Toyota NZ boosts hybrid numbers
Toyota New Zealand has extended its choice of hybrid options following the release of new Corolla models into the local market.
The Toyota Corolla is now available to Kiwi customers as a sedan or station wagon, and a hybrid SX variant has been added to the hatchback range. All are based on a Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which has enabled the addition of a 2.0-litre engine option for the sedan and the wagon’s engine has been upgraded from a 1.5-litre unit to a 1.8-litre engine.
For the first time, the Corolla sedan will be available in a hybrid version and it becomes the marque’s seventh hybrid currently for sale here, joining the Corolla hatch, the Camry sedan, the three-member Prius family and the RAV4.
The new Corolla sedan hybrid, pictured, claims consumption of just 3.5L/100km and low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of only 81g/km.
Neeraj Lala, Toyota NZ’s chief operating officer, says: “We are focused on offering a hybrid option to a broad range of customers – whether they require a hatchback, sedan or SUV – who are looking for a vehicle with lower emissions and fewer trips to the petrol station.
“We are committed to adding more hybrids to our local line-up to support a low emissions economy. Year to date we have reduced our CO2 emissions by 9.5 per cent.”
Toyota Motor Corporation says it plans to offer a hybrid version of every popular model by 2025.
Sedan’s lower stance
The new sedan’s overall height has been reduced by 25mm to give a more athletic stance and a lower mounted engine allows for a lower hood line for better forward visibility.
Available in New Zealand in the SX grade only, the Corolla sedan has a redesigned interior with new ergonomically designed meters, newly developed fabric seats, single-zone air conditioning, smart key entry and Qi wireless device charger.
Both the petrol and hybrid versions have an eight-inch touchscreen display with satellite navigation and SUNA traffic channel. The sedan also has a 2018 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
Powered up wagon
The 2020 Corolla wagon has also been redesigned from front to rear and is larger than its predecessor. It is now 4,495mm long and 1,745mm wide, and the wheelbase has increased 40mm to 2,640mm.
Driving the front wheels via a CVT only transmission, the 1.8-litre engine increases power 24kW to 104kW, and an additional 35Nm improves torque to 171Nm. The wagon has a combined fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km.
The interior has also been redesigned with newly developed fabric seats, and smart key entry with push button start. The wagon is also the first Toyota to arrive in New Zealand with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is accessed via a new seven-inch touchscreen.
Hatch goes hybrid
In a move to meet customer demand for hybrid vehicles, Toyota New Zealand has added a Corolla SX hybrid hatchback. All three Corolla hatchback grades – the GX, SX and ZR – are now available with either a 2.0L petrol or 1.8L petrol-hybrid engine
The new SX hybrid hatchback delivers a combined output of 90kW, with fuel consumption of just 4.2l/100km. Both the hybrid and petrol versions of the latest SX and ZR hatchbacks also have additional driver convenience and safety features.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla range starts from $29,990.
