With hovering inflation, document excessive transaction costs, and a summer season of $5 per gallon gasoline, inexpensive and gas environment friendly sedans have by no means regarded higher.

Sadly, it’s slim pickings because the carpocalypse continues to assert victims with a few of the newest being the Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Accent, Honda Perception, and Nissan Maxima. Nonetheless, Toyota is dedicated to vehicles as officers just lately famous 3.4 million items had been offered in america final 12 months alone.

That dedication was obvious at a current press drive in Tennessee, the place we drove the all-new Crown and the facelifted Corolla. We’ll be speaking in regards to the Crown subsequent week, however at present we’re specializing in the up to date Corolla Hybrid, which sports activities revised styling, an up to date inside, a extra highly effective hybrid powertrain, and a brand new all-wheel drive choice.

Flippantly Revised Styling And Two New Trims

Quick Information › › ›

Whereas the 2023 Corolla Hybrid sports activities quite a lot of adjustments, you’d be arduous pressed to inform by wanting on the exterior because the mannequin is nearly an identical to its predecessor. Nonetheless, a better inspection reveals a flippantly revised entrance fascia with a brand new grille and up to date LED headlights.

The entry-level LE additionally good points 16-inch metal wheels, which exchange the earlier 15-inchers. Moreover, the colour palette has been revamped as Midnight Black Metallic replaces Black Sand Pearl and Underground replaces Blue Crush Metallic.

The styling adjustments are minor, however Toyota responded to buyer requests and added two new Hybrid trims. The XLE grade focuses on luxurious, whereas the SE variant has a sportier look because of an aggressive entrance bumper, a gloss black mesh grille, and bigger 18-inch alloy wheels. The mannequin additionally has a sport-tuned suspension and a novel rear diffuser, which incorporates a lower out for a sportier exhaust system.

A Spacious Inside With An All-New Infotainment System

The modest updates proceed within the cabin as the largest change is the addition of a brand new 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system. The voice-focused infotainment system initially debuted within the 2022 Tundra and has been slowly spreading throughout Toyota’s lineup.

It’s an enormous enchancment over the Corolla’s earlier infotainment system because it presents over-the-air updates, cloud-based navigation with Google point-of-interest information, and an Clever Assistant that responds to the “Hey, Toyota” wake phrase. Different highlights embrace out there Apple Music and Amazon Music streaming, and a Security Join subscription that gives Automated Collision Notification and Stolen Automobile Location Help.

All of these subscriptions add up, however the infotainment system is quick and responsive, whereas additionally providing wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The latter negates the necessity for cloud-based navigation, however there’s no escaping the infotainment system’s beefy bezels.

Extra adjustments are restricted, however consumers will discover two new USB-C ports for rear seat passengers. These are welcome additions, however Toyota eradicated some content material to scale back the LE’s base worth by $1,250.

The mannequin now begins at $22,800 however ditches the beforehand customary Sensible Key and push-button ignition. Likewise, the 7-inch multi-information show is now reserved for the XLE trim because the LE and SE sport a smaller 4.2-inch show. Each eliminations are small tradeoffs and customers can get the Sensible Key system by ordering both the LE Comfort or LE Premium bundle. The packages additionally add 16-inch alloy wheels, a blind spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic alert.

On the intense facet, the facelifted Corolla stays comparatively spacious as there’s loads of room up entrance. The rear seats are additionally grownup pleasant, though getting three of them within the again could be a decent squeeze. Patrons may even discover 13.1 cubic ft (371 liters) of baggage area, which is similar quantity because the conventionally-powered sedan.

An Upgraded Hybrid Powertrain With 134 HP

Below the hood, the 2023 Corolla Hybrid has an upgraded powertrain that consists of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, two motor-generators, a small lithium-ion battery pack, and a constantly variable transmission. Whereas that sounds fairly acquainted, the system sports activities a brand new “high-output/low-loss drive motor” that options two further magnets for an elevated output.

Due to this modification, the hybrid powertrain produces 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS) and 156 lb-ft (211 Nm) of torque. That’s a rise of 13 hp (10 kW / 13 PS) and 10 lb-ft (14 Nm), which helps to enhance acceleration in addition to mid-range efficiency.

