The 12th-generation Toyota Corolla has finally gone on sale in Australia, and as you can tell, the version on sale is of the sportier-looking model that’s sold in the United States and Japan. Six variants are available, with prices starting from AUD 23,335 for the base Ascent Sport manual, to AUD 33,635 for the top ZR variant with CVT.
In terms of equipment, it’s very much similar to the Corolla Hatch that was introduced last year, which includes powertrain options and the Toyota Safety Sense features. In fact, Toyota Australia VP of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley said the Corolla sedan gets the same level of features as the hatch so as to give customers a clearer choice of body style without any compromises.
That means the Corolla sedan is available with the same two engines, starting with the brand new M20A-FKS 2.0 litre Dynamic Force four-cylinder petrol engine. The naturally aspirated mill is fitted with D-4S direct injection and VVT-iE electric variable valve timing, offering 168 hp and 200 Nm of torque. A six-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) with automatic rev-matching is standard, but customers can opt for the new Direct Shift-CVT as well. It’s the world’s first continuously variable transmission with a launch gear for improved low-speed efficiency and acceleration. It gets a 10-speed virtual ratio mode as well as a sport mode and paddle shifters.
Also introduced to the Australian market for the first time is the Corolla sedan hybrid, which employs an improved version of the Prius‘ 1.8 litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and twin electric motors. The engine alone makes 97 hp and 142 Nm, and it’s augmented with two electric motors, each making 71 hp and 163 Nm of torque.
The hybrid’s total system output is 121 hp, and the car comes with a 6.5 Ah nickel metal hydride battery. Together with low rolling resistance tyres and the car’s aerodynamic design, the Corolla Hybrid delivers the second lowest fuel consumption of any model in the entire Toyota line-up, with a combined cycle fuel consumption of just 3.5 litres per 100 km (based on internal tests).
All variants of the sedan come with the automaker’s second-generation Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance system, which features autonomous emergency braking (AEB) provided by the pre-collision safety system (PCS), active cruise control, lane trace assist (CVT only), lane departure warning (manual only), road sign assist, and auto high beam.
PCS can now sense pedestrians at night, but cyclists detection only functions during the day. There’s also reverse camera and seven airbags, with more expensive variants gaining blind spot monitor and head-up display. LED headlights are standard (base models get LED reflectors, though), as are the upgraded infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, as well as an electric parking brake.
For equipment, all hybrid models get keyless smart entry with push-start button, while mid-range SX models come with GPS navigation with live traffic alerts, wireless smartphone charging tray, and premium three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters. The range-topping ZR is the sportiest-looking of the bunch thanks to a set of 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. It also gains heated sports seats (wrapped with synthetic leather; driver gets power adjustability), powered sunroof, and premium nine-speaker JBL audio system.
