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 Corolla boasts cleanly designed and well put-together interior, although unsurprisingly for a Toyota, it's not the last word in luxurious sophistication inside.
Toyota Corolla hybrid dashboard
An instrument panel 24mm slimmer than that of the Auris, combined with a wider and higher centre console, gives the driver a 'cocooned' feel in the Corolla. There's a seven-inch screen built into the instruments (4.2 inches on the entry-level car), as well as a large touchscreen mounted prominently in the centre of the dashboard, giving access to the infotainment system.
Equipment, options & accessories
The Corolla is available in five trim levels in the UK: Icon, Icon Tech, 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 an eight-inch dashboard screen and a seven-inch screen in front of the driver. A reversing camera, DAB digital radio and dual-zone air-conditioning are included, too.
The Icon Tech adds sat nav and voice control, and increases the driver's screen size to seven inches, as well as adding parking sensors, a parking assistance system and keyless entry. We think these useful extras are worth paying more for. 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 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 infotainment software for the Corolla. This 'Toyota Smart Connect+' system is either standard or optional on all versions of the Corolla except 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.
