For years the Corolla has stood tall among in small wagon market, but these days with more rivals than ever to contend with this dominance is under attack.
The recent arrival of an-new Corolla wagon should help, although apart from the fresh new styling and being slightly roomier than it predecessor, mechanically its more of the same, including an aging and lack lustre 1.5 litre engine. Neat, modern yet conservative styling does not offend especially the all important solid core of Corolla wagon faithful.
This latest Corolla wagon is a Japanese domestic market only effort and was never intended for global consumption. However, as they did with the previous model, Toyota New Zealand managed to broker a deal with Toyota HQ in Japan to get this model for our market. The fact they were able to achieve this is underlines the regard they have for those who so successfully run their New Zealand outpost.
For the driver the cabin is really a room with a view. Forward visibility is much better due to the use of narrower front pillars which are retracted for a wider panoramic view through the curved windscreen.
This version of the Corolla provides an object lesson in space efficiency. Even though its 60mm shorter than the out-going model, the designers have within this shorter vehicle envelope, still managed to increase the luggage compartment length by 90mm when the rear seats are up. There is an impressive 410mm when the rear seats are down. Up to 407 litres of luggage can be stored with the back seats occupied, and 872 litres with they are folded flat. These are both large numbers for a small wagon that clearly has big ideas where cabin space is concerned.
The one model one spec model line-up starts at $30,490 for the five speed manual with the optional CVT automatic an extra $2,000. Recently I had an opportunity to drive both offerings in the Corolla wagon catalogue.
The 80kw 1.5 litre engine is at best a fair to middling performer that struggles to gloss over the fact its been around for over 12 years, without any real increases in power and torque in that time. It is refined enough, but lacks real performance bite, while throttle response both off the mark and on the move is sedate. Hill work means plenty of gear work rowing 5-speed manual hard, to mine pockets of engine power to help maintain a respectable amount momentum, especially on steeper inclines.
Fortunately the gear box is a pleasant unit with a clean precise shift action. I was also impressed with the CVT automatic, normally I am not a huge fan of them, but in this case it does a fine job of squeezing a little more out of the engines limited power resources. Really all that stands between this wagon being average and making the leap to good is a larger motor that packs a decent amount of power.
This is where tapping into a Japanese domestic market only model like this does create issues for our market. In Japan 1.5 litres is consider more than enough for a wagon. There the larger 1.8 litre engine in the case of the Corolla, reserved for the premium model with their premium prices, that would make way to expensive to compete here
The cabin is an inviting with the driver greeted by a redesigned and easier to read instrument panel. A high quality centre cluster look is achieved through the use of piano black, silver and chrome accents. This along with seats featuring a sporty black suede-like fabric material with blue accents, gives the passenger compartment a quality look and feel lacking that was absent in the old model. To help ensure the driver and front seat passenger are extra comfy, the front seats have manual slide and recline adjustments, while the driver’s seat is also height adjustable.
There are lots of thoughtful touches, in fact to many to cover them all here. One that stood out for me is the passenger side upper storage box that can fit a 2L plastic bottle or four 350ml bottles, giving the vehicle almost camel like water carrying capacity. All the safety essentials are offered including electronic stability and traction control. The brakes are front disc rear drum affair. While they do the stopping business without and drama and are ok for a wagon that at the lower end of the power scale, it would have been nice to have seen a superior four-wheel disc braking system.
The Japanese domestic market tuned suspension was better than expected, although hardly a pace setter, lacking the sharpness and agility to achieve that status. Steering that is still to thin on road feel. It never really creates the positive interaction with the driver and road that you get from a well sort steering set up. Do not expect the suspension to work to much magic through the corners either. At anything up to moderate speeds it puts its feet in the right places, press a bit harder and it is less sure of itself. On the plus side, ride comfort is surprisingly good with bumps and deviations in the road surfaces easily absorbed with no or minimal suspension noise.
