Is the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid a Good Car? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
Few vehicles are as familiar to buyers as the Toyota Corolla, which is not only one of the top-selling nameplates in the world, but one of the longest running. Vehicles don’t achieve that kind of success without appealing to a broad variety of drivers, most of whom tend to be more interested in things like reliability and value than driving excitement. The Corolla delivers what they’re after, even if not so much in the way of fun.
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Shop the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid near you
In recent years, Toyota has managed to further broaden the Corolla’s appeal with the additions of available all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain, making it one of very few compact sedans available with either. Just don’t expect it to be any more fun in the twisties.
To find out how the latest Corolla stacks up against the competition, Cars.com Road Test Editor Brian Normile spent some time getting to know a new Corolla Hybrid SE with AWD. While he found it stays pretty close to the winning formula, there were a few surprises. Tap the link above to read Normile’s expert review, or for a quicker rundown, read on for five things we like about the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid and three things we don’t.
Things We Like
1. Balanced Ride and Handling
Our tested SE trim is meant to be the sportiest Corolla variant, and it looks the part with its 18-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust tips and a sport suspension. The reality is that the package is more about cosmetics than performance, but that’s ok. The SE has a composed ride and good isolation from bumps for a small car. Handling is nimble, but the driving experience is less sporty than the Honda Civic.
2. Agreeable Powertrain
The 138-horsepower hybrid powertrain may not win many drag races, but it’s perfectly capable of motivating the Corolla. There’s adequate power on tap to keep up with traffic around town and enough in reserve for drama-free highway merging and passing. Likewise, the continuously variable automatic transmission gets the job done, but not without a lot of droning noises. An EV mode allows for limited all-electric driving at speeds up to 20 mph.
3. Conventional Shape
It’s easy to compare the Corolla to the recently redesigned Toyota Prius, which is about the same size. But where the updated Prius gets points for its stylish new shape, its low, swooping roofline cuts into backseat headroom and makes it harder to get in and out. For sheer practicality, the Corolla’s conventional upright sedan shape makes it a better and roomier bet, and it offers more trunk room, too.
4. Controls
The infotainment system uses an 8-inch touchscreen, which is on par with most competitors but smaller than those found in others, including the Prius and its available 12.3-inch display. The good news is the system is easy to use, and our test car included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. More good news is there are physical controls for climate functions, which are large enough to operate even when wearing gloves.
5. All-Around Package
The Corolla may not provide much excitement or even stand out in any one category, but it does a lot of things well and offers strong value. Our Corolla Hybrid in the SE trim, equipped with a power moonroof and AWD, came to $30,483 (including destination). Few vehicles can get you as painlessly and affordably from point A to point B.
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Things We Don’t Like
1. Numb Steering
As mentioned previously, the SE trim is meant to impart a certain amount of sportiness to the Corolla’s driving experience, but it comes up short. The biggest detractor is steering that is decidedly on the numb side and lacks the feel and response of sportier alternatives like the Civic’s.
2. Braking Feel
We have found braking feel to be disappointing in most Toyota hybrids, and unfortunately, the Corolla Hybrid’s is no exception. The pedal feels mushy and is hard to modulate, making it more of a challenge to pull off a smooth stop.
3. Fuel Economy
Let’s just start by saying that our tested Corolla Hybrid in the SE trim with AWD has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 44 mpg combined, which isn’t too shabby for any sedan. However, both the Prius and the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid do better, with combined EPA ratings of 57 mpg and 54 mpg, respectively. Other versions of the Corolla are also more fuel efficient, returning as much as 50 mpg — if you can forgo AWD.
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