Handsomely styled on the outside, spacious inside and priced from $20,740 (that’s less than the old model), Toyota has ticked all the boxes with the all-new Corolla sedan.
Here’s the thing: a few years back, Toyota President Akio Toyoda laid-down the law to his designers and engineers, the ‘whitegoods’ cars from Toyota were at an end and style had to be ramped-up. The all-new Corolla sedan (like its hatchback sibling) is proof positive they got the memo.
But practicality doesn’t suffer for design at Toyota and, with an extra 100mm in the wheelbase, the all-new Corolla sedan delivers much more space inside and can easily accommodate five adults. There’s also been a seismic shift in the quality of interior materials and the all-new Toyota Corolla sedan mimics the hatchback in presenting a much more alluring look/feel inside.
Likewise the driving dynamics and in fact Toyota’s Melbourne-based technical centre was called in to refine the new chassis for local conditions. More rigid and lighter than its predecessor, the all-new Corolla sedan – again at the behest of Akio Toyoda – is much more engaging to drive.
And despite sharpening the pricing pencils, Toyota has not scrimped on specifications for the all-new Corolla sedan – even the entry-grade Ascent comes with cruise control, a reversing camera and microphone/amplifier for the hands-free mobile telephone connection.
Mid-grade Toyota Corolla SX (ascent Sport and Conquest models have been discontinued) adds ‘Toyota Link’ multimedia system (use your smartphone to access apps), 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog-lights, front and rear parking sensors, Optitron instruments and some extra interior chrome.
Range-topping Toyota Corolla ZR (stickered $1,000 less than the previous Ultima model) goes further with satellite navigation, leather-trimmed seats, LED headlights/DRLs and steering wheel paddle shifters.
Under the bonnet is Toyota’s 103kW/173Nm 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine driving through either a six-speed manual transmission or seven-step Toyota Multi-drive CVT automatic.
The all-new Toyota Corolla sedan range looks like this:
Ascent $20,740
SX $22,990
ZR $30,990.
We’ll be driving the all-new Toyota Corolla sedan shortly so stay close to Carshowroom.com.au for our impressions.
