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Which versions of the new Corolla are on sale in Ireland?
Irish customers are able to choose from three body styles: the five-door hatchback, the four-door saloon and the five-door Touring Sports estate. All three versions use the same 1.8-litre hybrid petrol engine, which has been upgraded from 122hp to 140hp for 2023, with emissions from just 102g/km. There’s no 2.0-litre hybrid option anymore, unless you’re buying the bigger Corolla Cross SUV.
How much does the new Corolla cost?
Prices start from €32,530 for the hatchback in Luna spec, rising to €36,000 for the Luna Sport, or €38,800 for the range-topping GR Sport. If you want a saloon, that’s going to cost €33,280 for a Luna, €36,000 for the Luna Sport or €38,010 for the Sol. The Touring Sports estate starts from €34,090 for the Luna, €38,980 for a Sol version and €40,380 for the GR Sport.
What are the big differences between the hatchback, saloon and estate?
The big difference is space. The hatchback has a shorter wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) than the saloon or the estate, so it doesn’t have as much room in the back seats. If you’re regularly carrying back-seat passengers, it’s the saloon or estate that you’ll need. Equally, if you need a big boot, go for the saloon (which has a 471-litre boot compared to the hatchback’s 361 litres) or the estate (which can carry 598 litres).
What’s new about the Corolla for 2023?
While the Corolla looks broadly similar to how it did before, there are new lights, new bumpers, new alloy wheel options and new paint options. Inside, you now get fully-digital instruments on a very handsome new 12.3-inch screen in front of the driver, and a new 10.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, which features a cloud-based navigation system and which comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can easily connect your phone.
What equipment comes as standard?
All versions get the new instruments and touchscreen with cloud navigation, and all models come with an automatic transmission as standard too. Luna models get 16-inch alloy wheels, connected services through a built-in internet connection that’s free to use for four years and an upgraded ’T-Mate’ safety pack.
Luna Sport versions come with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and electric driver’s lumbar adjustment. Sol models get all that, plus keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors, wireless phone charging and a self-dimming mirror (and roof rails for the estate), while the Sol version of the saloon gets heated rear seats as well. GR Sport versions get a sporty body kit and 18-inch alloy wheels. All hatchback and estate models get LED headlights as standard now, but the saloon doesn’t.
What’s the new Corolla like to drive?
Really good. The updated hybrid system is a little smoother and quieter than it used to be, and the bigger electric motor and more efficient battery means you’ll spend more time running on electric-only power (we managed as much as 70 per cent on battery in mixed driving, according to the car’s dashboard display). Fuel consumption easily beats the 5.0 litres per 100km mark as well. The Corolla is fun to drive, with good steering and a well-balanced chassis with a firm but comfortable ride over bumps. The Corolla is also very refined, with only slightly too much tyre noise occasionally spoiling things.
So, which Corolla is right for me?
The hatchback is a very good all-rounder, and feels slightly more entertaining to drive than the other too if that’s important to you, but it does lack for rear-seat and boot space. The saloon is a very good choice, and is practical, but it looks a little more plain. The estate is the most practical and useful, and to our eyes the best looking. It’s also just as good to drive as the hatch and saloon, so although it’s a bit more expensive, we’d say the Corolla Touring Sports, in Sol trim, is the best all-rounder of the range.