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32 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>February</strong> <strong>21</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Corolla enters brave new hybrid world<br />
TOYOTA’S TOP selling<br />
Corolla has upped its low<br />
engine emissions credentials<br />
in this country, by ditching the<br />
2.0-litre petrol model, and only<br />
offering hybrid petrol-electrical<br />
powertrains across the entire<br />
range.<br />
Corolla, is one of the best<br />
selling cars on the planet with<br />
more than 50 million sold since<br />
it launched nearly 60-years ago.<br />
Its huge success over this time<br />
has been anchored on it being<br />
solid, dependable and affordable,<br />
and never waivering from those<br />
core attributes which made<br />
it an automotive icon. At the<br />
same time, it has embraced new<br />
technology including safety and<br />
been responsive to changing<br />
buyer demand.<br />
The 12th generation Corolla<br />
has been with us since 2019,<br />
and a quantum advance over<br />
its predecessor with a more<br />
engaging driving experience,<br />
something that hasn’t<br />
traditionally been of strength<br />
of this model. It really hits the<br />
mark by offering high levels of<br />
advanced safety technology,<br />
and clever touches such as<br />
Mobile Assistant. This uses<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
Siri or Google Assistant voice<br />
commands to perform simple<br />
connectivity tasks like sending<br />
a text message or setting a<br />
reminder.<br />
Modern consumers prefer<br />
hybrid-electric powertrains<br />
that are now the most popular<br />
choice across the Corolla range.<br />
In the last two years, a lot of<br />
that is down to the now ditched<br />
generous Government clear car<br />
rebate. While the pace of buyer<br />
interest in EVs and hybrids<br />
will slow with the demise<br />
of incentive, interest won’t<br />
evaporate. I expect they will<br />
continue to appeal to those who<br />
value low emissions and running<br />
costs, and vehicle fleet operators<br />
striving to reduce their carbon<br />
footprints. Nearly two years<br />
ago there were eight models in<br />
the Corolla line-up. Going all<br />
hybrids has halved that figure,<br />
with a hybrid model among the<br />
casualties, with Toyota hitting<br />
the delete button on the sedan.<br />
This is the first time in decades<br />
this body style hasn’t featured<br />
in the Corolla NZ range. A<br />
shame really, because the latest<br />
version was one of the best, but<br />
buyer interest has waned even<br />
from the rental car firms and<br />
fleet operators, traditionally the<br />
largest purchasers of this model.<br />
Firing the opening shot in<br />
the hybridised three hatchback<br />
and one wagon Corolla family<br />
is the price leading $36,995<br />
GX, followed by the mid-range<br />
$39,190 SX and rounding the<br />
hatch offering, is the flagship<br />
$42,190 ZR being reviewed<br />
here. There’s a GX wagon<br />
available for $36,990. The only<br />
remaining petrol only model is<br />
the $76,000 high performance<br />
229kw 1.6-litre turbo GR hatch.<br />
It’s only available in very limited<br />
numbers, with the 150 units a<br />
year earmarked for our market<br />
allocated via a ballot system. An<br />
optional $1000 two-tone paint<br />
job buys you a black roof that<br />
contrasts really well with the<br />
bolder colours in the Corolla<br />
paint swatch, to provide a more<br />
sophisticated look.<br />
From a driving pleasure<br />
perspective, the sweet 125kW<br />
2.0-litre dynamic torque internal<br />
combustion engine naturally<br />
aspirated engine will be missed.<br />
It always impressed with its<br />
strong and zippy performance<br />
and crisp throttle responsive.<br />
By comparison the 1.8-litre<br />
petrol electric hybrid, even with<br />
a combined power output has<br />
been bumped up to 103kw for a<br />
healthy 13kw power gain, lacks<br />
that zing. The extra urge for the<br />
hybrid models is off the back of<br />
Ratings out of 10: Performance 6; Handling 7; Build Quality<br />
7; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 5; Fuel Economy,<br />
on road test average consumption: 5.1L /100km Styling 7;<br />
Safety – Five Star ANCAP crash rating.<br />
Overall points out of 10: 7<br />
the addition of a slightly larger<br />
and powerful battery pack.<br />
The extra performance is<br />
most obvious in around town<br />
motoring. Here the test car now<br />
runs for longer periods on flat<br />
terrain in EV only at speeds of<br />
up to 50km/h. The extra hybrid<br />
heft is less noticeable at higher<br />
speed open road cruising.<br />
Dropping the transmission<br />
into Sport mode was the best<br />
option for brisk overtaking, or<br />
maintaining a respectable pace<br />
on long hill climbs. It’s a pity<br />
the Corolla here doesn’t use the<br />
same impressive 135kW 2.0-litre<br />
petrol electric hybrid system that<br />
features in this model on some<br />
overseas markets. It does a great<br />
job in the Corolla Cross that<br />
arrived here about a year ago.<br />
Maybe Toyota is keeping their<br />
powder dry on it until we see an<br />
all-new Corolla some time in<br />
2025.<br />
The Constant Variable<br />
Transmission automatic has a<br />
dynamic shift featuring a gear<br />
and belt drive system to improve<br />
transmission performance in the<br />
lower ratios, where belt efficiency<br />
isn’t so great. It uses a gear drive<br />
from standing starts, resulting<br />
in stronger acceleration, and<br />
reduces the irritating momentary<br />
sluggishness off the mark that<br />
characterised the CVT in the<br />
outgoing model.<br />
There are lots of positives<br />
about this latest Corolla but<br />
not a modestly proportioned<br />
cabin. Passenger space for rear<br />
seat occupants is cramped with<br />
limited head and legroom. Large<br />
wrap-around driver and front<br />
passenger seats accentuate the<br />
slightly claustrophobic feel for<br />
rear seat occupants.<br />
Befitting its top-of-the-range<br />
status, the ZR is equipped<br />
with a large colour head-up<br />
display, 18-inch alloys, leather<br />
and suede accented sports<br />
front seats, 8-speaker premium<br />
audio system, ambient cabin<br />
illumination, and high-grade bi-<br />
LED headlamps.<br />
This new model has an even<br />
smarter version of Toyota’s Safety<br />
Sense technology package, with<br />
one of the headline changes a<br />
pedestrian and cyclist detection<br />
system. Some other notables<br />
items from this package’s bag of<br />
safety tricks, are autonomous<br />
emergency braking, all speed<br />
dynamic radar cruise control<br />
and automatic high beam on and<br />
off.<br />
Handling went up several<br />
notches with his newest Corolla<br />
I cannot remember a version<br />
that got close to this one for crisp<br />
road holding and supple riding.<br />
The suspension acts quickly and<br />
decisively to calm and soothe<br />
the vehicle and its occupants<br />
through unexpected changes in<br />
direction by the driver, or the<br />
road surface.<br />
This Corolla is full of surprises,<br />
most positive around how it<br />
rides, drives and handles.<br />
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