Toyota has detailed some updates for its Japanese-market Corolla, shortly before the facelifted Australian version arrives later in 2022.
The MY23 Corolla in its home market gets a freshened 1.8-litre hybrid engine with an updated electric motor. Toyota Australia has confirmed local Corolla hybrids will get an 8kW boost bringing peak power to 98kW.
Updated Japan-market 2.0-litre petrol models get claimed efficiency improvements, and a tiny torque bump from 200Nm to 202Nm (power remains 125kW).
Design-wise it appears to be a case of spot the difference, though Toyota says there are new headlights and a new lower grille, plus some new colours. Australian models will also get new wheel designs.
Inside, Japanese Corollas get new ‘T-Connect’ infotainment options: Base grades get an 8.0-inch touchscreen, but the headline is the new 10.5-inch display with connected satellite navigation, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.
Expect local models to also get USB-C point/s.
New 
Old
While not explicitly mentioned, the images clearly show a more advanced digital instrument cluster too, which we’d be expecting for at least some Australian Corolla variants.
JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) Corollas get an inbuilt drive recorder, but don’t necessarily expect this for Australia.
However, we do know local Corolla models for 2023 will get Toyota Connected Services enabled through an in-built data communication module, bringing automatic collision notification, SOS emergency call, and stolen vehicle tracking.
Further driver-assist features listed on the Japan model include an expanded autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system that works at junctions for both other cars and crossing pedestrians.
Toyota also revealed the updated Corolla range in Europe in June, but that model is made in the UK and Turkey, whereas both the JDM and Australian models come from Japan.
The Corolla is Australia’s top-selling passenger car ahead of the Hyundai i30, with 17,251 sales to the end of August.
