We’ve reached the mid-point in the life-cycle of the current 1.8 litre Toyota Corolla five-door hatch and that means that there’s been a face-lift and some changes in pricing.
Now all Corolla hatch models will have Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) as standard equipment and all models will have four SRS airbags as standard equipment, with the facelift addition of front-seat side SRS airbags.
Corolla Hatchback Conquest and Levin ZR have seven SRS airbags as standard equipment, including driver’s knee airbag and full-length curtain-shield airbags. Corolla Ascent and Levin SR can be specified with the optional enhanced safety pack, which includes seven airbags in total.
Corolla Hatchback’s facelift also includes new audio systems, new exterior colours and interior trim and alloy wheel designs, new steering wheels, a new front mask and new rear look.
Prices for Conquest and Levin ZR grades have been reduced by $1,000* with small increases for Levin SX ($190) and Ascent ($250). The new prices take into account the increased specification and the impact of the tariff reduction on passenger cars that applies from January 1.
All Corolla Hatch audio systems now have MP3/WMA compatibility, USB jack, i-Pod®^ control via the USB jack, 3.5mm audio input jack, Bluetooth™** hands-free and Bluetooth™** streaming audio.
Ascent has a new tuner/single-changer CD audio while Conquest, Levin SX and Levin ZR have a new tuner/six-CD multi changer unit with 4.3-inch Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) screen.
The new steering wheel has a thicker rim and is “D” shaped, with a slightly flattened-bottomed edge to provide a sporty appearance and additional knee room. Conquest, Levin SX and Levin ZR have a premium steering wheel with audio and multi-information controls.
In addition, Corolla Hatch has new interior seat and door trim, a new soft-touch material for the meter hood and glove box lid, a new, more prominent metallic-look silver finish for the centre console, a fabric-covered centre console box lid, a more ergonomic handbrake lever design and actuation range, a new tone colour for the heater control panel, an upgraded dual-zone air conditioning for Levin ZR, and new ISO-compliant indicator lamps in the instrument panel.
New interior features include an LED shift lever illumination lamp in the electro-chromatic interior mirror of Levin ZR. Outside, face-lifted Corolla Hatch has new 16-inch alloy wheel designs for Conquest/Levin SX, and Levin ZR.
Corolla also has a new front mask – for a more striking look. It has a new bonnet with a wide convex-shaped relief, compared with previous concave-shaped relief, a wider opening for the lower bumper grille and body coloured horizontal bars in lieu of a mesh look in the radiator grille.
The new headlamps have a repositioned high-beam lamp and the lamp’s line break has been extended inwards.
Levin ZR retains auto-levelling and high-intensity discharge low-beam headlamps. Levin SX and ZR have round-lens front fog lamps embedded in the bumper. The new side mirrors have integrated turn lamps and power-fold operation.
At the rear, Corolla Hatch’s bumper corner area has been extended outwards and the bumper has been given a new shape around the reflectors and across its lower edge. There are new rear combination lamps and a new rear garnish with chrome accents.
Two new exterior colours have been adopted – with Tungsten and Tidal Blue (Tidal Blue is available on Levin SX and ZR only) replacing Dynamic Blue and Aztec Blue.
PRICES
Corolla hatch (manual)
Ascent $21,740*
Conquest $24,500*
Levin SX $25,690*
Levin ZR $28,900*
*All prices are manufacturer’s list prices provided for media purposes only and do not include dealer-delivery or statutory charges.
^iPod® is a trademark of Apple, Inc.
** The Bluetooth™ word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Bluetooth™ will only operate with telephones enabled with compatible Bluetooth™