Toyota Corolla hatchback adds technology to compete with Honda Civic
Possessing a more youthful appearance, the 5-door model is also one of the first Toyota products to integrate Apple CarPlay.
Originally sold in the US as the Scion iM before being renamed the Toyota Corolla iM, the small five-door now gets a new name for its new generation. The 2019 Corolla hatchback will debut at the New York Auto Show starting March 30, and will be the North American version. The European version debuted at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this month under the same name as the Auris.
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The new generation Toyota Corolla hatchback has a sharp, youthful design. |
Compared to its predecessor, the new generation of the Corolla hatchback is 38 mm longer (at 4,369 mm) and the wheelbase is now 2,639 mm. The width is also 30 mm wider while the height is 25 mm lower.
Like the Auris in Europe, the Corolla hatchback in the US uses Toyota's new TNGA structure. The cabin is better insulated thanks to soundproofing materials and additional welds.
The interior of the 5-door is spacious. The interior is a combination of glossy and matte black surfaces. Large cupholders are located on the front doors and smaller ones on the rear doors.
The key to the new Corolla hatchback is a new 2-liter gasoline engine that replaces the 1.8-liter unit. The direct injection system is lighter and smarter, while reducing vibration and noise. Toyota has not yet announced specific specifications for the new engine. The old 1.8-liter version produced 137 horsepower and 171 Nm of torque.
The new generation of the hatchback uses front-wheel drive and a new, lighter six-speed manual transmission. Customers can also choose a new CVT.
The 2019 Corolla Hatchback sold in the US comes standard with the second-generation Toyota Safety Sense safety package, which includes a suite of systems including lane departure warning (with lane keep assist), automatic high beams, forward collision warning, and pedestrian warning. Other standard equipment includes seven airbags and a rearview camera, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay compatibility, and a six-speaker audio system.
The Toyota Corolla hatchback will debut next weekend, when the New York Auto Show opens. It will go on sale in the US this summer. Rivals in the same segment include the Hyundai Elantra GT, Mazda3, Chevrolet Cruze and especially the Honda Civic hatchback.
Comparing the current Corolla iM to the Honda Civic hatchback, the Civic wins in fuel economy (7.6 liters/100 km in the city and 5.9 liters/100 km on the highway compared to 8.4 liters and 6.5 liters). The Civic also has more cargo space, with 727 liters with all seats up, compared to 589 liters for the Corolla iM. Additionally, the Civic comes standard with a rearview camera for safer parking - a feature that won't be available until the upcoming new generation Corolla.
