Toyota Corolla hybrid interior, dashboard & comfort
Interior quality, comfort and design have been improved greatly over the old Auris, but the Corolla hybrid is still functional above all else inside
The latest Toyota Corolla boasts cleanly designed and well put-together interior, although unsurprisingly for a Toyota, it's not the last word in luxurious sophistication. A wide range of trims means there should be one to suit all circumstances, though we'd recommend one of the lower-spec cars as even these come with a generous level of standard equipment.
Toyota Corolla hybrid dashboard
The Toyota Corolla is a perfectly pleasant place to sit, albeit one that lacks any real flair – indeed, alongside more modern rivals, it feels a little old-school.
Saying that, since the car was facelifted, all versions come with a 12.3-inch screen built into the instruments, as well as a large touchscreen mounted prominently in the centre of the dashboard, giving access to the infotainment system. You can read more on that setup, below.
Equipment, options & accessories
The Corolla is now available in four trim levels in the UK: Icon, Design, GR Sport and Excel. Standard features on the entry-level Icon include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED foglights, heated front seats, the Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen multimedia infotainment system with a 10.5-inch dashboard screen and an impressive 12.3-inch display in front of the driver. A reversing camera, DAB digital radio and dual-zone air-conditioning are included, too.
It also features equipment formerly reserved for the Icon Tech trim, such as sat-nav, voice control, parking sensors, a parking assistance system and keyless entry/start.
Design makes the Corolla more stylish with the addition of 17-inch alloy wheels, along with rain-sensing wipers, power-adjustable heated door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear privacy glass and an optional opening panoramic roof. Black fabric and synthetic leather upholstery also makes the interior look a bit more expensive.
GR Sport takes a similarly design-focused approach with a more aggressive bodykit, black alloy wheels and the addition of sports seats inside. Equipment runs more or less in line with Design models. It’s worth noting that this trim level is available on Hatchback and Touring Sports, but not the discontinued Corolla Saloon.
The Excel is the best-equipped Corolla in the range, offering 18-inch alloys, bi-LED headlights, smart entry, leather sports seats, an optional eight-speaker premium stereo and optional bi-tone paint finish.
Infotainment, apps & sat nav
For the 2022 model year, Toyota introduced new and vastly improved infotainment software for the Corolla. This 'Toyota Smart Connect+' system is now standard across the range, having been optional on the entry-level Icon. It promises to operate 2.4 times faster than the old system and gives access to a series of smart connected services, including cloud-based navigation with always-on traffic information, 3D city mapping, highway signage and fixed traffic camera locations.
You can also use natural, conversational phrases to operate the multimedia and navigation systems hands-free. A reversing camera is standard on all models, along with a six-speaker stereo, DAB and FM radio receivers, an auxiliary socket, a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. Since early 2020, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity has been standard across the Corolla range.
