Jordan Mulach
VFACTS 2023: The best-selling hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia
Following a record year for new hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) car sales, the winners in the electrified vehicle race have emerged.
1 Year Ago
About the Toyota Corolla
Last updated Dec 18, 2024The 2023 Toyota Corolla is one of Australia's top-selling passenger vehicle, and one of the best-known nameplates in the world. It's available as a hatchback or sedan, with petrol and hybrid engines.
The new Toyota Corolla has hit Australian dealers and comes with updated tech, a more powerful hybrid, and some cosmetic tweaks.
The changes come with some steep price hikes, however. The Ascent Sport hybrid sedan has seen the loftiest increase at $3785, but even the smallest increase is $2425.
Pros
- Super low running costs
- Good ride and handling balance
- Unpretentious, reliable motoring
Cons
- Hatch has small boot
- Hybrid feels underpowered
- Tyre noise on coarse roads
Toyota Corolla Rating
Toyota Corolla News
2023 Toyota Corolla Reviews
2023 Toyota Corolla Price
Ascent Sport
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | $28,630 |
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | $29,270 |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | $30,630 |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | $31,180 |
ZR
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | $36,600 |
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | $37,760 |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | $38,120 |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | $39,120 |
SX
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | $32,420 |
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | $32,760 |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | $34,280 |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | $34,280 |
Morizo Edition
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 1.6L, 6 sp manual Premium Unleaded 4x4 5d Hatchback | $77,800 |
GTS
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 1.6L, 6 sp manual Premium Unleaded 4x4 5d Hatchback | $62,300 |
*excl. on-roads
All Toyota Corolla Pricing
2023 Toyota Corolla Specs
See our comprehensive details for the Toyota Corolla
2023 Toyota Corolla Dimensions
1460mm
1790mm
4375mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2023 Toyota Corolla Dimensions2023 Toyota Corolla Boot Space
The sedan has 470L of luggage space, while the hatchback has between 217L and 333L. The larger of the two volumes is for models without a spare wheel.
The larger of the two volumes is for models without a spare wheel.
2023 Toyota Corolla Gallery
CarExpert High Resolution Photos of the Toyota Corolla
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2023 Toyota Corolla Exterior
The ZR hatch in particular looks quite sharp with its 18-inch wheels, but all have nice light signature and curvaceous, inoffensive styling.
The edgier five-door hatch is definitely skewed towards younger buyers than the more safe and staid four-door sedan.
For the MY23, the Toyota Corolla's cosmetic tweaks are minor. There’s a new grille, as well as new 16-inch wheels for Ascent Sport and SX models, and new Sunstone Orange and Lunar Blue exterior finishes.
There continue to be some unusual differences between hatch and sedan models. In addition to a slightly different colour palette, there’s a slightly different equipment list between the two body styles.
2023 Toyota Corolla Interior
Corollas have plenty of seat and wheel adjustments, to suit all occupant sizes. The analogue gauges flank two trip computer options, and ZR grades get a projecting head-up display.
The touchscreen and infotainment systems offer nothing cutting-edge, and you need to option sat-nav and DAB in base models. But all have phone mirroring and reversing cameras.
In terms of build quality the Corolla is always excellent, and all controls are functional and simple to use. There's nothing overly flash – stitch-work, and the ZR's ambient lighting aside – but function trumps form.
Back seat space is not best-in-class, but two average-sized adults can fit back there, and there are outboard ISOFIX child-seat anchors, and top tether points.
The sedan has 470L of luggage space, while the hatchback has between 217L and 333L. The larger of the two volumes is for models without a spare wheel. This is pretty pokey by class standards.
2023 Toyota Corolla Infotainment
All new models get Toyota’s latest-generation infotainment system, though they retain an 8.0-inch touch display. No mention has been made of the new 10.5-inch display revealed in Japan and Europe.
DAB+ digital radio is standard across the range, and there’s now a USB-C port below the screen.
The Ascent Sport gains a 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen, replacing the old 4.2-inch information display, while the flagship ZR debuts a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
2023 Toyota Corolla Safety Rating
The 2023 Toyota Corolla has an ANCAP rating of five stars based on testing conducted in 2018.
It received scores of 96 per cent in adult occupant protection, 83 per cent in child occupant protection, 86 per cent in vulnerable road user protection, and 76 per cent in safety assist.
The entire range comes standard with the following safety features:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Motorcycle detection (NEW)
- Junction assist (NEW)
- Emergency steering assist (NEW)
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-tracing assist (excludes manual models)
- Adaptive cruise control (high speed-only in manual models)
- Traffic sign recognition
- Reversing camera
- Front, front-side and curtain airbags
- Driver’s knee airbag
The SX and ZR add blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The former is also standard on all hatchback models.
