Toyota has unveiled the Corolla Sedan for North America, with the event in California streamed live across the globe. The new Corolla saloon represents the latest-instalment in what Toyota dubs as a legendary nameplate, and they’re not wrong: 12-generations on, the Corolla’s got some serious shoes to fill.
The Corolla saloon follows in the wake of the Corolla hatch, a car that we’re already quite familiar with and like quite a bit. With sharp styling, underpinned by Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA), and motivated by a range of new Dynamic Force engines, the Corolla is a strong overall package, and the Corolla saloon will likely only build upon the strengths the hatch familiarised us with.
The Corolla saloon will utilise the same 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine as we get in the hatch, with 125kW and 200Nm (there’s also a 1.8-litre, but we’re not getting that). Power will go to the front wheels via either a 6-speed manual or a ‘DirectShift’ CVT automatic, with the latter able to return 6.0L/100km. Additionally, the new Corolla will benefit from 2nd-generation Toyota Safety Sense, which integrates AEB, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, intelligent cruise control, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beams.
The TNGA platform is said to offer greater strength & rigidity, which will improve passive safety & driving dynamics, and all of that is wrapped up in a sleek & stylish new body that’s only slightly changed over the hatch. The face remains largely familiar with just a revised grille and slightly-different headlights, but the profile reveals a roofline that was clearly designed with headroom as a higher priority than sheer style. That roof descends smartly to the rear, where a pair of LED-infused taillights linked with a neat chrome bar help to ‘pinch’ the bum visually. This is aided with the rear bumper that features a diffuser-like segment.
The cabin is also broadly familiar to those who’ve experienced the hatch, with a design that emphasises width and space. The centre of the dash is dominated by an 8-inch infotainment screen, which offers Apple CarPlay, and can play your media via a JBL audio system on higher-end models. It’s unclear if these specifications will carry forwards into Australian-market models.
It’s worth noting that while we’ve seen the 2.0L and 1.8L variants of the Corolla today, there’s still one more Corolla saloon left to unveil. That’s the Corolla Hybrid, which stands a strong chance of making it to Australia, which will most likely pack the same 1.8-litre petrol-electric setup with a combined output of 90kW. The Corolla Hybrid will be bowing in at the LA Motor Show which opens at the end of the month.
UPDATE: Toyota Australia has confirmed that the 2020 Toyota Corolla will be making local landfall towards the end of next year.
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