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June 2, 2022

2023 Toyota Corolla Takes Fight To Honda Civic With 197 Horsepower And All-Wheel Drive


With its crossover-fied sibling, the Corolla Cross getting a new powertrain, it only makes sense for Toyota to offer the same on the OG Corolla, right? Well, that time is now: this is the 2023 Toyota Corolla.

At the heart of the updates is a re-engineered hybrid drive. Like the system in the Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Corolla’s gas-electric combo swaps its aging Prius-based 1.8-liter motor for Toyota’s latest, fifth-generation tech. This means pairing a 2.0-liter engine with one or two electric motors enough for a maximum of 197 horsepower (same as the Corolla Cross).

And like the Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Corolla sedan is available with an electric on-demand all-wheel drive system. This means it can use its rear-mounted electric motors to provide additional support in low grip situations.


Meanwhile, the non-hybrid Corollas leaves its 1.8-liter for a Dynamic Force 2.0-liter motor. This bumps up their outputs from 139 horsepower to a healthier 169 horsepower.

In both cases, they’re mated to a CVT gearbox. The non-hybrids also get Dynamic Shift which adds a first gear for start-off acceleration.

The 2023 Corolla communicates those updates via enhanced styling particularly with its redesigned head- and taillights, and bumpers. Inside, it now offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto thanks to its updated Toyota multimedia system.

For now, these changes to the Corolla are limited to the U.S. market. However, it will only be a matter of time when Toyota does roll out these updates to other markets, including the Philippines in the future.

3 comments:

  1. Hi, Toyota USA's press release mentions that while the 2023 Corolla Hybrids "gain a more powerful Toyota Hybrid System" with "a newly developed lithium-ion battery," it's still the same 1.8l engine. Toyota did add the option for e-AWD, similar to what they did for the Prius a couple of years ago.

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    Replies
    1. Toyota EU has more information regarding the updated 1.8l Hybrid system. It now has 138hp/140ps.

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  2. I just want/need a corolla station wagon Hybrid

    ReplyDelete

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