Toyota’s bolder 2019 Corolla hatchback lands in showrooms this summer.
Replacing the rebadged Scion iM five-door in the lineup, Corolla’s proper hatchback will be easy to spot, especially in its top XSE trim, which boasts a bigger rear spoiler and 18-inch wheels and tires. There’s also a new hero color — a pastel-like blue called “flame” — that will standout even more.
In addition to being lower and wider, the new Corolla gets significant upgrades to chassis, powertrain, entertainment, connectivity — and most of all, safety — that should ensure Corolla remains a tough competitor in the under-$25,000 segment.
The dramatically restyled 2019 Corolla starts at $19,990 for the SE with manual gearbox. The CVT-equipped SE runs $21,090. The XSE with manual trans gets an MSRP of $22,990 and the XSE with CVT is priced at $24,090. (Destination is an additional $920.)
For comparison, the 2018 iM starts at $18,850 while the 2018 Corolla XSE CVT-equipped sedan has an MSRP of $22,780.
Despite Americans’ penchant for CUVs and SUVs, last year Toyota sold 329,196 Corollas in U.S. — more than all the Lexus models sold in America in 2017. Introduced in 1966, the Corolla put the Toyota on the map. While Australia was the first to import the four-door car that year, today the Corolla is sold in roughly 150 countries and regions.
You can bet Toyota will go to the mat to protect the Corolla’s legacy as well as its track record of dependability. So it’s noteworthy that the 2019 hatchback is the first Corolla to be based on the “C” version of Toyota’s adaptable Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform.
Both the XSE and the base SE feature standard LED headlights and taillights, high-resolution 8-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, leather shift knob, SmartKey system, auto up/down power windows, electric parking brake, two USB outlets, manual tilt/telescoping steering column and 60/40 split folding rear seats. The SE uses 205/55R16 tires.
The XSE rolls on 255/40R18 rubber and Toyota throws in combination leather seating (the driver’s is powered), dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, an upgraded audio system and a 7-inch color driver information display replaces the SE’s 4.2-inch screen.
Toyota’s putting the latest driver and safety assist technology within reach of the masses by making its latest safety suite standard fare in its new hatchback. Dubbed Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, the bundle includes:
Full-speed dynamic radar cruise control matches the speed of the vehicle ahead between 0 and 110 mph and maintains an appropriate distance by slowing, stopping and accelerating. That’s for CVT-equipped Corolla hatches. Cars with the stick get dynamic radar cruise control that goes down to 15 mph and doesn’t include the capability of braking to a full stop on its own.
Pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection alerts the driver and/or applies braking to help lessen or, better yet, prevent contact. The system works with forward collision warning, brake assist and automatic emergency braking.
Lane departure alert with steering assist alerts the driver if the car starts to stray from its marked lanes. Steering assist applies slight steering nudges to keep the car in the lane.
Lane tracing assist, closely related to lane departure warnings, helps out on the highway. The technology can keep the car centered in its lane with steering inputs to make driving less stressful in heavy traffic or on long highway trips. The system can be turned on or off.
Road sign assist capitalizes on the safety suite’s cameras by recognizing and alerting to certain signs such as stop, yield and speed limits.
Automatic high beams
Safety is also about crash avoidance and, for when the vehicle does strike something, structural integrity. The TNGA-based Corolla has a 0.8-inch lower center of gravity for better handling dynamics, has 60 percent more torsional rigidity and has a new, sportier tuned McPherson strut suspension up front and a multilink rear suspension.
The new “dynamic force” 2.0-liter engine is smaller, lighter, and quieter than the outgoing 1.8-liter and puts out 168-horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. Here’s a factoid for techies: instead of engine oil pressure, an electric motor now handles the variable valve timing on the exhaust side.
The Corolla hatchback also gets new transmissions. There’s a lighter, shorter six-speed manual with downshift rev-matching or a CVT that simulates a 10-speed auto, a sport mode, and paddle shifters. The innovation here is that there’s an actual first gear cog that helps gets around the typical CVT mushiness at launch.
The SE with CVT is the most miserly when it comes to fuel consumption with EPA ratings of 32 mpg in the city, 42 highway and 36 combined. The six-speed SE comes in at 28 city, 27 highway and 31 overall. The heavier XSE CVT is rated at 30 mpg city, 38 highway and 33 combined. Numbers for the manual XSE aren’t yet available.
The new Corolla hatchback’s infotainment system is now compatible with Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa and certain wearable devices. Among the options is adaptive front lighting on the XSE ($415), blizzard pearl white paint ($395) and an SE preferred package with upgraded audio, information and app services and blind-spot monitor for $1,400. The XSE preferred package includes wireless charging for Qi-compatible devices and an eight-speaker, 800-watt premium JBL audio system with navigation. It runs $1,600. (Note that the preferred packages are not available on Corolla hatchbacks with manual transmissions.)
It’s great that Toyota has not only stepped up with a proper Corolla hatchback but one with more style and value. The five-door is quieter, more refined and more engaging to drive, and the breadth of safety features for under $20,000 seals the deal. (You’d be surprised how quickly “minor” touches like automatic brake hold become must-haves.)
Among the first questions we’ll ask Alexa when we get our hands on a production model is when will we see Android Auto-compatibility on Toyota’s bread-and-butter Corolla. And how about a retro-inspired turbocharged GT-S model to add some serious sizzle?
Sursa: chron.com