Toyota Australia has announced the storied Corolla hatch will receive a mid-life update in the second half of 2022, bringing with it updated styling, cabin tech, and a bump in power.
The new Corolla will be the first significant update or facelift to the hatchback since it launched in 2018. It will bring with it an updated hybrid drivetrain, but details are light, with the brand only saying the hybrid will have an increased power output from 90 to 98kW.
Toyota’s local division would not comment on whether the facelift would bring with it a more modern battery chemistry, like the lithium-ion cells used in the hybrid versions of the Yaris and Yaris Cross, or innovative new nickel-hydrogen cells used in the Japanese domestic market Toyota Aqua. The Aqua also features a new one-pedal driving mode but is more closely related to the Yaris than the Corolla.
Sadly, the Japanese-market Corolla offers no clues as to the updated styling or interior features of the incoming updated model, which is also set to offer USB-C in the cabin for the first time. Its safety suite is also set to be updated to include 4G-connected emergency features which can notify the authorities in the case of a crash, track a stolen vehicle, and make an emergency SOS call. The fine print notes the connected services ‘complimentary period’ will end after three years.
Toyota says the multimedia suite software will be updated for the new Corolla, and the car will also be shipped in new colour choices and with an alternate set of alloy wheels. Time will tell if the 8.0-inch screen gets upgraded to the more impressive 10.5-inch unit which debuted in the Aqua.
The new Corolla will be the first significant update or facelift to the hatchback since it launched in 2018.
It is also likely the Corolla update will come with a price hike, as many new or updated models are experiencing due supply and shipping constraints facing the industry.
The Corolla family is set to expand in the coming year or so, with the introduction of the Corolla Cross small SUV and long-awaited GR Corolla super hatch. There is no word on whether Toyota will bother to bring the final remaining member of the Corolla family to Australia, the Touring wagon. Last year marked 50 million total Toyota Corolla units sold globally.
The current Corolla hatch is available from $25,395 before on-road costs for the base Ascent Sport 2.0L petrol, to $34,695 for the top-spec 1.8-litre ZR Hybrid. A Toyota Australia spokesperson informed CarsGuide that there are ongoing stock issues affecting the Corolla range, but production should be continuous, so no gap between the current model and the incoming version.
Sadly, the Japanese-market Corolla offers no clues as to the updated styling or interior features of the incoming updated model.
“The announcement today is to let people and dealers know if they were thinking of ordering one of the incoming models that there are these changes coming, and that delays in the network may mean that orders could be rolled onto the new versions,” they said.
The updated Corolla is yet to be revealed internationally but expect more information closer to its launch in the second half of 2021. The Corolla update is part of a suite of Toyota product tweaks scheduled for the remainder of the year, which will include the addition of the manual Toyota Supra, updates to the Yaris and Yaris Cross, as well as new colours and finishes for the Toyota Camry.
Keyword: 2023 Toyota Corolla detailed: Popular hybrid hatch to get long-awaited mid-life update later this year to better rival Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato, and Honda Civic