Toyota Corolla Altis

The Toyota Corolla has been around since 1966. And over that half-century, it has sold more than 50 million units worldwide, making it the best-selling nameplate in the world.

Although many have called the Corolla “boring” and “ordinary,” it has certainly stepped up its game in its latest generation. Here’s our comprehensive buyer’s guide of the Toyota Corolla Altis.

History

This little space is not enough to encapsulate the vast history of the Toyota Corolla.

Although it has been around since the mid-1960s, the model gained popularity in the Philippines from the 1970s onwards. Even after the fall of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the Corolla remained a mainstay of Toyota Motor Philippines’ post-martial law lineup.

The Corolla Altis name made its debut in 2001 with the ninth-generation model. It lives on today in the 12th-generation Corolla, which was launched locally on September 2019.

Price

There are currently five Corolla Altis models, available with hybrid or non-hybrid powertrains. Here are the prices:

The Toyota Corolla Altis looks much sharper than its predecessor, taking on styling cues from more radical-looking models like the Toyota Prius hybrid.

Pointed headlights are well-integrated with the front grill, while the fairly aggressive lower bumper is bracketed by the dramatic foglight trim. The GR-S models add a sporty bodykit.

Down the side, the Corolla Altis is clean, if a bit mundane. The character crease running along the car’s beltline gives some semblance of muscularity to the sedan.

Out back, wraparound taillights are connected with a chrome strip, while the lower rear bumper imitates the front end with creases that lead the eye to the reflectors.

All E and G variants come with 16-inch alloy wheels, while the V and GR-S models have 17-inch alloy wheels.

Dimensions

The Corolla Altis is a compact sedan that has good room for five passengers.

These are its vital statistics:

Step inside the Corolla Altis and you get a sensibly laid-out cabin with good-quality materials.

The center touchscreen infotainment system stands tall above the air-conditioning vents and climate-control panel. Nothing really stands out, unlike the lovely flourishes in the Honda Civic and the Mazda3.

Leather is standard in the higher-end models, but it isn’t as supple as the hide in the Honda or Mazda.

Safety features

The Corolla Altis has a vast array of standard safety gear.

This includes front, side, driver’s knee and curtain airbags, along with anti-lock brakes, stability control, hill-start assist, three-point seatbelts for all passengers and ISOFIX child-restraint mounts.

The V and GR-S models also come with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which includes active safety systems like collision-mitigation braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

AutoFun Philippines was able to test the TSS system in its review of the Toyota Corolla Altis V Hybrid. All functions worked effectively and helped make the car a relaxed expressway cruiser.

High-tech features

Besides the aforementioned safety gear, the Corolla Altis also offers smartphone integration for its infotainment system.

The higher-end V and GR-S get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The top two models also get a reversing camera and a very efficient
auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Ride comfort

The Corolla Altis offers a firm yet comfortable ride.

It remains composed in bumpy city streets and long, smooth highways. However, the 45-series tires that come with the 17-inch alloy wheels on the V and GR-S models can feel a bit crashy over big undulations.

Storage space

The Corolla Altis may be a traditional sedan in a crossover world, but it offers generous trunk space that includes a 60:40 split-folding rear seat, even in the hybrid models. 

There are also plenty of cupholders and cubbies in the door cards, center console and the large glove compartment.

Engine and transmission

You have a choice of two engines with the Toyota Corolla Altis, all mated to a continuously variable transmission.

The non-hybrid models get a 1.6-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 122 PS and 153 Nm of torque. 

Meanwhile, the hybrid variants get a 1.8-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor. The system produces a combined 122 PS and 142 Nm of torque.

Although the hybrid may seem less potent on paper, it produces all of its torque at 3,600 RPM, compared to 5,200 RPM for the regular Corolla Altis.

This means you don’t have to wind up the hybrid engine as much to accelerate.

Driving characteristics

The driving feel is where the Corolla Altis really made strides over the old model.

Apart from riding on the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which is related to the one used in the rapid Toyota GR Yaris, the Corolla Altis also has fully independent suspension.

The fronts use MacPherson struts, while the rears use very sophisticated double wishbones. GR-S models use an uprated setup for sportier handling.

All this makes the Toyota very nice to handle in corners, which is where the old model fell a bit short. Although it drives better than the large and ponderous Honda Civic, it still isn’t quite as nice as a Mazda3.

That’s because of the slightly dead steering and the spongy brake pedal, which is even more difficult to modulate in the hybrid models because of the regenerative braking system. 

Fuel consumption

Based on our tests, the Corolla Altis Hybrid can get 17 to 24 km/L in the city and 27 to 29 km/L on the expressway.

Meanwhile, the regular Corolla Altis gets around 10 to 12 km/L in the city and 18 to 20 km/L out on the open road.

Acceleration

Toyota does not provide 0-100 km/h figures for the Corolla Altis. 

Engine Performance

The engine performance of the Toyota Corolla Altis is average at best - it does not pack a punch like the Honda Civic, nor does it sing as well as the Mazda 3. 

Despite the lack in outright power, the Corolla Altis' engine makes up for it with its buttery smooth power delivery. 

Transmission Performance

The CVT-type automatic has been improved over the predecessor model - it now feels more direct and the CVT whine has been eliminated.

Steering and Handling

Thanks to the Corolla Altis's TNGA architecture, the ride is noticeably more supple and forgiving against rough tarmac than the slightly firmer and noisier Honda Civic. 

As good as the suspension set-up is, the steering felt artificial when compared to the Civic, which is a little frustrating as the chassis can handle a lot more power.

Then again, if you want to enjoy every moment behind the wheel, you ought to check out the Mazda 3 instead.

Sound Proofing

Sound proofing of the Toyota Corolla Altis isn't the best or the worst out there.

It is quieter than the Honda Civic, but noisier than the Mazda 3. 

Passenger Comfort

The Toyota Corolla Altis has a width of 1,780 mm, 19 mm less than the Honda Civic and it shows.

Shoulder room at the rear is tight, and the car is best used as a 4-seater. 

Thankfully the Corolla Altis is now fitted with rear air-conditioning vents, but there's no rear USB ports. 

The Corolla Altis Hybrid can get 17 to 24 km/L in the city and 27 to 29 km/L on the expressway.

Meanwhile, the regular Corolla Altis gets around 10 to 12 km/L in the city and 18 to 20 km/L out on the open road.

The Toyota Corolla Altis is the culmination of over 55 years of non-stop development of the Corolla nameplate.

It made it to where it is now by offering solid, reliable mechanicals in an easy-to-drive and economical package. And with the brand’s excellent TNGA platform and fully independent suspension, the Corolla Altis’ driving dynamics are better than ever.

Even though the compact sedan market in the Philippines isn’t quite as strong as it used to be, the Corolla Altis certainly has enough to stand out from its rivals.

But if you’re looking for something that looks and feels more premium, stalwarts like the Honda Civic and Mazda3 might be more your style.