The Toyota Safety Sense suite of active safety features has been expanded, with the Corolla’s autonomous emergency braking system now featuring motorcycle detection and junction assist.
Emergency steering assist is standard across the range while blind-spot monitoring, previously available only on the SX and ZR, is now standard on Ascent Sport hatchbacks.
A new acceleration suppression feature reacts to sudden use of the accelerator when travelling at low speeds.
Toyota’s Lane Trace Assist lane centring system also features an emergency stop feature, bringing the vehicle to a gradual stop if it detects the driver is no longer providing inputs.
The company has also tweaked its adaptive cruise control system. It now features four distance settings and deceleration assist when changing lanes, and can now also detect vehicles earlier.
Likewise, Toyota says it has improved the performance of its cameras and radar sensors.
2023 Toyota Corolla Fuel Economy
The petrol 2023 Toyota Corolla uses 6.0L/100km on the combined cycle.
The hybrid Corolla sedan uses 3.9L/100km.
All models run on 91RON regular unleaded fuel and have a 50L fuel tank except for the hybrid models, which use a 43L tank.
| Toyota Corolla | Fuel Type | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | Unleaded | 4.0 L/100km |
| 1.8L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | Unleaded | 3.9 L/100km |
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 4d Sedan | Unleaded | 5.9 L/100km |
| 2.0L, Automatic Unleaded FWD 5d Hatchback | Unleaded | 6.0 L/100km |
Cost of ownership
What are the running and servicing costs of a Toyota Corolla?
The 2023 Toyota Corolla requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, with the first five services capped at $205 each.
How does the 2023 Toyota Corolla drive?
Our expert take on Toyota Corolla drivability.
The 2023 Toyota Corolla range has two engine choices, starting with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 126kW of power and 202Nm of torque (203Nm in the sedan).
The hybrid pairs a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, for a combined power output of 103kW.
The 2.0-litre engine comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with 10 virtual gears. The hybrid is only available with an e-CVT.
All Corollas are front-wheel drive. Hybrid models get Toyota’s new fifth-generation hybrid powertrain with an extra 13kW of power, for a total output of 103kW.
There’s a new front drive motor and power control unit, while a newly developed lithium-ion battery is said to reduce weight by 14 per cent. You can now also get a ZR sedan with the hybrid powertrain. Previously, the ZR hybrid was hatch-only.
The TNGA platform and all-round independent suspension (trailing wishbone rear) look good on paper, and indeed this Corolla is way sharper on turn-in and flatter through corners than older models.
It's actually quite a sporty car in handling terms.
However, the suppression of noise, vibration and harshness could be better, the ride quality on 18-inch wheels degrades over the 16s, and the hybrid – while extremely efficient – is a sluggish under hard acceleration.
2023 Toyota Corolla Colours
What colours are available for the Toyota Corolla
Corolla Hatchback models are available in the following finishes:
- Sunstone Orange
- Lunar Blue
- Glacier White
- Frosted White
- Silver Pearl
- Graphite
- Eclipse Black
- Jasper Red
Of these, only Sunstone Orange and Glacier White can’t be had with a black roof in ZR guise.
Sedan models are available in the following colours:
- Dark Grey
- Eclipse Black
- Glacier White
- Frosted White
- Silver Pearl
- Celestite Grey
- Atomic Rush
- Saturn Blue
2023 Toyota Corolla Warranty
The 2023 Toyota Corolla is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Should you buy the 2023 Toyota Corolla
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
These sell so well, and for good reason. There are flaws around packaging, but overall it's bulletproof and cheap-to-run motoring, with newfound dynamic nous and pretty sharp design.
Toyota Corolla FAQs
The cheapest Toyota Corolla is the ASCENT SPORT + CONVENIENCE PK that starts from $29,300.
The most expensive Toyota Corolla is the ZR TWO-TONE OPT PREM PAINT HYB that starts from $42,800.
The best towing capacity of a Toyota Corolla is 1300 kg offered by the following variants: ASCENT SPORT + CONVENIENCE PK, ASCENT SPORT, SX, ASCENT SPORT HYBRID, ASCENT SPORT + CONV PK HYBRID, SX HYBRID, ZR, ZR TWO-TONE OPTION PREMIUM PNT, ZR HYBRID and ZR TWO-TONE OPT PREM PAINT HYB.
The largest Toyota Corolla is the ASCENT SPORT which measures 1780mm wide, 4630mm in length and sits 1435mm tall.
The most powerful Toyota Corolla is the ASCENT SPORT which has 126kW of power from its 2.0L PORT & DIRECT F/INJ engine.
The Toyota Corolla is built in Japan and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest Toyota Corolla is the ASCENT SPORT which weighs 1845 kg (kerb weight).
The Toyota Corolla may use different fuel/energy types based on the variant which includes Unleaded Petrol or Unleaded Petrol-Electric Hybrid.