In fact, clients ought to maintain their expectations in examine as a result of 134 hp isn’t a lot when it’s being requested to propel a 2,850 pound (1,293 kg) sedan. Acceleration is just ample and launches are leisurely even with the additional oomph.

Nonetheless, nobody buys a Corolla Hybrid for pleasure and the mannequin excels the place it issues – on the gas pump, because it has an EPA-estimated gas economic system score of fifty mpg metropolis, 43 mpg freeway, and 47 mpg mixed.

Regardless of being respectable, these figures are considerably worse than the outgoing mannequin which returned 53 mpg metropolis, 52 mpg freeway, and 52 mpg mixed. The freeway hit is especially troubling and it means the Corolla Hybrid is much less spectacular than some rivals.

Specifically, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid returns 53 mpg metropolis, 56 mpg freeway, and 54 mpg mixed which provides it a reasonably sizable benefit over the Corolla. For customers who aren’t offered on sedans, there’s the pricier Kia Niro which has an EPA score of 53 mpg metropolis, 54 mpg freeway, and 53 mpg mixed.

A New All-Wheel Drive Possibility For $1,400

Whereas the upgraded hybrid powertrain is actually welcome, some of the attention-grabbing additions is a newly out there all-wheel drive system. As in different Toyota hybrids, the all-wheel drive system incorporates a rear-mounted electrical motor that gives energy to the rear wheels when the entrance wheels start to slide attributable to a lack of traction or a forceful launch. The system additionally helps to scale back understeer for improved dynamics.

We didn’t have a lot want for all-wheel drive on a sunny Tennessee day, however the system labored seamlessly and allowed for drama-free launches. In fact, its actual profit is in colder climates the place snow and ice is a reality of life.

The all-wheel drive system is a $1,400 choice on the LE and SE trims. That’s fairly inexpensive and it means house owners can snag an all-wheel drive variant for as little as $24,200 earlier than factoring within the $1,095 vacation spot payment.

Nonetheless, the all-wheel drive system carries a penalty on the pump because the mannequin has an EPA-estimated gas economic system score of 47 mpg metropolis, 41 mpg freeway, and 44 mpg mixed. That’s a slight drop of three mpg metropolis, 2 mpg freeway, and three mpg mixed when in comparison with the front-wheel drive variant.

A Acquainted Driving Expertise And New Security Options

Moreover the additional energy and added safety of all-wheel drive, the remainder of the driving expertise successfully carries over. Consequently, clients will discover a acquainted sedan that prioritizes consolation over sportiness.

The suspension soaks up minor street imperfections with ease, though the electrical energy steering is a bit of too gentle for our liking. The brakes are additionally respectable and there’s a Sport mode to assist liven issues up a bit.

Whereas the driving expertise stays unremarkable, all Corolla Hybrids now come outfitted with the Toyota Security Sense 3.0 suite of driver help methods. The large information is the addition of Proactive Driving Help, which incorporates Impediment Anticipation Help and Deceleration Help. It supplies “mild braking and/or steering help to assist management [the] distance between your car and a previous car, pedestrian or bicyclist, or to assist the motive force keep inside the lane.”

The suite additionally contains Full-Velocity Vary Dynamic Radar Cruise Management, Highway Signal Help, Lane Tracing Help (Lane Centering), and a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian and Bicycle owner Detection. They’re joined by Auto Excessive Beams and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Help.

A Cheaper, Extra Succesful Corolla

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid isn’t a radical departure, but it surely’s much more interesting because of a $1,250 worth lower, improved efficiency, a contemporary infotainment system, and the supply of all-wheel drive.

That being mentioned, there are some tradeoffs because the entry-level mannequin loses some beforehand customary tools and gas economic system scores take a big hit. Nonetheless, it’s arduous to fault numbers of as much as 50 mpg metropolis, 43 mpg freeway, and 47 mpg mixed – particularly when the nationwide common worth of gasoline is hovering round $3.90 per gallon.

So whereas the Corolla Hybrid isn’t terribly thrilling, it’s a strong, fuel-sipping companion that’s snug and comparatively spacious. It additionally guarantees to be a viable choice in colder climates, the place all-wheel drive crossovers sometimes dominate.