The new Toyota Corolla 2021 now has a multi-link. The Corolla arrived for its first test drive as a finalist in the European Autobest competition, as a pre-production model, but in general already ready for production and adaptation in Russia. (This is why we are not providing a table of characteristics yet - they are still being approved). Video test - new Toyota Corolla 2021 below.
Please vote how you like the new Toyota Corolla 2021, move the MPS Index cursor along the scale that we offer at the beginning and end of the article.
I tested the new Toyota Corolla 2021 in light camouflage. This pre-production sample arrived at the testing ground in Vairano (Italy) as one of the six finalists of the European Autobest competition, where I, as a member of the jury, represent Russia. At the beginning of spring 2019, the 12th generation of Toyota Corolla will start in Europe without camouflage in hatchback and combi bodies, and then a sedan. We are promised a Toyota Corolla in almost the same time frame.
With the transition to Toyota's New Global Architecture-Plattform (TNGA), which is also shared by the compact SUV C-HR and the hybrid leader Prius, the new Corolla looks much more dynamic.
Toyota engineers told us in detail about the strength and power of the new Toyota Corolla 2021 - they reminded us that the Corolla is the best-selling model in the world. Toyota has sold Corolla more than 45 million times. But it is not enough to hear the delight of the creators; according to Autobest rules, all members of the jury, and these are journalists from 31 European countries, must drive the cars competing for the main award. I, of course, drove around the city, on country roads, and on a race track with a variety of different types of roads.
The body and wheelbase of the new Corolla are 4 cm longer, the compact has grown to 4.37 m in length. At the same time, the body has become 3 cm wider and 4 cm lower compared to the 2013 model. The line of windows went down.
The recognizable Toyota logo underneath the sticker is located at the top of the radiator grille, to the left and right of it are new adaptive LED headlights. The trapezoidal lower part of the grille is noticeably larger than the upper one. In the video I showed how many different sticks and stones can slip into large holes in the radiator grille. Here you will need a protective net.
For comparison, this is what the 11th generation Corolla looks like. Here the radiator is better protected.
The designers tilted the rear window further forward, the rear wheel arches were further emphasized, and the rear overhang increased by 2 cm. The roof and pillars of the hatchback are painted black.
The new Toyota Corolla 2021 looks fast and dynamic. This is in line with the company's desire to appeal to a younger audience, as Toyota Europe CEO Dr Johan van Zyl told us recently.
And her, poor thing, off-road!
True, I found only Italian off-road conditions, like our road to the dacha with broken asphalt and in some places a dirt road overgrown with grass. It’s a pleasure to drive here, in the vicinity of Vairano: around the field, there is a smell of manure, you can immediately imagine a farmer who worked harvesting rice and on the weekend drove a Corolla to Milan for a walk.
The chassis easily absorbs bumps, getting into deep holes you don’t feel impacts from below, driving even on a rough road can be comfortable.
The characteristics of the shock absorbers, accelerator, ABS and steering have several stages from muted in “Eco” mode to active in “Sport Plus”, which can also be individually calibrated.
The new multi-link suspension at the rear (pictured) also contributes to a comfortable ride. McPherson struts at the front.
When you first look at the new Corolla, you fear for its ground clearance. From the floor to the bumper, I measured 195 mm, and as you can see in the photo, even with a large slope, the Corolla does not rest its bumper on the ground and can drive through high waves. The front overhang has become 2 cm shorter.
For Russia, the new Toyota Corolla will receive a ground clearance increased by 50 mm, as Toyota engineers assured me. Let's hope it won't disappoint summer residents in this regard, but it should still gain new sympathy from dynamic young entrepreneurs. For them, we go to a special testing ground, where we can check body rigidity, handling, and the operation of stabilization systems.
Security systems
The security systems include:
- ABS unit with electronic brake force regulator and built-in emergency deceleration controller BAS;
- sensor for automatically turning on the hazard warning lights when the speed is sharply reduced or the airbags are deployed;
- systems for maintaining directional stability and reducing slipping of the drive wheels when driving;
- Slope start assistant;
- tire pressure checking system with warning indication in the instrument cluster;
- front airbags with the ability to disable the front passenger's front airbag;
- automatic GLONASS system and child seat mounts;
- side airbags (installed with the Classic package);
- inflatable curtains to protect the heads of passengers (installed with the Comfort modification).
