The Toyota Corolla is one of the most popular and best-selling cars worldwide. It was first introduced in 1966 and has gone through multiple generations with over 50 million units sold globally. The Corolla hatchback model dates back to the 1970s and has seen several iterations over the years.
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback is a compact five-door hatchback and the sportier counterpart to the regular Corolla sedan. It was relaunched in 2018 for the 2019 model year after a decade-long hiatus. The new Corolla Hatchback showcases Toyota’s modern design language and comes equipped with the latest tech and safety features.
Generations
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has had two different generations over its production history:
The 5th generation Corolla Hatchback (codenamed AE85) was produced from 1984 to 1987. This generation marked the debut of the Corolla Hatchback nameplate and was offered with a 1.3L or 1.6L 4-cylinder engine. It came in standard, DX, SR5, and Sport trim levels. Major changes included the introduction of fuel injection in 1985 and a minor facelift in 1986.
After a long hiatus, the Corolla Hatchback returned in 2019 for its 12th generation (codename E210). This new generation is built on Toyota’s TNGA platform, which underpins other Toyotas like the Prius and C-HR. The powertrain options include a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine or a 1.8L hybrid system. The 2019 model brought updated tech and safety features like Entune 3.0 and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. Minor styling and tech upgrades came for the 2020 and 2021 model years.https://www.cars.com/research/toyota-corolla_hatchback/
Exterior Design
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback features a sleek and sporty exterior design measured at 169.9 inches long, 57.1 inches tall, and 69.9 inches wide. The design includes a sloped roofline, aggressively styled front grille, and sharp character lines running down the side to give it a dynamic look (https://www.toyota.com/corollahatchback/photo-gallery/exterior/).
The Corolla Hatchback is available in several trim levels, each with their own unique styling. The base SE trim features standard LED headlights and taillights, color-keyed heated power outside mirrors, and 16-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels. Step up to the SE Nightshade Edition for black 18-inch alloy wheels, black exterior accents, and available two-tone paint. The sporty XSE trim adds aggressive body kit, rear spoiler, and 18-inch machined alloy wheels (https://www.toyota.com/corollahatchback/).
Overall, the exterior design of the Toyota Corolla Hatchback aims for a bold, athletic appearance while still retaining the practicality of a 5-door hatchback body style.
Interior Design
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has a modern and stylish interior with quality materials and ample passenger space. According to Toyota, interior space is maximized thanks to the car’s multi-link rear suspension and 60/40 folding rear seats.
Some key features of the Corolla Hatchback’s interior include:
- An 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration (Toyota).
- Leather shift knob and leather-trimmed manual tilt/telescoping steering wheel on higher trims.
- Dual zone automatic climate control.
- 7-inch TFT multi-information display in the instrument cluster.
- Heated front seats on SE and XSE trims.
There are two interior color schemes offered: charcoal black or charcoal black/blue. The SE and XSE trims can also come with red accent stitching throughout the interior.
Reviewers have praised the Corolla Hatchback’s interior for having quality materials and a relatively spacious feel for a small hatchback. The front seats are comfortable and offer good bolstering. Rear seat legroom is decent for the class, while headroom may be tighter for taller passengers (CarBuzz).
Performance
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback offers responsive performance from its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine. This engine generates 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, providing brisk acceleration whether driving around town or merging onto the highway. Power is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Fuel economy is a strength of the Corolla Hatchback. Models equipped with the CVT achieve EPA-estimated ratings of 31 mpg city/40 mpg highway/34 mpg combined. These numbers are quite impressive for a vehicle in the compact segment and help lower fuel costs for owners.
In Car and Driver testing, a Corolla Hatchback accelerated from 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds. While not the quickest in the class, this level of acceleration is more than adequate for everyday driving needs and passing slow-moving traffic.
Overall, the Corolla Hatchback offers a nice blend of responsiveness and efficiency from its proven 2.0-liter engine. Drivers will appreciate its smooth power delivery and excellent gas mileage.
Safety
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback comes equipped with many standard safety features, including vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, smart stop technology, and 10 airbags throughout the cabin (https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Toyota/Corolla).
Available active safety features include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beam headlights, dynamic radar cruise control, and road sign assist. The 2022 Toyota Corolla Hatchback received top “Good” ratings in all IIHS crash tests, though the passenger-side small overlap was rated only “Acceptable” (https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/toyota/corolla-4-door-hatchback/2022).
Overall, the Corolla Hatchback provides drivers with substantial standard safety technology along with the option for adding more advanced driver assistance features. Between crash test results and safety equipment, the hatchback aims to provide peace of mind for drivers and passengers.
Technology
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display and six-speaker audio system standard. Higher trims upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen with enhanced voice recognition, Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (Toyota Corolla Hatchback Features).
For connectivity, all models come equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology, two USB 2.0 ports, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The available Audio Plus package adds an enhanced audio system, while the available Premium Audio and Navigation includes a JBL sound system with Clari-Fi technology (2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Features & Specs).
Optional driver assist technologies include a blind spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, and road sign assist. Though not as high-tech as some competitors, the Corolla Hatchback still offers ample technology and connectivity features for the segment.
Pricing
The 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is available in a range of trim levels, each with a different starting MSRP:
The base SE trim starts at an MSRP of $23,505 (https://www.toyota.com/corollahatchback/).
The Nightshade Edition, which adds some blacked-out exterior styling elements, has an MSRP of $24,505 (https://www.toyota.com/corollahatchback/).
The top-level XSE trim starts at an MSRP of $26,805 (https://www.toyota.com/corollahatchback/).
These prices do not include Toyota’s $1,095 destination charge.
Optional packages and accessories can increase the final price. However, the Corolla Hatchback remains one of the most affordable vehicles in its segment.
Rivals
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback faces competition from other compact hatchbacks like the Honda Civic Hatchback, Volkswagen Golf, and Hyundai Elantra GT. The Civic Hatchback is one of its closest competitors with similar dimensions, fuel economy, and pricing. The Golf offers more cargo space but less rear seat room. The Elantra GT is affordable but doesn’t get quite as good fuel economy. The Corolla Hatchback stands out with its combination of practicality, efficiency, value, and Toyota’s reputation for reliability.
Compared to rivals, the Corolla Hatchback offers competitive pricing along with generous rear seat space, making it a practical choice for carrying passengers. Its fuel economy is among the best in its class. The Corolla also comes with Toyota Safety Sense standard across all trims, offering valuable active safety features like automatic emergency braking. Overall, the Corolla Hatchback delivers an appealing blend of utility, efficiency, value and safety when compared to key players in the compact hatchback segment.
The Future
The Toyota Corolla Hatchback is expected to receive some updates for the 2024 model year. This will likely include some exterior styling tweaks, new wheel designs, and new color options (Toyota).
There are also rumors of a new higher performance version possibly called the GR Corolla Hatchback. This would have a more powerful turbocharged engine producing over 300 horsepower. Toyota has shown some concept models hinting at what a sportier Corolla Hatchback could look like (Buy a Toyota).
Otherwise, the overall design and powertrain options will likely remain similar going into 2024. Toyota seems committed to this sporty hatchback variant of the popular Corolla sedan. While sales are lower than the sedan, the hatchback appeals to younger buyers looking for style and performance in a compact package.
