Pre 2023 vs 2023 Corolla

[ToyotaFanDriver]

Hi,

I have a family member who is also looking to become a Toyota driver. Does anyone have experience of driving the pre 2023 Corolla and the updated one with the new generation hybrid system? It would be good to know what the thoughts are on the improvements/quality changes.

I have had the pre 2023 Corolla but not been able to drive the newer one so cannot compare the two...

[Paul john]

The Corolla was one of the first to have the 2.0 hybrid and i took one of the first models for a test drive (my prius is a 1.8 hybrid). 2020gtr 2l hybrid
drives very well and the marginal loss in mpg was worth it for the increase in power and the flappy paddles. 

[AndrueC]

Really? Someone actually uses paddles to change gear?

I had them on my previous two cars (Honda Jazz) and never found them useful. Never under your fingers if/when you need them.

They could be useful to pre-empt kickdown but honestly if it's not safe to overtake with kickdown it's probably not safe to overtake. And almost certainly not worth it anyway.

[Gray86]

9 hours ago, Paul john said:

The Corolla was one of the first to have the 2.0 hybrid and i took one of the first models for a test drive (my prius is a 1.8 hybrid). 2020gtr 2l hybrid
drives very well and the marginal loss in mpg was worth it for the increase in power and the flappy paddles. 

Flappy paddles don’t really work like a dual clutch gearbox where you can accelerate through the gears, it just adjusts the revs when accelerating. They are only useful when driving down steep or long hills where you want engine braking in lieu of using your disk brakes 

[Danharvey]

The differences are night and day.

I had a 2022 1.8 Icon tech hatchback and it was okay but ultimately it was slow (0-60 in 11s) and whenever I put my foot down it was so noisy. I averaged 64mpg on a mix of town and dual carriageway driving.

I now have a 2023 1.8 Icon touring sport and it shifts!

0-60 is now 9s and it really does move well. If I put my foot down, I get a great response and it is much quieter.

Absolutely love it when I have a full or near full Battery as it flies when it is using petrol engine and discharging.

No question from me, get the 2023 version. 

[Paul john]

16 minutes ago, Gray86 said:

Flappy paddles don’t really work like a dual clutch gearbox where you can accelerate through the gears, it just adjusts the revs when accelerating. They are only useful when driving down steep or long hills where you want engine braking in lieu of using your disk brakes 

Also usefull for downshifting on that model…

trust me. It was a good test drive on the a21 for an hour.

[Gray86]

2 minutes ago, Paul john said:

Also usefull for downshifting on that model…

trust me. It was a good test drive on the a21 for an hour.

Sorry that’s why I mean it’s just for downshifting / making the revs raise to create engine braking. Works great for that, but only that. I’m 29,000 miles in on my 2.0 and only use the paddles when negotiating the Peak District hills, to prevent ruining the disk brakes once the hybrid Battery is full from regenerative braking. 

[Paul john]

1 minute ago, Gray86 said:

Sorry that’s why I mean it’s just for downshifting / making the revs raise to create engine braking. Works great for that, but only that. I’m 29,000 miles in on my 2.0 and only use the paddles when negotiating the Peak District hills, to prevent ruining the disk brakes once the hybrid battery is full from regenerative braking. 

Very nice

[simond64]

I’ve had  2020 1.8 & 2022 2.0 GRSport, now got 2023 2.0 TS Excel, 2023 is a major upgrade. 
Is next version hybrid, faster, smoother, new lights in higher trims, digital dashboard, safety sense 3.0 over 2.0, etc

 if given the choice 2023 is a big improvement

[barrycoll]

I too have a 2020 2.0 Design TS and thinking of sellling on and buying 23 1.8 instead.

the upgrades to the Gen 5 sound substantial, and a more detailed response from someone would be appreciated, and not getting sidetracked with the use of paddles

is it really worth the expense ???

[simond64]

6 hours ago, barrycoll said:

I too have a 2020 2.0 Design TS and thinking of sellling on and buying 23 1.8 instead.

the upgrades to the Gen 5 sound substantial, and a more detailed response from someone would be appreciated, and not getting sidetracked with the use of paddles

is it really worth the expense ???

Yes it’s worth it, I never use the paddles and if u have 1.8 they aren’t even there. 
You will get full digital dash, 10.5 infotainment screen, voice commands without having to touch buttons, safety sense 3.0, that’s a big jump, 1mph increments, much more responsive. 
If u choose design I’d recommend Excel but avoid GRSport, Excel has the head up display, leather seats, adaptive headlights which have been impressive, forget auto high beams this is something else. 
check carwow for discounts, it seems you missed the highest trade in a few months ago but still some good deals about

[AndrueC]

Excel has the head up display, leather seats, adaptive headlights which have been impressive, forget auto high beams this is something else.

I should hope it is better. The auto high beam logic on my 2019 Corolla is poor. It's okay as a 'in case you forget the car might do it for you' way but if the intention was to let you drive on full beam all the time with the car taking care of dipping it's an abject failure.

My Jazz had a far better system in that respect and I think it'd take me a while to trust Toyota with headlight beam control ever again.

