- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.8i/53kW Hybrid, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
143kW (comb), 163Nm
- Fuel
Hybrid (91) 3.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (CVT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2018)
2020 Toyota Corolla SX hybrid sedan review
The Toyota Corolla has always been a stable sedan player but now it is really strating to impress.
- Fuel economy
- Great inclusions and safety features
- Decent boot for size
- Expensive servicing later on in life
- Economy focused tyres
- Limited to one USB port
How does this compare on price?
This iteration of the Corolla sedan sits just shy of the thirty-large watermark: $29,735 before on-road costs in SX guise. Hybrid power brings a $1500 premium over a 2.0-litre conventional petrol SX, while a top-spec hybrid costs $3900 more at $33,635.
For that asking price, you’re getting a sedan that is 4630mm long, 1780mm wide and 1435mm high. There’s room for five aboard, and a boot that measures 470L in size.
Although hybrid power is rare in this segment, there are a handful of straight petrol-powered, middle-spec small sedans to ponder: Honda Civic VTi ($25,390), Hyundai Elantra Active ($26,240), Kia Cerato Sport ($26,290), and Mazda 3 Evolve ($28,290).
The closest you’ll get to a true competitor to this hybrid Corolla is Hyundai’s Ioniq Hybrid, which is a big jump up in price.
What is it like inside?
It’s a mostly basic interior in this specification, although it feels well specced and well made. The premium steering wheel feels nice in the hands, and some common touchpoints have been softened up. The overall modern design is helped by a fresh steering wheel and big (7.0-inch) multi-function display in front of the driver.
There are no big flashes of colour and texture amongst the black surfaces, save for a couple of faux aluminium strips. Simple single-zone air-conditioning controls sit below an 8.0-inch infotainment display, which juts up proudly from the dashboard. It’s now got all-important Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity these days, as well.
A thin and pared-back centre console design keeps things simple, housing two cupholders, the electric handbrake, a few driving buttons, the gear shifter, and a wireless charging pad. It’s all simple and practical enough for everyday use.
Is it a safe car in this segment?
Toyota has included a stack of safety equipment as standard across the range; the only thing this model gets over the Ascent Sport is blind-spot monitoring.
The whole range gets autonomous emergency braking with day/night pedestrian and day cyclist detection, along with all-speed active cruise control, lane-trace assist, lane-departure alert, automatic high beam and traffic sign recognition.
This all contributes to a five-star ANCAP safety rating for the Corolla sedan, which was attained by the hatchback variant in 2018.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, which come under a capped-price servicing program. Each visit costs $180 a pop up until 60 months or 75,000km, and then sharply heads north to $773, $234 and $804 for the next three services.
What does it have under the bonnet?
It’s not just what lives under the bonnet of this Corolla that does the trick. Along with the 1.8-litre petrol engine, there’s a 6.5-amp-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack wedged under the back seat. Part of the closed-loop hybrid system, the battery powers a 53kW/163Nm electric motor that is powerful enough to move the Corolla along either independently or in unison with the petrol engine.
Never mind the numbers, however. The best thing about this complex hybrid driveline is how simple and straightforward it is to drive. When running, the petrol engine is smooth and quiet, cutting in and out almost imperceptibly at times while the electric motor does as much of the heavy lifting as it can.
What is its economy like?
The next best thing about this driveline is undoubtedly the fuel economy. During our time with the car, we saw it as low as 3.4 litres per 100km, but it settled down to 3.8L/100km after my test. Compared to Toyota’s claim of 3.5L/100km on the combined cycle, it’s very impressive.
What else should I consider in this segment?
Nothing else can deliver the same outright fuel economy at this pricepoint, especially around town. Hyundai’s Ioniq Hybrid is more expensive at $34,790, but has similar economy from its 77kW, 1.6-litre petrol engine and 32kW electric motor.
Any problems I should look out for?
We can’t point out any obvious problems with Toyota’s Corolla. It’s been a stalwart of Toyota’s enviable reputation over the years, which is now covered by a five-year and unlimited-kilometre warranty. That’s good coverage, which gets stretched out to seven years (plus 10 on the hybrid battery) if you maintain your service schedule through Toyota’s dealership network.
Should I buy it?
As a small sedan with very impressive fuel economy, the Corolla SX sedan hybrid doesn’t put a foot wrong elsewhere. The SX is the pragmatist’s choice in the range, with a frivolity-free interior that has the right tech and safety included. It’s smooth, handles well, and is plenty practical enough. And considering the hybrid driveline only costs $1500 more, it’s a no-brainer.