The New Toyota Corolla: More Than Just a Facelift?

Today in China, sales of the new Toyota Corolla have officially begun, produced by the FAW-Toyota joint venture. The facelifted model received not only a fresh design but also a significant increase in size. Meanwhile, the manufacturer set a rather aggressive price tag: with a ‘factory direct discount,’ the car costs 99-118 thousand yuan ($13,500-$16,000). Photo: Toyota

The car has grown noticeably: its length increased by 75 mm (to 4710 mm), and the wheelbase extended by 50 mm, reaching 2750 mm, providing spaciousness comparable to models a class higher. The appearance has been brought to the latest corporate style: the sedan received C-shaped front optics in the spirit of the Camry XV80, at the rear – L-shaped lights and a ducktail spoiler. Photo: Toyota

Inside, the salon is designed in a minimalist black-and-white style. Equipment includes an 8.8-inch digital dashboard and a large 12.9-inch media system screen supporting Apple CarPlay and Huawei HiCar. Options include a 50W wireless smartphone charging, 64-color ambient lighting, and hidden air vents. Safety is ensured by the Toyota Pilot assistant suite, which is part of the standard equipment. Photo: Toyota

Serious changes occurred under the hood: Toyota abandoned 1.2-liter (turbocharged) and 1.5-liter (naturally aspirated) engines. Now customers have access only to a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine with 171 hp and a 5th generation hybrid system based on a 1.8-liter engine. The hybrid version consumes just 4.13 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, and the range on a tank of gas reaches 1000 km (621 miles), aligning well with current trends towards fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.