The Toyota Corolla has been updated with design tweaks and new hybrid technology

The Toyota Corolla, one of the world’s most popular cars, has been given a mid-life refresh.

In 2018, Toyota launched the 12th generation of its Corolla – which returned the famous nameplate to the UK – replacing the Auris. Both the hatchback and Touring Sports estate versions featured hybrid technology lifted from the big-selling Prius, and Toyota has now tweaked it further to offer more power.

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The ‘self-charging’ hybrid powertrain is available in either 1.8 or 2.0-litre guise, with both options receiving more power. The former now produces 138bhp while the latter has been tuned to deliver 193bhp. Both are still mated to a CVT automatic gearbox driving the front wheels.

The 1.8-litre model’s 0-62mph acceleration time now stands at 9.2 seconds, while the 2.0-litre will complete the same sprint in 7.5 seconds. Despite the increase in performance, CO2 emissions remain unchanged at 102g/km for the 1.8-litre model and 107g/km for the 2.0-litre. 

Toyota also says the Corolla should feel more refined thanks to a recalibrated throttle set-up and further refinements to powertrain noise under acceleration, making it quieter.

It’s not just under the metal where the Corolla has been given an update, as the exterior has been lightly redesigned as part of this round of updatest. The grille has a new pattern, the headlights have a new ‘bi-LED’ design and there are new alloy wheel options too. There’s also a new selection of exterior paint colours to choose from. 

Inside, the facelifted Corolla now features new trim pieces and revised graphics for its infotainment system, but the biggest change comes in the form of a new, larger 10.5-inch touchscreen on the dashboard. The Corolla’s infotainment now offers features such as an ‘on-board voice agent’ while the 12.3-inch driver’s screen can be customised with a choice between four different modes: Casual, Smart, Sport and Tough. 

There’s more safety tech onboard too, with Toyota’s T-Mate package adding blind spot monitoring, safe exit assist (so you don’t open a door on passing cars or cyclists) and a rear seat reminder system. Toyota also says the Corolla’s infotainment will be able to receive upgrades in future thanks to over-the-air update capability. 

The Corolla will once again be available in GR Sport trim, which adds new 18-inch alloy wheels, a redesigned front and rear bumper as well as new seat pattern design and GR logos in the headrest. For now, the GR Sport will be the most focused Corolla available in the UK as the brand has outlined that the GR Corolla hot hatch will not go on sale in Europe.

There’s no word on pricing for the updated Corolla just yet, but it’ll go on sale at the start of 2023.

Check out our review on the new Toyota GR86 here…

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