HYER LOVE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Toyota's Corolla Hybrid has improved, especially in 1.8-litre form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 44

With this updated version of its Corolla family hatch, Toyota wants to make full-Hybrids more universally acceptable in the family hatchback segment. If that's going to work, this volume 1.8-litre petrol/electric model needs to be deeply impressive. And in this improved form, it is.

Backgroundword count: 169

The Corolla lineage is certainly impressive. It's still the world's most successful automotive model nameplate, dating back to 1966, since when 46 million cars have been produced. Away from naming semantics, there's much of interest here, not least the fact that the primary engines offered are petrol/electric hybrids. There are currently two of them from the brand, a 1.8 and a 2.0-litre unit, both of the 'self-charging' non-plug-in full-Hybrid variety. This Corolla also aims to change customer perceptions of Toyota in this sector, which tend to centre around expectations of drab interior quality, forgettable looks and boring drive dynamics. The improved version of the twelth generation Corolla that we're looking at here in 1.8-litre Hybrid form aims to turn those expectations around. As usual with a Corolla, there are two body styles on offer, a five-door hatch and the alternative 'Touring Sports' estate. All are built on the 'TNGA' 'Toyota New Global Architecture' platform and the hatch and estate are constructed at the brand's British factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire.

Driving Experienceword count: 282

The big differences with this revised 1.8-litre Corolla Hybrid come with the smaller capacity of this engine, with power output up from 120 to 138bhp, bringing a 1.7s reduction in the 0-62mph sprint time to 9.2s. A lot of that's down to weight-saving (the hybrid system's more powerful lithium-ion battery is 18kgs lighter), plus driveability's been improved too, thanks to a redesign for the power control unit and the transaxle motor. In addition, the hybrid control has been recalibrated to provide acceleration feel closer to throttle pedal use, with less of the previous 'rubber band' effect. As before, it all works via CVT auto gearbox with six speeds. If you've owned one of the brand's petrol/electric models before, you'll notice that this one is more driveable. But the whole point here is to garner conquest sales from customers previously used to a small diesel. These folk will still have to adapt to the way that big throttle inputs cause a flare of revs that the set-up initially struggles to translate into rapid forward movement. And they'll also still need to accept a vast reduction in mid-range pulling power; this engine's very modest torque output is about 40% down on what you'd get from a typical 1.5 or 1.6-litre rival small diesel unit, something you'll really notice in give-and-take motoring; overtakes have to be planned much further in advance. Push on and you should find this Toyota far more dynamically able than its segment predecessors. Throw the car into a corner and you'll find that though this Corolla is no Focus, it far from disgraces itself, with a decent level of front end grip and steering that's predictable and accurate, though rather light.

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