The Toyota Corolla was first introduced to the world in 1966 and since then no less than 11 generations of the car have been introduced, which has earned the obligatory title of "the best-selling car in the world". Over the years, the Corolla has gained the right benchmark when it comes to reliability, but along with its reputation for reliability, the Corolla has "earned" in recent years a reputation as a practical car, any connection between it and driving pleasure is purely coincidental.
This, of course, did not stop Mr. Israel Israeli from crowning the Toyota Corolla the best-selling car in Israel over the past three years. Yes, the Corolla has so far beaten even the coveted SUVs.
Old-new immigrants to Israel // Photo: Yuval Levy,
Toyota knows very well that a winning formula is not replaced, so in its latest facelift the Corolla received only minor changes. It is precisely in the engine compartment that the face-stretched Corolla has something new. It received an additional 18 horsepower over the outgoing version.
The cabin? In the best of fashion, the multimedia screen has grown and the dashboard has been replaced by a digital screen. Safety systems? The supply remains more or less the same, which is quite rich, but the capabilities of the systems have been upgraded mainly thanks to an improved front camera.
The cabin has been upgraded. New Toyota Corolla Sedan // Photo: Yuval Levy,
The new Toyota Corolla is offered in Israel in a sedan version only (in the past station wagon and hatchback versions were also offered) in three trim levels: Sun, Sense and Limited priced at NIS 158,000, NIS 160,000 and NIS 168,000 respectively. For the test, we got the fully equipped Limited version, which includes a variety of extras that do not come in the entry version, the main ones are: sunroof, front fog lights, wireless charging pad, 10.5" vs. 9" multimedia screen, mood lighting, automatic darkening center mirror), light 17" vs. 16" wheels, blind spot vehicle warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
The conservative design remains
The Corolla sedan, unsurprisingly, has an exterior design of... Corolla sedan. In contrast to the handsome hatchback version, which is no longer marketed, the sedan version presents a handsome but conservative look that has been associated with the model for many years. The interior of the Corolla is also understated and not groundbreaking, but a combination of dark and light colors creates some interest.
The quality of the above-the-knee materials is good, as is the quality of the assembly and finish (except for sharp connections on the centre console side and the bottom spokes of the steering wheel). The driver's seat is comfortable, but does not provide adjustable lower back support, something we would expect to find in a car at this price level. The multimedia screen, which protrudes upwards and leaves a relatively narrow field of view between it and the center mirror, presents an improved system compared to the outgoing model, but the interface is still not compatible with the advanced systems offered on the market today. The split climate control is easy to use and controlled by separate controls (rather than through the screen), and overall the human engineering in the Corolla is good, except for the lack of a round button to adjust the volume.
The new Toyota Corolla Sedan, an inside look // Photo: Yuval Levy,
Passengers in the rear seat of the Corolla will enjoy good knee space but problematic head space if they are taller than 185 cm. As part of the proposed equipment, they will be able to find air conditioning vents, an armrest on the back of the seat and two charging sockets. As is common in a sedan, the luggage compartment, which offers an average volume of 471 litres, offers a relatively narrow charging port and deep storage space.
Improved acceleration
The Corolla has a 1.8-litre engine that, together with the assistance of the electric motor, provides 140 hp combined with a sequential gearbox. The Corolla doesn't have a particularly wide power band, but the hybrid reinforcement certainly delivers the goods in acceleration within the city. If a commodity of 9.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h satisfies you, of course (an improvement of over a second compared to the previous model). At intercity speeds, the Corolla will make straining noises when seeking to accelerate uphill and overtaking, but as mentioned, will deliver.
New Toyota Corolla Sedan // Photo: Yuval Levy,
Corolla ride comfort is good and so is the soundproofing. It's clear that the Corolla "does the job" when it comes to getting from point A to point B, but what about enjoying driving between the two points? The Corolla does not star there: the sequential gearbox does not allow control of transmission ratios, the feedback from the steering wheel is non-existent and the handling of the road is predictable and unexciting. If you do decide to push the Corolla to the edge, you'll find that the rolling angles don't provide much confidence behind the wheel. Fuel consumption in our test was about 14.5 km per liter in combined driving.
Tough competition
The new Corolla retains the characteristics of the outgoing model as an efficient, high-quality but unexciting family and offers a number of necessary improvements that concentrate on performance in the multimedia system and the functioning of the safety systems. On the other hand, it also presents a new price: NIS 168,000 for the version being tested (Limited). In this price segment, the Corolla has quite a few desirable competitors in the form of a recreational car, some even offering an electric propulsion system that will provide significant savings in maintenance costs. Will the Corolla continue to be the queen of sales in Israel? It will be harder than before.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid Limited – ID
Card Engine: 1,798 cc, Hybrid Petrol
Combined power: 140 hp
Torque: 14.5 + 18.9 kg
Transmission: Automatic sequential, front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 270 cm
Weight: 1,355 kg
From 0 to 100 km/h: 9.3 seconds
Maximum speed: 180 km/h Average fuel
consumption (manufacturer): 21.7 km per liter
Price: 168,000 NIS
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