Toyota Corolla in high safety, fuel-economy record

Toyota is not ready to give up its much cherished high records of being an inexpensive, safety-minded and well-equipped compact car maker. This is demonstrated in the engineering of its latest Corolla, the 2021 model.

Available as either four-door hatchback or sedan, the new Toyota car is said to offer a variety of personalities. Both body styles feature a pair of dutiful four-cylinder engines, and are offered with an extremely frugal hybrid powertrain.

Special edition

Toyota has added a limited-production Special Edition to the 2021 Corolla hatchback lineup.

Interior

The new car comes with 10 airbags. Every Corolla hatchback adds rear-seat-mounted side airbags, which bring the car’s total to 10.

Its cargo volume can also be expanded by six cubic feet (23 total) with a new no-cost option that deletes the spare tyre and adds a tyre-repair kit.

The sedan adds a limited-production trim level called the Apex Edition. Along with a unique appearance and a specially tuned chassis, it is available with summer tyres.

However, there will only be 120 stick-shift models available; the others have a CVT.

Every Corolla is said to come with Android Auto, too. Both body styles are once again available with black exterior accents courtesy of the Nightshade model.

Engine, transmission and performance

Except for the sportier SE and XSE models, the Corolla sedan uses a 139-hp 1.8-litre four-cylinder that sends power to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The zestier versions have a 169-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder that pairs with a CVT or optional six-speed manual.

While all hatchbacks have the larger engine, only the sedan offers a hybrid powertrain. Reviewers note that the tests of the 2019 Corolla SE hatchback and the 2020 Corolla XSE sedan proved even the strongest engine doesn’t deliver adequate acceleration. The Toyota twins were prudent around town and steady on the highway.

Both the Corolla sedan and the hatchback are said to have a pleasant ride quality that adequately isolates all but the worst bumps. Their controlled body motions also provide better agility than previous iterations.

The Corolla SE and XSE further separate themselves with a stiffer sport-tuned suspension and the latter’s larger 18-inch wheels (everything else rides on either 15- or 16-inch rims).

Compared with athletic and engaging rivals, such as the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf, the Corolla’s progressive steering is found to be satisfactory.
While neither Corolla body style is found to have impressive results in a 70-mph-to-zero braking test—requiring between 174 and 183 feet—their brake pedals are described as dependable and easy to operate.

Fuel economy

According to new car reviewers, including motor1.com and Motor Trend, coming long with two fuel-efficient four-cylinders, the 2021 Corolla sedan offers an immensely thrifty hybrid model.

The EPA estimates the hybrid will earn 53 mpg city and 52 highway.

It is estimated the non-hybrid sedan’s 2.0-litre engine will earn up to 40 mpg highway while the 1.8-litre is rated up to 38 mpg highway.

A driver said, “The hybrid we tested exceeded its highway rating by 3 mpg on our fuel-economy test route, earning 56 mpg over 200 miles at a steady 75 mph. The only other sedan we tested—a Corolla XSE—saw 41 mpg. The 2019 Corolla hatchback (automatic transmission) earns up to 32 mpg city and 42 highway, according to the EPA. The manual version receives significantly lower estimates at 28 mpg city and 37 highway. We tested the hatch with both transmissions on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy route; the automatic earned 40 mpg, and the manual got 36 mpg.”