Driving Impressions : 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE

By: Mark Moskowitz MD

While the eleventh generation of the fifty plus year old Corolla lives on for one more cycle as a small sedan, Toyota has introduced the twelfth generation as a hatchback and it seems to be morphing from econobox to something a bit more sporty.

It's smartly styled. One swage line extends from front to back rising rapidly to narrow the rearmost portion of the side windows while another rises beneath it to widen and accentuate the rear fenders. Another indent in the lower doors gives further definition. There's a lot going on but it's pleasing to the eye especially when finished off with our test car's Oxide Bronze Metallic. The rear hatch bulges outward suggesting great space within. Up front Toyota improves on the brand's too long never ending grill, shortening it and defining a bottom with a body colored spoiler.

The interior carries an old school vibe. Three dimensional buttons activate all the touch screen buttons. Knobs work the radio. The odometer resets with a button. Pedals allow heel toe maneuvers. The only discomfiting feature is the stark white leather which covers all but small contrasting charcoal fabric inserts. It's a throwback and it's startling but all black can be ordered.

Convenience features abound and include seat heaters, dual zone climate control, a nearly D shaped steering wheel, a tilting steering column, supportive 8-way power seats and a console low enough to allow knees to rest above it and big enough to let the biggest Android phone lay flat. Rear seating is certainly adequate for a night on the town for males of average height. The 8-inch touchscreen extends far above the dash and looks like an afterthought but it's optimally placed for visibility and touch. Functionality includes Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto.

The hatchback was easy to open and the space easy to access. Cargo volume is a smallish 17.8 cubic feet. The rear seats are split and fold forward but no measurements of the enlarged space were found on 'Full Specs' page of the website.

On the road Toyota offers a few more upscale features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist with an audible warning, blind spot monitoring, the well-advertised Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and optional adaptive headlights. A button activates iMT, a rev matching feature rare to experience in manual transmission vehicles without an accompanying exhaust roar.

Thanks to a multi-link rear suspension, the Corolla Hatchback traverses bumps well with no discernible side-to-side shake and it's predictable and comfortable to its limits. And to keep the drive easy, Toyota has avoided adding excessive artificial resistance to the steering. The six-speed shifter was buttery smooth and direct. And as mentioned, heel-toe was easy but the need was obviated by iMT. I would like a bit more power and torque than this 168 HP two-liter DOHC four delivers. The IPad registered a 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds. Even underway there's not much passing power below 3600 rpms, requiring a lot of on-the-cam driving. Fuel consumption is reported as 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway; 70 mph in sixth gear reads 2600 on the tach. The automatic or 'continuous variable transmission' version of the hatchback improves fuel consumption figures to 30 mpg/city and 38 mpg/highway.

All cars are a compromise and it's nice to see a shift towards sportiness in this veteran compact. You might find a bit more opulence in a Golf and a bit more power in a Hyundai and a bit more cargo space in others, but I am impressed with the sum of the parts and believe Toyota will find further success with Corolla v.12.

Photo credit: Mark Moskowitz MD

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