The new Toyota Corolla 2021 is a driver's car.
At the tests in Vairano, Corolla presented two hybrid units: 1.8 liters (122 hp) and 2 liters (180 hp), the total power included electric 80 kW and 202 N∙m of torque. The motors are paired with an automatic transmission (not called CVT), in which the “rubber belt” effect has been quite successfully eliminated. To my questions about the gearbox, whether it was a variator, Toyota engineers answered that this design no longer had a belt.
A non-hybrid 122-horsepower petrol version is being prepared for Russia. The new Toyota Corolla 2021 does not plan diesel engines; the course is set for clean air.
Under the hood is a 1.8 liter (122 hp) engine, the total power of the unit includes electric 80 kW and 202 N∙m. Since the 2-liter hybrid left no room under the hood for a 12-volt battery, it is located under the double boot floor, costing it 48 liters of usable volume.
Of the two hybrid units that were provided for testing, I would choose the new 2-liter. It produces 153 petrol power and 190 N∙m of torque, to which are added electric 80 kW and 202 N∙m. This is enough to accelerate the hatchback to hundreds in 7.9 seconds, despite the fact that CO2 emissions are only 106 g/km in the WLTP cycle. On the track in Vairano, the 180-horsepower Corolla felt quite playful. True, I could not check its maximum speed, but according to promises - 180 km/h.
The two-liter hybrid unit produces a torque of 392 Nm. In the fourth generation of the hybrid drive, the energy for the 80-kilowatt electric motor is not only quietly recovered during braking and coasting, but is also extracted from the excess power of the internal combustion engine, stored in a lithium-ion battery located under the rear seat. On electric power, the Corolla can travel up to 115 km/h. Now I’m getting ready to go onto the ring road.
The center of gravity of the new Corolla is lowered by 10 mm. The seating position has become lower and, above all, sportier. I really liked the manually adjustable integral chair with a comfortable headrest (see video), which provides lateral support and lumbar support no worse than German models.
Depending on the driving mode, the digital instruments animate in green, blue or red and visually lift the central elements with a 3D effect. Numerous submenus are controlled from buttons on the three-spoke steering wheel. The panel features an 8-inch Infotainment display with good finger response. The top-end configuration includes a combination of soft plastic, piano lacquer, leather and Alcantara. Young businessmen will love coming back here after an hour of fitness. In addition to the drawer, the central armrest is equipped with two 12 V sockets and USB connectors delivering up to 2.1 A of charging current.
I apologize for the rug underfoot - it's a little clay - we were off-road. I drove the Corolla there solely with the desire to show that it, as it was, is still trying to remain a universal car. But still in a new image - with a greater emphasis on sportiness.
We were warned that the track could be slippery in the morning, there was light frost at night, in addition, there is a special section that is watered, there are areas where the body tilts strongly in both directions, and there are high waves of asphalt.
We start on a frosty morning, it is better to do without sudden maneuvering.
Well, how can you not accelerate when the Toyota Corolla itself whispers about driving fast and only provokes you in corners. The two-liter engine and automatic transmission work harmoniously, providing brisk acceleration, the brakes are not intrusive, but very effective, and, most importantly, the Corolla is obedient in corners, like a beloved wife. I kept expecting some outbursts of disobedience from her. But there were none, in wet areas the stabilization system does not intervene ahead of time, allowing us to play with the gas pedal, we passed the waves of asphalt collectedly without rocking, large body rolls did not take us out of confident horizontal movement.
This behavior is ensured, along with McPherson struts at the front and a new multi-link at the rear, by the optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). Without unduly increasing stiffness, the suspension components effectively reduce body roll.
Exterior of Toyota Corolla 2019
The new, 12th generation of Corolla cars (internal factory code - E210) received a body with a reduced height of the front and rear parts, which improved stability when maneuvering.
At the front there is a massive plastic bumper with chrome side trims and a central radiator grille with horizontal ribs made of black plastic with a glossy surface. The head optics with a reduced body height are equipped with LED running lights.
