Toyota Australia has announced the official arrival of the Corolla Hybrid onto Australian shores, where it splits the SX and ZR variants in the local Corolla range and becomes the fifth Toyota hybrid car Down Under.
Priced from $26,990 in a single trim level, the Corolla Hybrid is equipped very much like the range-topping Corolla ZR, featuring dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, auto-levelling bi-LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and keyless entry + ignition. Of course, standard kit such as satellite navigation and a 4.2-inch multi-function display are available here too.
Apart from its petrol-electric powertrain, which we’ll get to, there really isn’t much to differentiate the Corolla Hybrid from its purely petrol counterparts. More shared standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera, seven airbags, and even comes in the same palette of exterior colour options.
Tony Cramb, director of sales and marketing at Toyota Australia said: “Corolla hybrid offers Australian motorists all the advantages of the world’s all-time best-selling car and the world’s best-selling hybrid technology,”
“The hybrid version of the popular Corolla represents great value for money with its impressive equipment levels, exceptionally low running costs and the proven performance and fuel-efficiency of Toyota’s full hybrid technology,” he said.
“With unique features such as its independent rear suspension, Corolla hybrid will also deliver the driving enjoyment, remarkable quietness and smooth operation that will make it an ideal choice for everyday motoring.”
The practical way to think of the new Corolla Hybrid is as you would about any of the current crop of Corollas, but more efficient thanks to the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive similar to that found in the Prius.
It generates a total system output of 100kW and 207Nm of torque from a combination of its 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 60kW electric motor, with drive reaching the front wheels via an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
Toyota claims that the Corolla Hybrid is capable of achieving a consumption figure as low as 4.1-litres per 100km on a combined cycle. By comparison, Toyota claims that its petrol Corolla is good for 6.1-litres/100km, but with the Hybrid system being able to shuffle between petrol or electric or a combination of the two, it’s lower fuel consumption rate should be easier achieve in most driving situations.
For more on Toyota vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
