Toyota announces the new 2023 Corolla

A Corolla for everyone

The Toyota Corolla has been around for more than half a century, but it has always kept pace with changes in motorists' needs and preferences. That’s how it has come to achieve world record sales of more than 50 million across 12 generations since 1966.

This ability to adapt with the times is just as evident today with the announcement of the new Corolla. While the visible exterior and interior updates are an evolution of the 12th generation Corolla’s design, more significant changes have been made to the powertrain and electronics. The new Corolla features the fifth generation of Toyota’s world-leading self-charging, full hybrid electric system.

The Corolla remains to be the only model in the range in its segment to offer full hybird electric power, technology that delivers the kind of fuel efficiency and zero emission driving capability that are fast-growing priorities for customers.

Fresh design

With fresh styling, the introduction of fifth generation hybrid electric technology, a comprehensively upgraded digital user experience and an extended range of Toyota T-Mate safety and assistance features, the new Corolla is equipped to strengthen its role as a core volume model for Toyota.

Each Corolla body type has its own look and appeal. The new range gains a more refined and contemporary appearance with changes to the front grille mesh pattern, fog light bezels and alloy wheel designs. Higher grades of the hatchback and Touring Sports models gain new bi-LED headlights with an Adaptive High-beam System (AHS).

The exterior paint choices include new colours inspired by current trends in architecture, product design and fashion. Juniper Blue is the new key colour for the hatchback and Touring Sports, with a vibrant, flaring tone. When viewed close-up, it reveals red undertones which create a fresh effect with subtle changes in colour. Metallic Grey is a timeless shade with wide appeal, its appeal enhanced by dark silver flakes in the paint.

For the interior, the mood is more modern and premium with new graphics, trims and embossed patterns that add three-dimensional depth and tactile appeal to the upholsteries, surfaces and finishes. The trim and seat upholstery combinations follow new Dark and Light Harmony themes with co-ordinated colours and finishes to give the cabin a contemporary, elegant feel.

The new car gets a larger 10.5-inch central touchscreen that benefits from voice control functionality. The old semi-digital instrument cluster has also been ditched in favour of a more-contemporary 12.3-inch full-screen setup. This can be customised via four different preset ‘themes’: Casual, Smart, Sport and Tough.

Enhanced safety and driver assistance

The new Corolla is equipped with Toyota T-Mate, which combines the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense package with other active driving and parking assistance systems which not only make driving easier and safer, but also help protect all the vehicle’s occupants and other road users.

Improvements in the operation and functionality of the systems include Acceleration Suppression, which reacts to sudden use of the accelerator when travelling at low speed; collision avoidance support when making a turn at an intersection; Emergency Steering Assist that can now react to oncoming vehicles; lateral collision avoidance and curve speed reduction. Over-the-air software updates will keep the functions up-to-date and enable new ones to be added as they become available during the vehicle’s lifetime.

The Toyota T-Mate features include a Safe Exit Assist system. This will trigger a warning if it detects a door being opened into the path of a vehicle or cyclist approaching from the rear. There is also a new Rear Seat Reminder which will alert the driver before they leave their car that they may need to check if they have left something on the back seats.

The new Corolla range will go on sale in Europe during the first quarter of 2023.