On the side of the body there is a belt line located below the glazing and increasing the rigidity of the panels. The lower part of the doors has a complex profile that reduces contamination of the threshold when driving.
The rear-view mirrors are located on the side surfaces of the front doors; the housings are equipped with separate pillars. The rear optics are divided into sections mounted on the fenders and trunk lid.
Under the lights there is a decorative chrome trim. The rear bumper has side and bottom diffusers that reduce contamination of the rear of the vehicle.
Body
The new car body, built on the TNGA modular platform, consists of parts made from structural or high-strength steel.
Traditional electric arc welding has been partially replaced by laser welding, and an increase in the proportion of elements made of alloy materials has made it possible to reduce the weight of the structure by 25% while increasing torsional rigidity.
The hood is made of aluminum alloy, which has a positive effect on the corrosion resistance of the part.
The body is assembled in the factory by robots, which increases the accuracy of positioning of parts. Seams in hidden cavities are protected with a layer of sealant.
After priming, additional mastic is applied to the panel joints. The body is painted in an electrostatic field and then goes through a thermal drying cycle.
The manufacturer guarantees the absence of pockets of through corrosion on the body for 36 months, which is inferior to the obligations of other factories (for example, VAG guarantees the absence of through destruction of the body for 8-12 years).
The new Toyota Corolla 2021 is larger inside than outside.
There is sufficient space in the front, but the rear of the hatchback is somewhat cramped due to its 2.64 m wheelbase and low roof. The three of you won't get far.
When not in use, the rear seat backrest easily folds down to a 60:40 split, but this example doesn't offer a flat floor. There is a set of tools under the floor, see the next photo.
There is still a set of tools under the floor, but, probably, for Russia, the floor will be raised by adding additional equipment. Then the trunk will shrink.
As a fan of transporting windsurfing boards, I noticed the 4.65 m long Toyota Corolla Touring Sports station wagon version developed for Europe. Thanks to the wheelbase extended to 2.70 m, there is noticeably more rear legroom than in a hatchback. True, the space above your head is eaten up by the panoramic roof. The rear door opens electrically with a wave of your foot under the bumper. In the station wagon, the trunk already holds 598 liters (581 liters in the hybrid version), which is quite generous.
If the rear seat backs in the station wagon are folded in a 60:40 ratio, which can be done remotely, a flat loading area 1.9 m long and almost a meter wide appears.
Additional Information
Corolla cars of the E210 generation are equipped with a rack-and-pinion steering mechanism with an electric booster that monitors changes in speed.
A damper is introduced into the kinematic scheme, preventing the transmission of shocks and vibrations to the steering wheel. The advantage of Japanese products is the ability to fill the tank with A-92 gasoline, but it is recommended to use fuel with an octane rating of 95 units or more.
For the European and US markets, the Corolla is offered with a hybrid power plant (electric motor and 1.8 or 2.0 liter gasoline engine). For Asian customers, a modification with a hatchback body is available.
Cars for the Japanese domestic market are distinguished by reduced dimensions.
In China, the original version of the Corolla sedan is sold, which is assembled by local factories FAW (supplied under the standard designation) and GAC (sports modification under the designations Levin or Levin Hybrid).
Reviews from car owners
Leonid, 42 years old, Moscow
I am the owner of a 2021 Corolla with a CVT, which I purchased at a Toyota dealership. Before that, I used cars with E120 and E140 bodies, so when the first photos of the new generation appeared, I decided to change the car.
During operation, the mileage was 43 thousand km, I service the car at the dealer every 10 thousand km. Compared to previous generations, the sound insulation of the interior has worsened, and the build quality is not satisfactory. The finishing materials are of poor quality and have an unpleasant synthetic smell that has not worn out in 2 years.
Mikhail, 35 years old, St. Petersburg
From time to time I use a company Corolla with a manual transmission for trips. The car's mileage is 115 thousand km. The driving position is comfortable, the A-pillars slightly limit visibility, but this is a drawback common to all cars.
The seats are covered with thick fabric, which does not leave dirty stains, but the strength of the material is insufficient (scuffs have appeared on the side bolsters of the backrest). Gasoline consumption on the highway does not exceed 5.5 liters at a speed of 100-110 km. The car's handling is not satisfactory.
