2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan

The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is only offered in only one trim which comes with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor for a combined output of 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque. Power is transferred to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The first-ever Corolla Hybrid utilises the same powertrain which took Toyota two decades to perfect.  It uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive as the current Prius, with two motors and an efficient 1.8-litre inline four-cylinder engine. Total output with the fixed ratio transmission is 121 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. The powertrain is fine for daily driving, though it struggles to get the car up to speed on the highway.

Transitions between gas and electric power are smooth, but the engine drones loudly under hard acceleration. Its lithium-ion battery packs 20 per cent more power than the Prius. 

All the cars here have a higher combined output compared to the Corolla. The Sonata Hybrid puts out the highest amount of horsepower and is followed by  Honda Insight and Chevrolet Malibu. There is a significant difference in terms of pricing for all the cars and Corolla seems a viable option in terms of pricing and also provides a decent amount of power for day to day driving.

Acceleration

Extracting performance from a hybrid car feels wrong, even though there is a “sports” mode. Burying the pedal into the floor results in moderately slow but smooth progress. Starting from a standstill, 60 MPH comes up in 8.2 seconds, and quarter-mile comes up in 16.1. For gentler acceleration, the engine stays shut and the battery-powered motors do all the work.

The Corolla Hybrid is meant to churn out good fuel economy and not for a spirited driving experience.

Talking performance in hybrids is quite moot, as they weren’t intended nor are, they designed for speed thrills. As, such, not a lot of them have been tested for performance figures. If you have the need for speed, you better go with an all gasoline motor.

Ride and Handling

Compared to its previous iterations the 2020 Toyota Corolla is a vast improvement,  courtesy of new TNGA(Toyota  New Global Architecture) platform plus the tried and tested components are derived from the Prius. Handling has also been improved which helps to make this car feel well sorted in corners and keeps things calm on rougher roads. Don't expect a lot of power form the Hybrid powertrain, but it is frugal. The Corolla is not the vehicle for people who do the aggressive driving. It offers what is known as an "avenue ride." It is smooth and serene over long distances. Although it allows a good amount of body roll,  the Corolla seems very predictable once the corner is set. The rear suspension setup is also swapped from a torsion beam to a more sophisticated multi-link system.

The suspension has also been upgraded but it only makes the ride much stiffer, undulations enter the lodge with a clunk and more head-jarring experience. Handling has also been improved which helps to make this car feel well sorted in corners and keeps things calm on rougher roads. While the Corolla's ride-and-handling balance is more positive than before, it won't trouble sportier compacts such as the Mazda 3, Volkswagen Golf, or Honda Civic. 

Braking

 The brake system is also all Prius, with synthetic feedback and computers allotting the retardation duties between the motor-generators that recharge the batteries, and the friction brakes.

The brakes provide ample amount of response plus easy to modulate too. The pedal travel is small and it doesn’t have the squish that plagues some of the other Toyota models. Toyota also provides an auto-brake-hold feature.

Braking performance is similar in all the rivals and there is not much of a diffrence .

The biggest selling point of the new Corolla hybrid is its fuel economy. According to EPA ratings, the Sedan gets 52 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient hybrids so far. The rivals like Civic-based Honda Insight matches the Corolla EPA estimates in its lower trim levels. The standard version of Toyota Corolla returns EPA estimates in between 32 and 34 mpg. The tiny gas engine, efficient battery pack, powerful motors, all combine together to form the best tree hugger of recent times. It can squeeze 55 miles for a single gallon of fuel, provided you leave your lead boots at home. If mileage is your concern while buying a car,

Toyota Corolla hybrid follows right behind the Insight’s tail, stretching a gallon for 52 miles on an average, 51 in the city.  Chevy’s hybrid warriors are quite nice too, with Malibu hybrid pulling 46 miles to the gallon and the Hyundai  Sonata falls last in terms of combined mileage.

The 2020 Corolla sedan definitely sees a major redesign over the 2018 Corolla, where the simplistic design has evolved into a high-end product from the Japanese manufacturer. Although, the cabin seem smaller because of the black theme as far as the eyes can see and the rear seat legroom has also been reduced. How comfortable is the driver seat depends on your body type, for shorter and thinner people it is a breeze otherwise taller individuals may have an issue. For the price you pay, the seating upholstery and surface materials are brimming with quality for such an affordable vehicle.

The sport-oriented SE and XSE come with heavily bolstered seats which are not as comfort-oriented chairs seen in the L, LE, and XLE model. There is seating for three people in the rear but the legroom also drops from a Camry beating 41.6 inches to 35.2 inches. Whatsoever, the cabin feels spacious and there is nice airy feeling to it with great outward visibility. Also, the current model sits lower than 2017 and 2018 variant which will make entry into the cabin a bit of a task. Its inside is a great place to spend your time even of long distances.

