2018 Toyota Corolla to set new safety benchmark
More power, more tech and class-leading safety features could propel all-new Toyota Corolla hatch to benchmark status – but still no Apple CarPlay for OzVolkswagen Golf watch out!
When the new 2018 Toyota Corolla hatch arrives in Australia in August – followed by the Corolla sedan in 2019 – it could become the safest car in its class.
Laying down a high-tech challenge to its rivals such as the Mazda3, Hyundai i30 and yep, even the VW Golf, the new Toyota Corolla looks certain to be the first car in its segment to offer advanced road-scanning technology. '
Adaptive radar-based cruise control and automatically dipping high-beam headlights will be standard on every model in the Toyota Corolla range, along with autonomous emergency braking that detects cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
According to Toyota Australia's vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, Australia's best-selling car, Corolla, is the small car yardstick by which all others should be measured.
"My thinking on that is that Corolla stands alone, it is the benchmark I believe," he said.
"I don't want that to be taken as an arrogant statement but in truth Corolla is the benchmark so we always try to seek to improve our existing car. We've definitely done that with the new generation Corolla hatch."
On top of the paradigm shift in safety, the new 2018 Toyota Corolla gets new exterior and interior designs, a beefier and more efficient 126kW 2.0-litre engine, an innovative 10-speed automatic CVT or six-speed manual gearbox – the latter with rev-matching. These are made possible via the car's all-new platform architecture, called TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture).
Hanley reiterated that all Toyota Corolla hatchbacks sold in Australia will get a mega safety suite comprising seven airbags, a reversing camera, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, lane departure alert, steering assist and automatic high beam as standard across the range.
By comparison, the entry-level Volkswagen Golf 110 TSI ($23,990) is not available with adaptive cruise control whatsoever. Mid-range Golf models can be optioned with the automatic accelerating and braking driver's aid, as part of a circa-$1500 driver assistance package.
Dubbed 'Safety Sense 2' Toyota's new road scanning tech has been tested for Aussie conditions and should ensure the Corolla is awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
"The new level of safety spec the Corolla will get is known as Safety Sense 2 and that requires the radar cruise to work," explained Orlando Rodriguez, Toyota Australia's senior product PR boss.
Given the new Corolla's larger, upmarket interior fit out, new engines and safety features, price rises wouldn't be surprising. But Hanley says affordability will still play a part.
"TNGA certainly brings us efficiencies so we believe we can bring this Corolla with all the spec at a very compelling and competitive price.
"The new corolla will remain extremely competitive and affordable. I'm confident it will remain the leader of its segment and continue as Australia's best-selling passenger car," he said.
At present, the Toyota Corolla hatch starts at $20,190 for the Toyota Corolla Ascent manual and tops out at $30,020 for the Toyota Corolla ZR auto.
There will be three model grades offered with regular petrol and hybrid petrol-electric powertrains – essentially creating a six-vehicle range – although Toyota has not divulged their names.
Replacing the ageing 1.8-litre petrol engine (103kW/173Nm) is a brand-new 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine (126kW/205Nm) that generates 22 per cent more power than before.
An upgraded 1.8-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain that retains a low-tech Nickel metal hydride battery will also be offered.
There will be one or two safety extras not standard across the Toyota Corolla hatch range, such as a blind-spot assistant, while lane tracing assist and a road sign assistant that can identify certain signs such as speed limits, stop, give-way and do no enter signs appear to be part of the Safety Sense 2 package.
Range-topping 2018 Toyota Corolla hatch models also get LED headlamps, an electric park brake, 8-inch infotainment and sat nav screen, dual-zone climate control, a 10-speaker JBL sound system, keyless entry and engine start, a colour head-up display and wireless phone charger.
For all the advancements the new 2018 Toyota Corolla makes, it will do without smartphone mirroring, such as Apple CarPlay and Amazon's Alexa – despite both being offered on US-market Corolla hatchbacks.
Android Auto is not available on any Toyota vehicles at present, due to an ongoing spat between Google and Toyota.
According to Rodriguez, Apple CarPlay will be offered on Aussie Corollas down the line but refused to say when it would happen.
"It all depends on how long the development takes; when it's right, that's when we'll release it."
Stay tuned for our first drive review of the Toyota Corolla on Monday April 30, 2018.
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