Kelly Fisher asks, “Is there room in the market for the Toyota Corolla hatchback hybrid?”
About a decade ago there was not a lot to choose from when it came to hybrid or electric vehicles. There was the Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf as the two most popular options and, if we’re being honest, no one wanted one due to styling. Today, however, things are very different.
Today, with the increasing cost of living, the continued rise and fall and then rise again of the cost of fuel, hybrid and electric vehicles have become more popular and can be seen pretty much everywhere. Hybrid systems, especially, have made their way into mainstream vehicles. Which brings me to the Toyota Corolla hatchback hybrid.
What’s new on the Corolla hatchback?
Late in 2022 Toyota updated its Corolla hatchback with some styling upgrades and, importantly, new additions to the engine line-up. Where there once was a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol now lies a 1.8-litre Petrol-Electric Hybrid powertrain or proven 2.0-litre Dynamic Force petrol powerplant. And just recently, we got behind the wheel of the former.
The 1.8-litre Petrol-Electric Hybrid powertrain has 103 kW and has a claimed fuel consumption of 3.5-litres/100 km. This unit is paired with a CVT transmission.
In terms of styling changes to this updated hatchback, there is a wider front air dam, new chrome accents for flagship models, revised headlamp clusters, slight changes to the lower bumper diffuser at the rear and additional accents.
Would I buy it?
The Corolla hatchback in hybrid form costs R500 700 for the entry-level version. I do think that this hatchback’s biggest competitor comes from within its own family – the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid which has a recommended retail price of R442 400 for the entry-level iteration. The locally-built Corolla Cross has already been a huge sales success for the brand – so much so that you most likely still have to add your name to a waiting list if you want one. Why would you choose a more expensive hatchback over a compact SUV?
The hatchback feels smaller from the inside and, as mentioned, is more expensive. There was once a time when C-segment hatchbacks were tremendously popular in South Africa. I do think that we have fallen out of love with this segment of the market though. Not because it did anything wrong, but because the B-segment hatchback market and the compact SUV market did everything right. In fact, the Corolla hatchback is a very capable vehicle to drive. You won’t be left wanting for much if you were to find yourself in one. But I do think that it has a big brother that outshines it.
In conclusion, if you’re wanting a hybrid Toyota, I would suggest you try both the Corolla hatchback version and the Corolla Cross version before you make your final choice. My guess is that you might walk in wanting the hatchback, but walk out with the compact SUV… or walk out with your name on the list for the compact SUV, at least.