2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
There is a new Toyota Corolla. It is better than you think.
Since 1966, Toyota’s compact car laid the foundation for the brand’s success in the USA. In its twelfth edition, the Corolla arrived as a sporty new hatchback first with the sedan coming later this year. The new hatchback serves as an entry into what the new Corolla has to offer its owners.
We had a nice run in the new Corolla Hatchback – the SE model. Here is what we think of it.
The design is sharper, influenced by recent designs on a few Toyota models so far. It is safe to say that it is one of the best-looking Corollas of all time. The bold front end utilizing a large mesh lower grille and “boomerang” headlamps with a combination of projector beams and LED driving lights. The body flows from there with a series of curved shapes throughout the body ending with a bubbly rear end.
One drawback on this hatchback version is that the rear doors are a bit shorter than usual. We wondered about that but realize that the hatchback for a different kind of Corolla buyer than the sedan. In all, it is a very sporty Corolla, something we have not seen in decades.
In all, the Corolla Hatchback’s interior is pretty good. The front seats are bolstered with plenty of support to lock you in. The cloth upholstery is durable and wears well. Our SE tester came with manual adjustments for height, rake, and recline. However, rear seat room is tight for taller people, but you can fit four average sized adults inside easily. The hatch area seems a bit small, with a slight lip for loading items over the bumper.
Behind the wheel, the instrument binnacle offers a big center analog dial, a tachometer to the left, and an excellent TFT screen to the right giving you loads of information. The steering wheel had a thick rim for better grip for enthusiasts. We love the positioning of the gear lever and center stack controls, including climate controls. Overall interior quality is much better than before.
The center stack is crowned by a large tablet-like infotainment system. Powered by Toyota’s Entune 3.0 infotainment structure, you can use Apple CarPlay through the system. This is something that is evolving in newer Toyota models.
Underneath the Corolla Hatchback’s hood is a new 2.0-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts and 16-valves. This new engine offers up 168 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. It is very responsive and works well with the Hatchback. You can get either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission on all hatchback models. In particular, the CVT works extremely well with this engine. The Corolla Hatchback turned in a fuel consumption average of 35.3 MPG.
The ride/handling mix is great, as rougher roads were absorbed well for a good ride while managing the curves with ease. The steering serves up a tight turning circle through a light feeling system. On-center feel is very good, and it is quite responsive. The brakes are very solid with good pedal feel. The Corolla exhibited good stops in normal and panic situations.
One good thing to note on the Corolla Hatchback is the standard availability of the Toyota Safety Sense suite of active safety features. There is adaptive cruise control on all models, which works very well and will make traffic management much easier.
Pricing for the Corolla Hatchback starts at $19,995 for a manual transmission SE model. Our SE tester with the CVT was stickered at $23,639. You can also get the hatchback in the upgraded XSE model, starting at $22,990.
The Corolla Hatchback matches up well with its rivals. Consider one If you are looking at the Volkswagen Golf, Hyundai Elantra GT, Mazda3 5-door, Subaru Impreza 5-door, Honda Civic hatchback, and the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback.
Later this year, the new generation Corolla sedan will join the hatchback on the new platform. If you can’t wait for the new sedan, you can get the hatchback right now. It brings out a fun side that has not been seen in a Corolla in decades. And, most of all, it is better than you think.
Story Credits: Carsoup Editors
