Since its creation in 1966, the Toyota Corolla has accelerated the car industry with its value and reliability.  The Corolla has sold over 46 million units worldwide, equaling a total driving distance of over 50 round trips between Earth and the sun.  This sedan is the top-selling nameplate in the world and has been customarily modified for comfort. To continue the vehicle’s inventive attributes, there’s a brand-new option for 2020 in the form of the very first Corolla Hybrid.   

What Makes the Toyota Corolla Hybrid Special? 

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is efficient and forcefully- think of it as the Corolla LE reimagined. The hybrid is fueled by its 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine and 53kW electric motor; together, they power an automatic transmission that produces a 121 hp and an impressive 53 mpg for city and highway driving. 

Previous Corolla models range from 31-34 mpg.  Although, a standard hybrid model like the Corolla Hybrid does not work as well in full-electric mode, and it’s really not supposed to. The Corolla Hybrid is designed to provide symmetry between gasoline and electricity. This Corolla’s duality contributed to its earning of the 2020 Green Car of the Year Award.

Performance-wise, the most comparable vehicle would be its cousin, the Toyota Prius.  The Corolla Hybrid is slightly cheaper at $23,100 and the Prius starts at $24,325. The Corolla’s exterior is more traditional, with a sporty front grille to spice up its relatively traditional design. In fact, this may be the determining factor for comparing specs between the Corolla Hybrid and the Prius. The Corolla’s exterior is understated and conventional while the Prius is funkier looking.  

New interior

The Corolla Hybrid’s interior matches the overall conventional design of the car; the interior fabric is lined with metallic trim and color-keyed door panel piping. Legroom in the car cabin is decent but the sunroof comprises the headspace. The front console and cargo space in the trunk provide useful storage options. 

The available technology makes the inside of the Corolla Hybrid more exciting. There is a customizable eight-inch infotainment screen and audio system complete with six speakers.  Compatible tech options include Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, voice recognition, wire technology capability, Bluetooth music streaming and Scout GPS Link.  There are also USB ports and an auxiliary audio jack making the Corolla friendly for various devices. 

The Toyota Safety Sense comes standard on the Corolla Hybrid and includes the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection which includes an integrated camera system to help prevent a collision with cars from oncoming traffic. The pedestrian detection can identify pedestrians in low light and there’s the daytime cyclist detection. Other safety features include lane departure alert with steering assist, road edge detection with a sway warning system, automatic high beam capability, roadside assist, dynamic cruise control and more.

The Final Verdict  

The Corolla Hybrid is a vehicle that demonstrates environmental friendliness in a minimalistic way. The fuel efficiency is great and both the size and price point are reasonable. What takes this hybrid to the next level is its thoughtful safety features which range from helping you avoid potential consequences with other cars, pedestrians and unintentional lane departures.