Test Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 2.0 hybrid 180H (with video)

Although in recent years we've known Toyota's compact car as the Auris in Europe, the Japanese firm has decided to bring back the global name Toyota Corolla for our market with this new generation. This model first arrived on the market in 1966, accumulating no fewer than twelve generations if we include the latest one.

I had a brief test drive during its international launch a few months ago, getting behind the wheel of both the five-door hatchback and the station wagon, and driving both the 125H and 180H versions. For this test, I opted for the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports station wagon and the 2.0 Hybrid 180 hp engine . I'll tell you all the details in writing and also in a video. Join me!

First of all, I wanted to mention that the Toyota Corolla is available in three body styles : a five-door hatchback (starting at €20.850), a station wagon (starting at €22.100), and a sedan (starting at €21.350). The brand anticipates that the traditional five-door hatchback will be the most popular, not expecting many sales of the sedan in our country.

Regarding the powertrains, only non-plug-in hybrid versions are available in Spain. These include a 1.8 Hybrid with 122 hp (marketed as the 125H) and a 2.0 Hybrid with 180 hp (marketed as the 180H). I'll discuss these in more detail later.

An exterior with personality

Starting with its exterior design, the Japanese firm has maintained its design philosophy in this Toyota Corolla . It doesn't resort to extravagant aesthetics, but they've managed to create a model that doesn't resemble any other car on the market . Whether you like it or not, I think that's something to be valued positively, because the truth is that many vehicles look too similar to each other.

Our test car is finished in "Espresso Brown," a color that, in my opinion, masks several features of the new Corolla, especially at the front . The main distinguishing features of this compact car are the narrow, slanted headlights with LED lighting , the Toyota logo with its blue outline, and the large lower air intake framed by a rather pronounced hexagonal shape in the bumper. The fog lights are discreet and circular.

If we shift our perspective to a side view , there aren't any major features to highlight. It's worth mentioning that both the headlights and taillights are subtly integrated into the side profile, that a rising beltline runs above the door handles, originating at the front wheel arch and ending at the taillights, and that there's a large glass area . The roof features chrome rails, and at its rear is a discreet and elegant spoiler.

Meanwhile, the rear of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports isn't as striking as that of the 5-door Corolla. The station wagon version is more elegant, while the hatchback prioritizes a sportier look. Key features include sharp lines, a prominent bumper, and boomerang-shaped LED taillights. The cargo opening is large. Interestingly, the Touring Sports body style is unique in that it can display real exhaust outlets —dual, circular, chrome, and well-integrated. Let's move on to the interior.

An interior that increases its quality, but with details still to be polished

Once inside , the Toyota Corolla greets us with a much better impression than its predecessor, the Toyota Auris. The generational leap is noticeable here. We now find a completely new instrument cluster with a 7-inch TFT screen in the center for typical driving information, combined with three gauges: a tachometer on the left and two on the right, one for water temperature and the other for fuel level.

The overall design of the dashboard has also changed considerably . There are now more soft-touch materials in the upper and central sections, giving it a better, cleaner look and a more premium feel. The infotainment screen has been repositioned; it's no longer integrated into the design but sits higher, requiring less of an eye movement. It's an 8-inch touchscreen , an improvement over its predecessor but still not among the best in terms of responsiveness or graphics. Fortunately, the climate control system isn't integrated into this screen.

Below that, a traditional lever for operating the e-CVT automatic transmission appears, replacing the small lever still present in the Toyota Prius. Next to it is a control for selecting driving modes and activating EV mode. The push-button parking brake has also been relocated.

I wanted to highlight that this new Corolla already includes a wireless charging pad for smartphones, which is quite useful these days when we're so attached to our phones. What I did miss, though, was more storage space in the center console; there are only two bottle holders and a compartment under the armrest. Incidentally, the center armrest is length-adjustable, but its height is not.

If you are looking for space, the Touring Sports is better than the hatchback

In terms of interior space, the Toyota Corolla isn't the largest in its class, especially in the rear. The front seats, naturally, are more than adequate for two average-sized adults. This Feel! trim level includes height, tilt, and reach adjustments for the front seats, but I missed having lumbar support. The steering wheel is also adjustable for height and reach, so finding a comfortable driving position isn't difficult. The seatbelt can also be adjusted on the A-pillar.

The rear seats , as I mentioned before, aren't very spacious in the five-door Toyota Corolla. In the Touring Sports estate, since the wheelbase is a few centimeters longer, there's noticeably more legroom ; in my case, I had about six fingers' width of space to spare. In this particular model, because it has a panoramic sunroof, headroom isn't generous. I'm 1,76 meters tall and my head almost touches the roof. The middle seat isn't very usable , and my head does hit the roof there. Therefore, it's fine for adults under 1,80 meters tall, but taller adults won't be comfortable.

