Toyota is waving goodbye to the Auris Touring Sports to make room for the all-new model bound to be sold in Europe as the Corolla, much like it’ll be the case with the five-door hatchback. The Japanese marque wishes to point out that unlike its predecessor – which was basically an adapted hatchback - the revamped Corolla Touring Sports is a distinct model developed from the ground up on the TNGA platform to be a proper estate.
Have you seen the hatchback yet?
The fact that it has been engineered from day one to be an estate is perfectly reflected in the cargo capacity of the trunk. It has been expanded from the 507 litres of the Auris to a massive 598 litres for the new Corolla Touring Sports. Despite the significant growth, it’s still slightly less than the 605 litres offered by the Volkswagen Golf Variant and the 610 litres you get in the Skoda Octavia Combi.
The new Corolla estate does have an ace up its sleeve by offering best-in-class rear legroom thanks to a massive wheelbase stretching at 2700 mm, which even exceeds the Octavia’s wheelbase a bit. Add into the mix a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear setup, and an optionally available adaptive variable suspension – the new Corolla Touring Sports is shaping up to be a compelling offer for families looking to buy a compact estate.
The turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol unit with 114 bhp is the only conventional powertrain on offer, with the 1.8-litre rated at 120 bhp and the 2.0-litre producing 178 bhp both being hybrids. Those interested in a diesel will have to look elsewhere as Toyota is slowly but surely retiring diesel engines from its passenger cars in Europe.
Those willing to reach deeper in their pockets can get a lot of toys for the Corolla Touring Sports, with Toyota offering a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, and a JBL sound system. Stepping outside of the car, there are four two-tone paint schemes to choose from, although the secondary shade in all cases is a black look for the front lower grille surround, pillars, and roof.
Toyota will have the completely new Corolla Touring Sports on display at the Paris Motor Show next month.
Gallery: 2019 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
New Corolla Touring Sports
Joining the new hatchback first revealed in Geneva earlier this year, the new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports makes its first appearance at the 2018 Paris motor show. The all-new Corolla features a dynamic design which differentiates between the sporting, compact and dynamic hatchback and the sleek, refined and versatile Touring Sports.
Created and developed in Europe, the Touring Sports' body type makes it a key model for people looking for practicality and style without compromise.
With a brand new 2.0 litre full hybrid powertrain joining the engine line-up, the new 2018 Corolla model range also marks the debut of Toyota’s dual hybrid strategy.
Reflecting the brand’s continued focus on hybrid technology, the Corolla Touring Sports will offer customers just one conventional engine -a 116 hp 1.2 litre turbo petrol unit- and a choice of 122 hp, 1.8 litre or 180 hp, 2.0 litre hybrid powertrains. This latter is a unique proposition in this segment as no other conventional powertrain can offer the same combination of performance and low emissions.
The improved 1.8 litre hybrid powertrain stands for quiet, intuitive, responsive and self-charging EV technology with low cost of ownership. Whilst continuing to reward customers with all of the above benefits, the 2.0 litre system takes full advantage of the added ride comfort, stability, handling and driving enjoyment inherent in the newly adopted Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-C platform.
The new Corolla features a proven MacPherson strut front suspension system, an all-new multilink rear suspension arrangement, new shock absorber valve technology and, for the first time, the availability of Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS).
Handling and agility are thanks to the low mounting height of the engine, the low hip point of the seats and the location of the hybrid battery beneath the rear seats. In combination, these measures allow the Corolla Touring Sports to have a low centre of gravity.
Largely fitted as standard on High grade models and available as an option throughout the new Corolla model range, a comprehensive range of premium comfort and convenience technology (like a world first 3-D Driver’s meter, premium Head-Up Display, JBL GreenEdge Premium Sound System, wireless mobile phone charging or the Toyota Touch Multimedia System) is available to enhance life on board for both the driver and all cabin occupants.
DESIGN
Exterior
The new Touring Sports was styled in Europe at the recently opened Design Centre in Zaventem. Thanks to the adoption of TNGA, the new wagon is no longer merely a variation of the hatchback, but has become a distinctly separate model in its own right.
The new Corolla Touring Sports has a wheelbase of 2700 mm and a best-in-class rear seat passenger legroom.
The wagon has a refined, sensuous appearance and the sweeping roofline of an elegant yet robust shooting brake. This sporting profile is reinforced by the wide, flared wheel arches, their edges hemmed to allow the positioning of the wheels further outwards to emphasise the new Corolla's wider stance and lower centre of gravity.
To the rear, the Touring Sports design theme showcases muscular rear shoulders, widely spaced, full-LED lamp clusters and a slanted rear windscreen.
Deeper rear bumper styling also echoes the frontal Under Priority Catamaran design.
Exclusive to the segment, the Corolla Touring Sports' dynamic design is further emphasised through a range of four optional bi-tone colour schemes available from launch. They combine the body colour with a black finish to the roof and roof pillars, and the front lower grille surround.
Interior
The new Corolla Touring Sports features an all-new interior designed to create a spacious, modern and cohesive cabin environment in which new textures, colours and trim combine to offer the highest levels of visual and tactile quality.
Particular attention has been paid to this version, which has been specifically tailored to the European market, offering customers the highest level of sensory quality.
A key advantage of the new GA-C platform is the possibility of a having a lower front seat hip point to lower the vehicle's centre of gravity and offer a more engaging driving position.
The new Corolla Touring Sports has the additional benefits of a front to rear seat couple distance of 928 mm for ample rear seat passenger space, and a generous, 598 litre VDA loadspace incorporating numerous aids for to practicality and convenience.