Toyota has just made the first major changes to its Corolla Hatchback lineup for 2023. Recall that Toyota had already revealed its plans for the sedan of the same name, the compact car that moves to exclusively hybrid and all-wheel drive (or four-wheel drive) for the coming year.
The Corolla Hatchback, on the other hand, continues with a more conventional powertrain, the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that still delivers 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, all via a continuously variable transmission that also offers “virtual shifting” via paddles behind the steering wheel on the more upscale models in the lineup. In short, what’s clear from this announcement is that the six-speed manual transmission is no longer part of the small car’s lineup… except for the rare and spicier GR Corolla, which is also coming this year.
The new 2023 Corolla Hatchback also gets a slight facelift at the front with a slightly redesigned bumper and at the rear, as well as new 18-inch wheels, which are painted black. Also note the availability of two new body colours, Fire Red and Shock Blue Metallic, but otherwise, the Corolla Hatchback keeps its friendly face.
Inside, the Corolla now comes standard with the brand’s multimedia system and even the TSS 3.0 (Toyota Safety Sense 3.0) suite of safety features. What’s more, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless.
Coming back to the brand’s multimedia system, it now offers more functions via the screen or even via the smart device app. These include access to the vehicle’s health check or maintenance schedules, or remote monitoring with Remote Connect (engine start/stop, door locks/unlocks, vehicle location, guest driver monitoring, window status), not to mention Safety Connect features (automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle locator, emergency assistance button and enhanced roadside assistance). Drive Connect adds cloud-based navigation with Destination Assist.
“Canadians who love to drive love the Toyota Corolla Hatchback for its spirited performance, confident handling, city agility and surprising versatility,” said Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc. Now they can add next-generation safety technologies and connectivity services to that list of qualities. It’s a great time to find out how the Corolla Hatchback is a game changer.”
A copy of the Corolla Hatchback is available to order now, the car which is available in four trim levels – S ($23,350), SE ($25,520), SE Enhanced ($27,030) and XSE ($29,980).
