The ever-popular Toyota Corolla has been updated! Take a look at what’s changed!

The 12th-generation Toyota Corolla arrived in South Africa back in 2020 and the Japenese firm has given the Corolla a styling and equipment update, but more importantly, the Corolla’s hybrid powertrain has also been enhanced.

What’s Changed?

A larger infotainment system and a new instrument cluster makes its way into the updated Corolla.

You’d be hard-pressed to spot the exterior styling changes but Toyota has updated the grille mesh design, tweaked the fog light bezels and bi-LED headlights with adaptive high beam are now fitted to range-topping Corollas while new alloy wheel designs will be offered too along with some new body colors to choose from such as Metallic Grey, Juniper Blue and Midnight Teal.

In markets where its offered, the Corolla GR Sport will gain new 18-inch alloy wheels, revised rear bumper and under-guard while the interior gets updated upholstery and a GR logo on the push-button start.

Interior changes include revised trim and upholstery with newly embossed patterns that give a 3-D effect while new Dark and Light Harmony upholstery combinations further enhance the cabin ambience. A larger 10.25 inch infotainment display also makes its way into the Corolla as well as a new 12.3-inch, customisable combimeter instrument cluster and a new voice assistance system.

The big news for this particular update, however, has taken place under the bonnet where Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid-electric system now produces better performance!

For both the 1.8 and 2.0 Corolla Hybrid, Toyota has redesigned the power control unit (PCU) and transaxle motor while also fitting a more powerful and lighter lithium-ion battery resulting in up to 18 kg in weight savings.

As far as outputs go, the 1.8-litre Corolla Hybrid now produces 104 kW / 142 Nm (14 kW more than before) and is 1.7 seconds faster in the sprint to 100 kph at 9.2 seconds. The larger 2.0-litre Corolla Hybrid (not on sale in SA) get a 12 kW power bump to 146 kW and will now accelerate to 100 kph in 7.5 seconds, half a second quicker than before.

Toyota has also tweaked the hybrid control to deliver a more natural and intuitive acceleration feel and powertrain refinement has also been improved with less noise experienced while driving.

In terms of safety, Toyota T-Mate joins the familiar Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features which can be updated over-the-air. Improvements have been made to the acceleration suppression at low speeds, collision avoidance support, emergency steering assist, lateral collision avoidance and curve speed reduction. A Safe Exit System will now trigger a warning if a door is opened into the path of a car or cyclist approaching from the rear and a Rear Seat Reminder will let you know if you have left something on the back seats.

The updated Toyota Corolla will go on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2023 and its local introduction in South Africa can be expected thereafter. We will keep you updated as more details become available.

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