or red, combined with suede and just in the ZR hatch models. All other variants make do with cloth trim.

Lighting the way in all Corollas are ‘bi-Beam’ LED headlights, LED fog lights at both ends along with LED tail-lights and daytime running lights.

Higher-grade LED headlights start with the Ascent Sport Hybrid sedan, or prepare to stump up for a ZR hatch to snare this feature.

All Corollas have 16-inch alloy wheels except the ZR which sports 18-inch alloys. A full-size spare is in the Ascent Sport, with the Ascent Sport Hybrid and SX and ZR sedans having a temporary spare. The same goes for the hatch except the hybrid hatch has a tyre repair kit.

Two powertrains are offered in the latest Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport, SX and ZR variants.

The petrol version is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 126kW of power and 203Nm of torque.

The hybrid variants come with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with hybrid assist, giving them a combined power output of 103kW and 142Nm of torque.

The good news is all variants run on standard 91 RON unleaded fuel, saving you money at the bowser.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is used across the range, and all models are front-wheel drive.

The Toyota Corolla hatchback measures 4375mm long, 1790mm wide and 1435mm high, resting on a 2640mm wheelbase.

The sedan, by comparison, is longer at 4630mm, slightly narrower at 1780mm, the same height but with a longer 2700mm wheelbase.

Using the Ascent Sport as a guide, the sedan’s boot swallows 470 litres of luggage while the hatch can only manage 217 litres behind the rear seats. Both have 60/40-split folding rear seats to extend the load space.

Maximum braked towing capacity for non-hybrid models is 1300kg (down to 450kg without trailer brakes), while the petrol-electric variants go unrated in this department.

For me, it’s an easy choice body-wise as I’ll always go for a hatch over a sedan, due to its greater flexibility. In these tough times, being cagey with your dollars is wise and that’s why I’m going for the Toyota Corolla SX petrol hatch.

It offers more than enough convenience and safety features, its performance is equivalent to the more expensive Corolla ZR, and I’d pocket the close to four grand savings, without missing out on anything significant.

How much does the 2023 Toyota Corolla cost?
Ascent Sport hatch – $29,610
Ascent Sport sedan – $29,270
Ascent Sport Hybrid hatch – $32,110
Ascent Sport Hybrid sedan – $32,320
SX hatch – $32,760
SX sedan – $32,420
SX Hybrid sedan – $34,920
SX Hybrid hatch – $35,260
ZR hatch – $36,600
ZR sedan – $37,760
ZR Hybrid hatch – $39,100
ZR Hybrid sedan – $40,26
*Prices exclude on-road costs