TOYOTA Corolla Liftback Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Toyota launched the seventh generation of the Corolla in 1991, followed in 1992 by the five-door version, Liftback, aimed at those who didn't like the station wagon shape but needed more room than a regular sedan.

By the late '80s, this type of bodywork gained traction on the market, and more customers asked for it. Apart from the premium carmakers, most European car manufacturers started to offer something in this niche, and Toyota joined the trend. Moreover, it already had a tradition with the liftback version since it has offered one in several markets, including the U.S., since 1984.

Sharing its front fascia with the sedan, the Corolla Liftback featured rectangular, horizontal headlights with rounded edges, extended around the corners with the blinkers. The trend of boxy design of the mid-'80s was already gone, but Toyota's design team didn't want to go over the edge with the curved lines. Yet, they shaved all the corners and edges of the vehicle. At the back, behind the C-pillar, the Liftback featured a sloped tailgate, leading to the introduction of the third row of windows after the rear doors. At the back, depending on the trim level, the car was fitted with a black panel, which included the rear taillights and covered the trunk opening.

Inside, the front bucket seats provided minimal side bolstering, and the dashboard was carried over from the sedan sibling. The main difference was for the rear bench, which was a split-folding type, thus expanding the trunk area from 400 liters (14.1 cu-ft) to 1,120 liters (39.5 cu-ft).

Under the hood, Toyota dropped a choice of three engines, ranging between 1.3-liter and 2.0-liter. The gasoline versions offered a smaller displacement of 1.3 and 1.6-liter, respectively, while the naturally-aspirated diesel got a two-liter engine.

Toyota charged ahead with the sixth generation of the Corolla in 1987 and offered it in a few shapes and sizes, including the liftback version, which was considered by the carmaker the best choice for small families.

Apart from coupe and convertible, the 1987 Corolla was available with any other shapes for the compact segment, including this liftback, which stood right between the four-door sedan and the station wagon. It was designed for those who didn't need a station wagon on a daily basis but still needed some extra load area from time to time, and the five-door hatchback was just too small for them.

The Liftback version sported rectangular headlights that flanked the three-slat grille at the front, featuring the same angular styling as the rest of the range. The turn signals were placed lower in the bumper, exposing them to parking bumps. But the most significant change was on the car's profile. After the C-pillar, the carmaker added a longer glass area and ended into the raked-forward D-pillar. In addition, the liftgate offered a broad opening area at the back, helping to load and unload bulky items.

Inside, the Corolla Liftback featured the same dashboard as the sedan, with the raised, curved instrument cluster extended above the center stack. However, Toyota considered that the HVAC controls were more important than the audio controls, and thus it installed them above the stereo. At the back, the split-folding bench allowed the users to load longer items.

Under the hood, Toyota installed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines, ranging between 67 hp and 125 hp. However, unlike the Wagon or the Sedan, the Liftback was not available with an AWD system.