Toyota Corolla

The boot space for the Corolla hatch hybrid is tiny, measuring just 217L. The Corolla Sedan offers 470 litres of boot space, which is well up on the Corolla Hatch’s. It’s convenient for the class and explains why you’d opt for the sedan over the hatch if you don't mind the styling. The sedan's boot itself opens nice and wide, making it simple to slot in awkwardly shaped items. A space saver spare lives under the boot floor.

There are 4 different fuel economy figures for the Toyota Corolla

The most fuel efficient Toyota Corolla is the ASCENT SPORT HEV with a Continuous Variable which is powered by a 1.8L MULTI POINT F/INJ and uses 3.9L of Unleaded Petrol-Electric Hybrid per 100km on the combined cycle.

The Toyota Corolla that uses the most amount of fuel is the ZR TWO-TONE OPTION PREMIUM PNT with a Continuous Variable which is powered by a 2.0L PORT & DIRECT F/INJ and uses 6L of Unleaded Petrol per 100km on the combined rural and urban test cycle.

Below is a table of all the {modelTitle} variants and their fuel economy figures. Click below the table to see an expansion and additional details, including specific usage for city and highway driving.

The 2025 Toyota Corolla requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, with the first five services capped at $205 each.

Starting the Toyota Corolla Hybrid with its bright blue push-button is a quiet and intriguing experience, often devoid of the expected petrol engine surge. Instead, the vehicle emits a subtle beep, indicating it's ready to go. Exceptions occur in colder conditions or when the high-voltage battery is depleted, causing the petrol engine to engage at startup. Even then, the engine remains relatively quiet, though it momentarily disrupts the tranquil electric vehicle (EV) silence.

Once in motion, the Corolla Hybrid operates smoothly, particularly at low speeds. From 0-40km/h, it effortlessly keeps pace with or outperforms traffic, primarily running on electric power. This performance is enhanced by the front axle-mounted electric motor and the updated lithium-ion battery pack introduced since the 2023 model. When more power is required, or when in "Power Mode," the petrol engine kicks in to assist, though it can be slightly intrusive as it tends to rev high when electric power wanes.

Despite its smaller battery compared to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full EVs, the Corolla Hybrid optimises its petrol-electric hybrid system for urban driving, remaining in EV mode whenever possible. A dedicated "EV Mode" allows the car to run solely on electric power, though this can be easily overridden by hard acceleration or higher speeds. In heavy traffic, the hybrid system can utilise the electric motor for a significant portion of the journey, with regenerative braking playing a key role in maintaining EV mode.

Regenerative braking, while not offering a full one-pedal driving experience, is integrated smoothly when decelerating, though the physical brakes can sometimes engage more abruptly when coming to a stop. This system also helps mitigate the CVT's tendency to cause speed creeping on downhill slopes. For additional braking, the gear selector can be shifted to "B," which primarily uses engine braking, though it can cause the petrol engine to rev noticeably.

On highways, the hybrid system is less effective, as the petrol engine remains active to maintain higher speeds, with the electric motor providing occasional support. Acceleration from 80-100km/h is noticeably slower than at lower speeds, but the vehicle remains competent for rural driving. Despite this, the Corolla Hybrid delivers exceptional fuel efficiency, averaging 4.0L/100km over 500km of mixed urban and rural driving. Fuel consumption ranged from as low as 3.1L/100km to no higher than 5.1L/100km, allowing for a range of approximately 1000km per tank.

Toyota has finely tuned the suspension of the Corolla Hybrid, offering a balanced ride that feels both compliant and controlled over various road surfaces. The 16-inch alloy wheels with thicker tyres contribute to this smooth ride by absorbing road imperfections. Despite the added weight of the high-voltage battery, the Corolla Hybrid remains agile and responsive, encouraging confident driving. At higher speeds, it feels planted and stable, making highway cruising effortless.

The adaptive cruise control system has been improved since 2023 model, now applying the brakes to maintain the set speed rather than allowing the vehicle to exceed it and relying on a chime to signal over-speeding. While the radar system tends to brake early in traffic, which can be both helpful and frustrating, overall, it performs well in peak-hour conditions. The lane-keeping and emergency steering assist systems are also effective, with only occasional minor confusion in identifying lane markings.

What is the warranty on a Toyota Corolla?

The Toyota Corolla offers a 5 year unlimited kilometre warranty. This is separate to the warranty on offer under Australian Consumer Law which can be greater for certain parts based on what is deemed as a reasonable period of time.