Photo: Toyota
We said our goodbyes to the Toyota Auris, as the hybrid specialists are reverting to the Corolla name. This also affects the all-new Corolla Touring, which is now technically the first-generation car in Europe, even though it has a predecessor.
The car we've seen testing on a couple of occasions is now a production reality. Like the i30 Touring, we get the feeling that not many people will talk about the practical Corolla model, even though it looks decent.
Being purely a hybrid model, it's unlikely to get any attention from the aftermarket industry. Few folks will even dare to wrap the hood in carbon or stance it. But the Corolla Touring looks more practical than a Prius while also doing its part for the environment and our lungs.
Three gasoline engines will be available, just as we suspected. The base unit, which is likely to be the most popular is a 1.2-liter turbo with 116 HP. It's also the only one with a manual gearbox. Following that, we have the 1.8-liter, 122 HP hybrid, shared with the C-HR, and a powerful new hybrid making 180 HP. It sounds great, but it's probably not cheap.
We don't have all the dimensions, but most compact wagons are roughly the same length. This one measure 2,600mm between the wheels, in which regard it's 50mm shorter than that i30 we mentioned. Toyota promises to offer “best-in-class rear seat passenger legroom” and 598 liters trunk space, which is slightly below the Golf Variant.
Add to that a reasonably flat trunk, a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear setup, and optionally available adaptive dampers, and you have no reason not to pick this over all the other non-hybrid cars in this segment.
Of course, the styling doesn't blow you away, but we know that dashboard is extra-squishy, and Toyota has stepped up its quality game. Expect the gaps to be filled in at next month's Paris Motor Show.
Being purely a hybrid model, it's unlikely to get any attention from the aftermarket industry. Few folks will even dare to wrap the hood in carbon or stance it. But the Corolla Touring looks more practical than a Prius while also doing its part for the environment and our lungs.
Three gasoline engines will be available, just as we suspected. The base unit, which is likely to be the most popular is a 1.2-liter turbo with 116 HP. It's also the only one with a manual gearbox. Following that, we have the 1.8-liter, 122 HP hybrid, shared with the C-HR, and a powerful new hybrid making 180 HP. It sounds great, but it's probably not cheap.
We don't have all the dimensions, but most compact wagons are roughly the same length. This one measure 2,600mm between the wheels, in which regard it's 50mm shorter than that i30 we mentioned. Toyota promises to offer “best-in-class rear seat passenger legroom” and 598 liters trunk space, which is slightly below the Golf Variant.
Add to that a reasonably flat trunk, a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear setup, and optionally available adaptive dampers, and you have no reason not to pick this over all the other non-hybrid cars in this segment.
Of course, the styling doesn't blow you away, but we know that dashboard is extra-squishy, and Toyota has stepped up its quality game. Expect the gaps to be filled in at next month's Paris Motor Show.
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