What’s the verdict? A practical, versatile and well built compact wagon from Toyota that comes up short on performance and looks.
The recent arrival of an-new Corolla wagon should help, although apart from the fresh new styling and being slightly roomier than it predecessor, mechanically its more of the same, including an aging and lack lustre 1.5 litre engine. Neat, modern yet conservative styling does not offend especially the all important solid core of Corolla wagon faithful.
This latest Corolla wagon is a Japanese domestic market only effort and was never intended for global consumption. However, as they did with the previous model, Toyota New Zealand managed to broker a deal with Toyota HQ in Japan to get this model for our market. The fact they were able to achieve this is underlines the regard they have for those who so successfully run their New Zealand outpost.
For the driver the cabin is really a room with a view. Forward visibility is much better due to the use of narrower front pillars which are retracted for a wider panoramic view through the curved windscreen.
This version of the Corolla provides an object lesson in space efficiency. Even though its 60mm shorter than the out-going model, the designers have within this shorter vehicle envelope, still managed to increase the luggage compartment length by 90mm when the rear seats are up. There is an impressive 410mm when the rear seats are down. Up to 407 litres of luggage can be stored with the back seats occupied, and 872 litres with they are folded flat. These are both large numbers for a small wagon that clearly has big ideas where cabin space is concerned.
The one model one spec model line-up starts at $30,490 for the five speed manual with the optional CVT automatic an extra $2,000. Recently I had an opportunity to drive both offerings in the Corolla wagon catalogue.
The 80kw 1.5 litre engine is at best a fair to middling performer that struggles to gloss over the fact its been around for over 12 years, without any real increases in power and torque in that time. It is refined enough, but lacks real performance bite, while throttle response both off the mark and on the move is sedate. Hill work means plenty of gear work rowing 5-speed manual hard, to mine pockets of engine power to help maintain a respectable amount momentum, especially on steeper inclines.
Fortunately the gear box is a pleasant unit with a clean precise shift action. I was also impressed with the CVT automatic, normally I am not a huge fan of them, but in this case it does a fine job of squeezing a little more out of the engines limited power resources. Really all that stands between this wagon being average and making the leap to good is a larger motor that packs a decent amount of power.
This is where tapping into a Japanese domestic market only model like this does create issues for our market. In Japan 1.5 litres is consider more than enough for a wagon. There the larger 1.8 litre engine in the case of the Corolla, reserved for the premium model with their premium prices, that would make way to expensive to compete here
The cabin is an inviting with the driver greeted by a redesigned and easier to read instrument panel. A high quality centre cluster look is achieved through the use of piano black, silver and chrome accents. This along with seats featuring a sporty black suede-like fabric material with blue accents, gives the passenger compartment a quality look and feel lacking that was absent in the old model. To help ensure the driver and front seat passenger are extra comfy, the front seats have manual slide and recline adjustments, while the driver’s seat is also height adjustable.
There are lots of thoughtful touches, in fact to many to cover them all here. One that stood out for me is the passenger side upper storage box that can fit a 2L plastic bottle or four 350ml bottles, giving the vehicle almost camel like water carrying capacity. All the safety essentials are offered including electronic stability and traction control. The brakes are front disc rear drum affair. While they do the stopping business without and drama and are ok for a wagon that at the lower end of the power scale, it would have been nice to have seen a superior four-wheel disc braking system.
The Japanese domestic market tuned suspension was better than expected, although hardly a pace setter, lacking the sharpness and agility to achieve that status. Steering that is still to thin on road feel. It never really creates the positive interaction with the driver and road that you get from a well sort steering set up. Do not expect the suspension to work to much magic through the corners either. At anything up to moderate speeds it puts its feet in the right places, press a bit harder and it is less sure of itself. On the plus side, ride comfort is surprisingly good with bumps and deviations in the road surfaces easily absorbed with no or minimal suspension noise.
What’s the verdict? A practical, versatile and well built compact wagon from Toyota that comes up short on performance and looks.
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