Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - perfect choice?

Road Test

byMarkSlack

FOR many people, espe ‐cially of a certain age, mention estate cars and Volvo comes to mind, es ‐tates that were favoured by antique dealers every ‐where. Look for a large estate now and to be honest you’ll struggle. We’ve moved to ‘lifestyle’ estates which are collo ‐quially known as Tourers, smaller load capacity but arguably more stylish and better handling than the estate barges of old.

One of the sleekest and most affordable estates, sorry tourers, is Toyota’s Corolla Touring Sports. Carrying their very well ‐proven hybrid technolo ‐gy, still a much more all ‐round and useable proposition than an EV, the Corolla may not be the most exciting means of transport, but as a package it pretty much does everything you could want of a car. Lots of equipment, affordable running costs and very well bolted together. It feels like a car that will still be running and look ‐ing good in 20 years‐time.

Prices start from €35,363/£31,560 with four trim levels and two engine options ‐ 1.8 or 2.0 ‐ litre petrol hybrid.

Facts at a Glance

Standard fare on the en ‐try level model provides everything from front and rear parking sensors and auto lights to smart phone ming rear view mirrors to its standard equipment.

One of the first things quality puts some rivals of similar price in the shade. You still get the bolt ‐ on ‐ iPad look of so many cars but that apart there’s a pleasing normal‐ity with a standard auto ‐matic gear shift lever, buttons (hurrah!) and de‐cent functionality to the touch screen.

• Model: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Design

• Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol electric selfcharging hybrid

• Gears: CVT automatic

• Price: €37,123/£33,130

• Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 9.4 seconds/Maximum Speed 180 kph (112 mph).

• Economy: 4.7l/100km (60.1 mpg) Combined driving.

• Emissions: 106 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets connectivity and dual zone air conditioning. My test model was the Design trim, second up in the range, which adds keyless entry and start, power tailgate, privacy glass, power fold door mirrors and auto dim ‐ ent low stance, it looks very low yet isn’t com ‐pared to other cars of a similar type. So Toyota’s stylists obviously know a thing or two about sleek design!

Inside it looks and feels well assembled and the

As with anything Toy ‐ota, the Corolla is a smooth and refined drive, push the throttle too enthusiastically though and as is usual with a CVT transmission it hangs onto high engine revs meaning it’s rather vocal. Progressive rather than sudden acceleration is the order of the day.

If you’re looking for a car that’s got more practi‐cality than a hatchback, but still handles as capa ‐bly, looks good and is su ‐perbly well built, then the Toyota Corolla Hybrid Touring might just be the perfect choice.