The Toyota Corolla has long been a stalwart on local roads, topping sales charts year after year, or coming a very close second. It is the world’s bestselling car, with over 40 million units sold since launch in 1966.

However intense competition, especially from the South Koreans, means that the newToyota Corolla has to be very good indeed. In fact, good won’t be good enough. It has to set a new standard and be competitively priced – no mean feat – and I think Toyota feels that pressure.

I’m happy to report then that at least aesthetically, the new Toyota Corolla looks very good. You wouldn’t be too wrong for feeling that all these Far Eastern sedans look the same, but much of a car’s proportions these days is dictated by the need to meet stringent safety regulations.

I think the new Toyota Corolla is rather handsome, and manages to look quite sporting too. It can’t look too sporting; you don’t want to alienate the more conservative buyer. Goodness, I don’t envy whoever it is designing global models like these.

But this global model will be very South African indeed, and will be built at Toyota’s Prospecton plant in Durban.

The New Toyota Corolla ushers in new engine range

South Africa will be receiving the European-spec Corolla, which is good news because we’ll be getting a new frugal diesel. The 1.4 lire turbocharged unit replaces the 2.0 litre unit currently available. Toyota was quite late to the diesel party, and although the 2.0 litre unit was a little rougher than its competitors, it had great pulling power and great economy.

The latest, smaller unit boasts a fairly modest 66kW and 205Nm of torque, but claims a rather incredible 3.8 litres/100km. That would make it more efficient than a Prius – maybe that’s why Toyota stayed away from diesels…

There will be three petrols, a 1.3, 1.6 and 1.8 litre, all 4-cylinder. The 1.3 offers healthy power figures, but low torque, at 73kW and 128Nm. There are two variants of the 1.6 for some reason, a 90kW and 97kW, and the range-topping 1.8 litre offers 103kW and 173Nm.

With all that in mind, I think I’d have the diesel.

Design features

The 11th generation is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, with a bigger boot and substantially more rear legroom. All models will feature a 6.1 inch touch screen as standard, with such functionality as text message reading as standard, and navigation with access to Google Places as a pricier option.

Toyota says this is the most refined, most comfortable Corolla ever, and we’ll have to take their word on that for now as we await a first test drive in 2014.