Autocar: first drive of 2023 Toyota Corolla 1.8 hybrid

[TonyHSD]

I bet that if they race a Corolla hybrid against its rivals they will realise how equally they perform but the Corolla will not give you this pulling away feeling because of the hybrid system and transmission set up.
While other hybrids stimulate gears and fake engine noise, some others has this by default the Corolla remains real and offers a good acceleration without any extra complexity or drama. It seems like people can’t get away from this old school shift shocks, engine revs, etc. 

I had been a witness of Tesla drag race with BMWs on the streets in London on regular basis and I can tell you how I enjoy watching the bmw drivers get destroyed quietly and easily. Although not a fan of these illegal road racing as it’s obviously not safe here some better comparison of Corolla. 

 

[Don Mac]

20 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/toyota/corolla/first-drives/toyota-corolla-18-hybrid-2023-first-drive

The first drive is back (now dated 14th February), along with a review

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/toyota/corolla/359647/new-toyota-corolla-2023-review

[Cyker]

"Prices start at £30,210 for the 1.8-litre Icon and rise to £35,145 for the 2.0-litre Excel. The Touring Sports bodystyle adds around £1700. All models have a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, an electric motor, a Battery and a CVT." -AutoCar

A turbo huh? Are you sure AutoCar?  

The AutoExpress article seems much better, no obvious factual errors, although they claim the interior is better quality than the current Golf which is a bit shocking if true!!  

 

[davidif]

34 minutes ago, Cyker said:

"Prices start at £30,210 for the 1.8-litre Icon and rise to £35,145 for the 2.0-litre Excel. The Touring Sports bodystyle adds around £1700. All models have a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, an electric motor, a battery and a CVT." -AutoCar

A turbo huh? Are you sure AutoCar?  

The AutoExpress article seems much better, no obvious factual errors, although they claim the interior is better quality than the current Golf which is a bit shocking if true!!  

 

I'm not so sure about the interior. the last Golf I had, a 2018 Mk7.5R, had a lovely interior. However my brother has an 8R and the interior is nowhere like as nice.

[TonyHSD]

I had been only in Corolla GR sport and Excel both hatchback 2022 and 2019 and In my humble experience the interior is top notch, as good as vw, Audi, bmw or Mercedes from the same size models, also been in those cars so pretty good base to compare. Seats, dashboard, door cards , even carpet is of a good quality everywhere. The Corolla has a plusher feel to Yaris or Aygo for comparison as to be expected and an idea lower than Camry or rav4., again it’s normal. 
The other makes might have more interesting and more inspiring design as many journalists says but materials and craftsmanship of Corolla is very similar and on a par each other. 

[camellia30]

 

[TonyHSD]

14 hours ago, camellia30 said:

 

Watched last night, these guys are doing better reviews than most of ours here in UK which are known to entertain the audience with water bottles and bananas more than to provide any useful information and prise a certain models which obviously are told to do so. 
Anyway, It seems like Toyota has done a lot of changes to the 2.0 power train too, basically it’s the same as in the Prius gen 5 , lightweight and with the new Battery and engine control comes like more efficient variant from the 1.8 version, at least on paper. Except the high price tag the new 23 Corolla hybrid is the best car in its class no doubt with the best design and best drive trains of all cars on the market.
Although I had never been a fan of screens in cars these new models with the large full screen dashboard are really my favourite of all Toyota models, I only wished it had the gear shifter from Prius and it would be even better. 
All in all very welcome change. Does it worth upgrading from 2019 ->Corolla if you already own one?  -  not at all unless you have a lots of disposable cash, but if you about to replace your old and worn motor, this is the car to buy. 🚙👌

[DC_Ms]

16 hours ago, camellia30 said:

 

Very professional and detailed review , pointing out and praising a lot the improvements made from the previous generation , not like Autocar and Auto Express ones that I read in their magazines , almost identical word by word. Almost felt like they were trying to give it a bad reputation 🤷‍♂️

Here’s another foreign review (who knows italian) and they have only positives to say about the new Corolla.

 

[AndrueC]

3 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Does it worth upgrading from 2019 ->Corolla if you already own one?  -  not at all unless you have a lots of disposable cash, but if you about to replace your old and worn motor, this is the car to buy. 🚙👌

I've had my 2019 Corolla for almost 4 years (it was a birthday present to myself for end of Feb) and thanks to Covid making me working at home permanently it has yet to reach 25,000 miles and the first third of those were all done in the first year.

It's going to be a long time before I have to think about replacing it 😄

[TonyHSD]

Another one in white, GR sport looks really good 👍 

 

[DC_Ms]

18 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

Another one in white, GR sport looks really good 👍 

 

How come 23 plate ?

[YarisHybrid2016]

Quote

From £20,354

WHERE?! How?!

[TonyHSD]

All we need to know about new 23 Corolla from a first hand. 
https://media.toyota.co.uk/toyota-launches-the-new-corolla-with-fifth-generation-hybrid-electric-technology/

[camellia30]

What happened to the AWD?