As for other details, in this second row of seats we find air vents in the center, which we can open or close, but we can't adjust the temperature. I missed having a USB port back here . The backrest of the middle seat converts into an armrest, also housing two cupholders, but there's no hatch to access the trunk for loading long, thin items like skis.

A trunk that varies depending on the engines

While the Toyota Corolla may not offer the best rear passenger space in its segment, pay attention to the trunk , which varies in size depending on the body style (naturally), but also on the engine chosen. Yes, depending on the engine, you'll have more or less cargo space, even though all versions are front-wheel drive. Let me explain why:

As I mentioned at the beginning, there are two mechanical versions: a 1.8 Hybrid 125H and a 2.0 Hybrid 180H. In the case of the former, the traditional battery for the combustion engine and its auxiliary systems is located in the engine compartment, but in the more powerful engine, they ran out of space and had to move it to the trunk.

In the case of the Touring Sports (always referring to the 2-liter engine), they were able to place it behind the right rear wheel arch, losing very little space . However, in the 5-door model, they could only place it under the floor, in the center. In this case, they had to raise the floor height, losing a significant amount of cargo volume—almost 50 liters. I've included each capacity in the following table:

As for the trunk of this test vehicle, as you can see, the volume is generous and its shape allows for good use of the space. The trunk floor can be set at two different heights, and underneath it there's a huge storage compartment large enough to fit even a carry-on suitcase. In total, there are 581 liters of trunk space , which can be expanded to 1.606 liters by folding down the rear seats using convenient levers.

Two mechanical versions, both hybrid

Focusing in depth on the mechanical versions of the Toyota Corolla, as I mentioned before, we have two engines, both being self-charging hybrids and receiving the DGT Eco label , with the advantages that this implies, especially in large cities and on days of high pollution.

The entry-level engine is the 1.8 Hybrid 125H , which produces 122 hp at 5.200 rpm. This engine is available in all three Corolla body styles. The 2.0 Hybrid 180H version is the most powerful , delivering 180 hp at 6.000 rpm, but it is not offered in the sedan body style. Below you will find the performance figures for each variant:

Toyota Corolla five doors

Toyota Corolla Sport Touring

Toyota Corolla Sedan

At the wheel: More comfort, more poise, more confidence

And now it's time to talk about its handling, how the new Toyota Corolla feels. First of all, I need to clarify that the Japanese compact is built on a new platform, known as the TNGA platform – Toyota New Global Architecture . This means that, fundamentally, it differs significantly from the Auris.

The first thing we noticed while driving the Corolla is that, thanks to the new platform and its fine-tuning, it now feels more planted on the highway, but also more stable and dynamic when tackling a winding road. The suspension controls body roll better than the previous model, but it still has a tuning focused on comfort . After all, those who buy a hybrid car are looking for comfort, not sporty handling.

All of this translates into a greater sense of stability for the driver, a greater feeling of safety and confidence , which is always a very positive thing. And that's despite the fact that the steering is still too assisted and filters out practically everything that happens under the front wheels. In that sense, it wouldn't have hurt to have a bit more feedback through the steering wheel.

When driving in the city , the Toyota Corolla demonstrates a very smooth ride and ease of handling. Depending on the situation, how much you press the accelerator, and the battery charge, the combustion engine will either remain off and use only electric power for propulsion, or the gasoline engine will take over. In either case, unless you accelerate hard, the gasoline engine will go unnoticed, as even when running, it barely revs up.

The suspension absorbs the speed bumps that plague our roads quite well, so passengers will feel quite comfortable. The steering, which I find excessively assisted, makes maneuvering effortless and easy—the main advantage of having so much assistance. Something I'm not entirely convinced about is the braking system . When switching from regenerative braking to conventional braking, the braking force changes, requiring significant modulation, which takes some getting used to. The Honda CR-V hybrid is much better in this regard.

Meanwhile, on the open road, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 2.0 Hybrid 180H doesn't seem to deliver the claimed 180 hp, but it's still perfectly capable . At the international launch, I also had the opportunity to test the 125H version with 122 hp, which I found underpowered and less efficient on the highway. It accelerates much more slowly and revs excessively, resulting in more noise. It's sufficient for city driving, but for highway driving, the 2.0 Dynamic Force engine with 180 hp is a better choice.

