Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The first thing one notices as he/she steps inside the cabin of the 2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback is the car’s glasshouse and the impressive visibility it offers. Getting in and out of the car is also quite easy thanks to the large door openings but because of the car’s sporty design, the headroom is slightly limited for the rear seat passengers. Even for the SE trim level, creature comforts like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is offered as standard which comes mated to a 6-speaker audio setup and features Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and 4G-LTE powered Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. Other standard features include heated mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, driver information display, voice controls, 60:40 split-folding rear bench seat, two USB ports, and height-adjustable driver’s seat.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback gets a wide stance which is meant to emphasize the car’s sporty characteristics. At the front we find a large air dam which is accentuated by a chrome grille surround that the company claims amplifies the bold nature of the hatchback’s design. In the more expensive models, the air dam sits between a pair of optional LED fog lights. Moving to the rear of the car, we find a glossy finish hatchback that sits atop chrome tailpipe diffusers which complement the chrome grille surround at the front. The 2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback is also available in a special “SE Nightshade Edition” which comes equipped with blacked-out 18-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, shark fin antenna, side and rear rocker panels, front lower grille surround, and other blacked-out body panels. The “SE Nightshade Edition” gets LED taillights as standard and is available in classic silver metallic, midnight black metallic, and super white color schemes.

The steering of the 2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback is very well weighted and manages to relay instantaneous and accurate response which further adds to the hatchback’s sporty credentials. Also adding to the car’s sporty credentials is a suspension setup which has been finely tuned to offer an engaging experience when driving around corners. Equipped with standard alloy wheels, the suspension manages to strike a good balance between impressive handling characteristics and a comfortable ride and to a large extent continues to do so even for the more expensive models riding on 18-inch alloys.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback is powered by a 2.0-liter 4- cylinder engine which produces 168 bhp of power output and 151 lb-ft of peak torque. The power is sent to the front wheels and the engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. Corolla hatchback manages to sprint from standstill to 60 mph in just under 8 seconds. There is also an option of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) which also gets steering mounted flappy paddle shifters. Prices for the entry-level SE model start from $20,290 followed by the SE Nightshade Edition with prices starting from $22,290 and finally the top of the range XSE variant with prices starting from $23,240

Toyota offers its ‘Safety Connect Emergency Communications feature as standard in the 2020 Corolla hatchback along with automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection. It is worth noting that in the case of models with standard manual 6-speed gearboxes, the adaptive cruise control system deactivates at low speeds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded the 2020 Corolla hatchback with a five star crashed safety rating. Coming to a complete halt from 60mph takes around 125 feet which is quite admirable.

The 2020 Corolla hatchback is loaded to the brim with technology like other fine offerings in the segment and boasts of an impressively premium interior. The hatchback does disappoint when it comes to its utilitarian aspect as the cabin and storage space offered by the 2020 Corolla hatchback is substantially inferior to that of its competitors in the segment. Other hatchbacks in the segment manage to offer up to 50% more payload capacity than the Corolla hatchback. However, thanks to the premium interiors, an abundance of standard advance driving aids, impressive handling characteristics, and comfortable ride quality, the 2020 Corolla hatchback manages to offer great value for money.