The biggest car in the segment, the Honda Insight, has the best interior space amongst all cars here. The rest of the cars are smaller and consequently have lesser space too. The Malibu is the most expensive car here but fails to impress with its average accommodation levels.

Infotainment System

A tablet styled infotainment system sits atop dashboard with knobs for volume and tuning, additional infotainment controls are on the steering wheel. Now, it can finally match with the technological advancements of other rivals. Smartphone integration with Apple Car Play and Android Auto now comes standard. In the XSE, the integrated navigation works well, and turn-by-turn directions also appear in the gauge cluster. The base 7.0-inch touchscreen has Bluetooth connectivity and voice command. The upper trim model comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment screen.

More highlights of the infotainment features include:

• HD Radio
• Navigation
• Wireless device charging,
• Nine-speaker JBL premium stereo
• Wi-fi hotspot
• Bluetooth
• USB port
• Rear-view Camera

Cargo volume

Usually, hybrids have a battery pack extending into the trunk, thereby eating up a significant amount of storage space. The trunk has a fairly wide opening and a broad floor ahead of the rear wheel arches. A 13.0 cubic feet of volume is lower than the average but 60/40 folding rear seats significantly increase the cargo capacity. The trunk is practically shaped and it can carry 6 carry-on bags.

The Sonata dissapoints heavily here, offering the least cargo space in here by far. Honda Insight has the most cargo space of all the cars here, which is primarily due to the size.

Interior Features

The Base-model Corollas have basic cabin layout with apt comfort or convenience features. A revised dashboard incorporates-

• Circular outboard air vents
• Different-size air vents located over an asymmetrical infotainment system.
• Heated front seats and an eight-way-power-adjustable driver’s seat, are exclusive to the XLE and XSE.
• The Corolla has upgraded automatic climate controls.
• Smart key system
• Power door lock
• Keyless entry

Corolla owners form 2019 cited that, looks are their most favourite aspect, so the design is very similar to the previous iteration. The 2020 Corolla is now very sporty with a sleeker design and attractive details. The trapezoidal grille looks neatly shaped between J-shaped bi-LED headlamps that encase profoundly into the front fenders. A beautiful character line rises to from the front fender and ends at the rear decklid where you will notice a narrow combination of LED taillights. From the side and back, the Corolla is very understated, not like the brash looking European sedans.

The dimensions are taut which makes it easy for you to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. The  SE and XSE trim arguably looks best, both of which include trim-specific LED accent lighting, smoked taillights, chrome exhaust tips, and tail spoiler. For colouring the exterior of the 2020 Corolla, you can choose between eight hues with varying availability based on trim choice.

Chevrolet Malibu sedan the biggest in terms of dimensions and it is followed by the Honda Insight which is few inches shorter. The Toyota Corolla takes the third spot while the Hyundai Sonata comes at last.

You can conclude that Toyota is a safety superstar, it gets good ratings from various safety institutes. The Corolla comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of active safety and driver assistance features which include :

• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision warning
• Pedestrian detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning with steering assist and automatic high beams
• Blind-spot monitoring

Toyota Corolla Hybrid Vs Honda Insight Hybrid

The Insight is our highest-rated hybrid vehicle. And despite the awkward design, the Insight offers more rear legroom and cargo space than the Corolla. It's also rated to return 48 mpg. But, at 10.6 gallons, the fuel tank is tiny when compared to the Corollas 15.9-gallon capacity, and its engine can sound a little rough when pushed hard. The Honda Insight is better to drive and also produces a lot more power the Corolla hybrid and in terms of overall performance, it takes the trophy while the Corolla is more easy to live with.

Toyota Corolla Hybrid Vs Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu is way ahead in terms of power when contrasted with the timid Toyota Corolla. The interior is quite similar to each other in these sedans, instead of fancy materials, they are functional and get the job done. From the outside, the Malibu is much more pleasing to look at, the Toyota Hybris takes inspiration from the conventional sedan and now comes with an aggressive look. If you talk about economy or ownership cost, the Corolla hybrid is true winner. With the current underpinnings and tried and tested technology the Corolla becomes an even better option.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla is a brilliant purchase. It offers great safety features, has a past filled with anticipated reliability and customer loyalty. Luckily, there is now much enthusiasm in the Corolla, especially with respect to the engine. One of the world's best-sellers --it has continued to find a place in an American market that has rapidly shifted from sedans to SUVs and Crossover's. It's easy to overlook this drawback if you prioritize practicality over thrills. Still, it's worth taking a look at some competitors that are both sensible and sensational