Corolla Hatch reinvigorates famous badge

Now in its twelfth generation, the Corolla has changed dramatically in all areas. The most interesting thing though for local consumers is the fact that the Corolla badge now features on a hatchback, replacing the previous Auris and Run-X designations. I recently spent a week with the 1.2T XS auto variant and was left impressed.

Those looks

It’s not often that a modern car can still look good with a set of small alloys wheels fitted, however, with rather small 16-inch items fitted to the press unit; I still feel that the car looks fantastic, especially when finished in Scarlet Metallic. The sharper LED front lights, wide trapezoidal front grille, sweet side profile and decidedly curvaceous rear end complete pleasing modern hatchback design.

Interior surprise

The interior of the new car is reminiscent of the C-HR crossover, but with a more subdued finish, which isn’t a bad thing. There’s a degree of solidity that provides you with the impression that the car is built with a newfound slant towards the premium sector.

Some of the features that come with this specific variant are impressive. There’s heated AMG-esque bucket seats finished in Alcantara, a wireless charging pad for your smartphone, seven airbags, a multi-function steering wheel and cruise control, to name a few. The 7.0-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system does the job, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay should be standard at this price point.

Practicality

The Corolla has to be practical; it has been one of the product’s hallmarks for decades, especially in sedan guise. However, this hatchback version isn’t exactly class-leading in terms of space; with just over 360-litres available in the boot and decidedly average rear occupant room. With a new Volkswagen Golf, Mazda3, Ford Focus and Opel Astra on the way, the Corolla needs to be future-proof, but there are some kinks in its armour.

Driving Corolla

The most pleasant surprise with the new Corolla is to be found in its overall driving experience. There is an 85 kW and 185 N.m, 1.2-litre turbo petrol motor available locally, with hybrid variants set to be introduced in future. My press unit was the auto, meaning that it comes with a CVT, more specifically a 10-speed Sport Sequential Shiftmatic Continuously Variable Transmission, which is a fancy way of telling you that there aren’t really ten gear ratios, rather an artificial ‘step’ function that provides a relatively natural-feeling gear shift sensation.

The small powertrain works very well in urban commuting and open road driving scenarios, but predictably feels strained when pressing on. The suspension, on the other hand, is very well calibrated with a neutral balance, ample grip and a lovely overall balance for a vehicle of this type. Fuel consumption is claimed at 6.1-litres/100km; however, my week with the vehicle saw a figure of 7.3-litres/100km being more realistically achievable.

Verdict

With a host of incredibly competent rivals set to join it within this bustling sector in the near future, the Corolla Hatch has its work cut out, come 2020. But for now, this is definitely worthy of your consideration when shopping in this segment.

Warranty and service plan

All Corolla Hatch models come standard with a 6-services/90 000 km Service Plan and 3-year/100 000 km warranty.

Pricing

Toyota Corolla hatch 1.2T XS auto R 353 900

Likes:

– Styling

– Build quality

– Refinement and handling

Dislikes:

– Rear space and boot could be bigger

– The engine can feel strained

– Infotainment system lagging behind