In the case of the more powerful version, the engine doesn't rev as high on even the slightest incline or when accelerating quickly, although it will exceed 4.000 rpm and produce the typical CVT slippage sound if you accelerate hard. However, unlike the 125H, with the 180 hp version you really notice the car gaining speed rapidly.

Where we most take advantage of its hybrid status is in the city and on flat roads between 70 and 100 km/h. Maintaining a constant speed, the heat engine will turn off when the battery has enough charge and the electrical system will be in charge of keeping up. In addition, when the gasoline engine is running, it turns at very low revolutions, going completely unnoticed.

In terms of comfort regarding noise and sound insulation , the Corolla is well soundproofed in the city and on medium-speed roads. However, at 120 km/h (or slightly above), aerodynamic and road noise become noticeable . They aren't alarming, but if you pay attention or drive with the audio system off, they are more noticeable than in other similar vehicles.

Consumption contained in all situations

Last but not least—not by a long shot—let's talk about fuel consumption . Over the more than 700 kilometers we've driven this car, the average consumption has been 5,6 l/100 km , which isn't bad at all. On highways or motorways, at legal speeds, it's normal to expect between 5,6 and 5,8 liters.

In the city it depends a lot on the type of routes and driving, but it is rare to see it above 6 liters if we drive normally. On roads such as the M-40 or similar ring roads with a maximum speed limited to 100 km/h, it is easy to obtain consumption of around 4,5 or 4,8 l/100 km. As you can see, it is not a very “greedy” car in any situation.

Conclusions

Okay, now it's time to draw some conclusions. First, as I mentioned before , if you like the Corolla and want space, go for the Touring Sports , both because the rear seats are a bit more spacious and because the trunk is much larger. If you also plan on doing a lot of highway driving, I 'd go for the 180 hp version. Right now, as a self-charging hybrid, it has hardly any rivals in the compact station wagon segment.

In terms of price, the station wagon starts at €23.350 . It's also worth noting that this car comes with a lot of standard equipment, which naturally increases with each trim level. This particular model is the Feel! trim, the second most equipped. With the larger engine, navigation system, and panoramic sunroof, the price is around €28.500 according to the online configurator.

As a product, it has the advantages of not spending too much gasoline, having a differentiated design and, of course, being “awarded” with the DGT ECO Label. Of course, some materials and the infotainment system can be improved, as well as the space for the head in the rear seats.

Equipment Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

Active

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Tire repair kit
• Body-color door handles and mirrors
• Darkened rear windows
• Shark fin antenna
• Headlights with “Follow me home” function
• light sensing
• Electric and heated exterior mirrors
• Roof bars
• Rear view camera
• Pre-collision safety system with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• automatic high beams
• Smart cruise control with signal recognition
• Speed ​​limiter
• LED pilot lights
• integrated indicators
• E-call emergency call
• Toyota Touch 2 with 8-inch screen
• Radio with six speakers, USB and AUX sockets and bluetooth
• 2 12 volt outlets
• Leather multifunction steering wheel and gear lever
• electric parking brake
• Fabric armrests
• Dual zone air conditioning
• keyless start
• 60:40 folding rear seats
• 4,2 inch TFT screen in box
• Trunk with double bottom
• Roll-up boot tray
• load separation network

Active Tech (adds)

• Front grille in piano black
• Electrically folding exterior mirrors
• LED fog lights
• wireless smartphone charger

Feel! (Add)

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Bi-LED headlights
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Electrochromic interior mirror
• Instrument panel with 7-inch TFT color screen

Advance (add)

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Multi-LED headlights with dynamic adjustment
• hands-free entry
• paddle shifters on the steering wheel
• smart parking system
• JBL sound system
• Front grille in piano black with chrome trim
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind spot detector and rear cross traffic alert
• heated front seats
• Sports seats
• Driver's seats with electric lumbar adjustment

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Prices

Editor's opinion

• Editor's rating
• 4.5 star rating
• Exceptional

^€22.100 a ^€29.450

• 80 %

---

• Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 180H Feel!
• Review of: Diego Avila
• Posted on:
• Last modification:

• Exterior design

  Publisher: 80%
• interior design

  Publisher: 60%
• front seats

  Publisher: 60%
• rear seats

  Publisher: 65%
• Trunk

  Publisher: 75%
• Spring Suspension

  Publisher: 70%
• Consumption

  Publisher: 90%
• Comfort

  Publisher: 85%
• Price

  Publisher: 75%

---

Gallery Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

Toyota Corolla

• Plazas 5
• Power 140 - 196 hp
• Power: 140 - 196 hp
• Consumption: 4,5 - 5,3 kWh/100km