 

[Don Mac]

The adaptive headlights are, as Simon says, not the same as auto high beams. They are a type of matrix headlight - meaning that they can selectively dim parts of the beam area to avoid dazzling other drivers whilst keeping the full beam effect elsewhere. They are also self levelling.

Since I live in London, where it's never that dark, I didn't think that I'd notice much difference from my last car (old fashioned halogen lights). I can, however, see a big improvement. Out of town this would be even more obvious.

[DAF XF]

On 10/1/2023 at 8:26 PM, Danharvey said:

The differences are night and day.

I had a 2022 1.8 Icon tech hatchback and it was okay but ultimately it was slow (0-60 in 11s) and whenever I put my foot down it was so noisy. I averaged 64mpg on a mix of town and dual carriageway driving.

I now have a 2023 1.8 Icon touring sport and it shifts!

0-60 is now 9s and it really does move well. If I put my foot down, I get a great response and it is much quieter.

Absolutely love it when I have a full or near full battery as it flies when it is using petrol engine and discharging.

No question from me, get the 2023 version. 

Out of interest what mpg do you get now on same journeys in the 2023 1.8?

[simond64]

27 minutes ago, Don Mac said:

The adaptive headlights are, as Simon says, not the same as auto high beams. They are a type of matrix headlight - meaning that they can selectively dim parts of the beam area to avoid dazzling other drivers whilst keeping the full beam effect elsewhere. They are also self levelling.

Since I live in London, where it's never that dark, I didn't think that I'd notice much difference from my last car (old fashioned halogen lights). I can, however, see a big improvement. Out of town this would be even more obvious.

Yes, the auto high beams in last years model were disappointing but these adaptive high beams I’ve tried in rural Lincolnshire, they stay on high and shade out other cars, no one flashes me, I see road sidings I didn’t before and when no other car can see about half a mile, I feel much safer

[ToyotaFanDriver]

Thanks so far for all the response, its been very useful information and means I can make a strong recommendation. Has the mpg improved by much as well?

[barrycoll]

Thank you Simon, you make a convincing case for Sell & Buy

having just come back from Spain with 2 bikes on the back of the cars tow hitch, a new tow hitch, a panoramic roof, and a spare space saver are my Must Haves for the next vehicle too. And I miss the HUD from the Prius too

that excludes the 16" wheel Icon unfortunately, although small wheels used to be an option when buying a new Prius with a sun roof.

Interestingly, my 2.0 TS has registered 59mpg since new with 16k miles now

[bigblock]

Mpg is a big improvement in warm weather at least. Managed 65.5 mpg on my last tank to tank fill up. Didn't really try to drive it for maximum mpg either. My previous 2020 2.0 TS could never get this mpg this easily. Plus the new Projector headlights on this Design spec are far brighter than the 2020 model. 

[FreddoChoc]

Excel 2023 v Excel 2021 1.8 TS (most things mentioned previously thanks)

Pros  - better styling, the decuma grey colour is no longer a light grey but a very dark grey, smoother, less noisy and more responsive drive, more limo like, HUD, dashboard and info system both a major leap forward, stylish wheels, better headlights (no expert in what or how), side traffic alert ( in driver's door mirror) for passing cars or getting out unobstructed.  

Cons - require the MyT app to stay signed into the infotainment or multimedia system and register user and 'link keys', this avoids being a guest user which has the downside of having to 'tick 2 boxes and accept' after every time you start the car, to access the infotainment system. Rear parking camera less quality (you get used to it). Smart entry key is bigger in size slightly (pedantic I know).  

Undecided - the boot floor looks higher or more level with the tailgate opening. 2021 Excel had a box with lid across the boot space behind the rear seats, now not present. No three part main menu as in the 2021 infotainment system. Maybe it's stuff I just got used to, nothing major. 

[Cyker]

What's up with Decuma Grey anyway? It has to have been the most variable colour in the choices!

On my Mk2 it was a much lighter shade, but on my Mk4 it's closer to the old Thunder Grey the Mk9 Corollas had!

[Don Mac]

10 hours ago, FreddoChoc said:

2021 Excel had a box with lid across the boot space behind the rear seats, now not present. ...

Are you sure? Mine definitely had one (took it out to get the full boot size)

The lid is part of the carpeted flaps that cover the gap at the base of the rear seats. There's a pull tab in the middle to open it.

[barrycoll]

Does the 23 excel have a flat floor option with the rear seat's tilted forward....?

 

can I keep the space saver from 21 TS and use it with 24 excel hatch?

[Don Mac]

37 minutes ago, barrycoll said:

Does the 23 excel have a flat floor option with the rear seat's tilted forward....?

 

can I keep the space saver from 21 TS and use it with 24 excel hatch?

Yes to the flat floor, although at a loss of boot space, for both TS and hatch I believe.

Yes to keeping the space saver.

[barrycoll]

The 1.8 GR hatch in the showroom, did not have a flat floor wit seats folded forward.....maybe other grades have different options?

[TonyHSD]

42 minutes ago, barrycoll said:

The 1.8 GR hatch in the showroom, did not have a flat floor wit seats folded forward.....maybe other grades have different options?

Latest 1.8 hatchbacks non of them has a raised boot  floor and there is a huge gap when seats are folded. Not sure , if a spare tyres is an option anymore only then the car will come with raised floor and flat folded rear seats.