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The Toyota Corolla has long been the best-selling car in the world and in 2019 there are two very different options to choose from
2019 Toyota Corolla – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop 2019 Toyota Corolla on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2019 Toyota Corolla
In what is a very rare choice, Toyota has offered two distinctly different Corollas for 2019, and no, it’s not just because one is a five-door hatchback while the other is a sedan. These vehicles are both bookends but on different sides of their generations. The sedan is the very last Corolla sedan that will be sold as part of the 11th generation while the hatchback is the very first taste we’re getting of the new 12th generation.
Its styling, engineering, and features won’t be seen in sedan form until 2020. That brings to light a really interesting question. Is the new generation all the better than the previous? Many buyers prefer to get the very final version of a vehicle as opposed to the very first. In this very rare case, they’re sold together as 2019 models so let’s find out which really is the king Corolla.
For the sedan, nothing. It’s a direct carryover from the 2018 year model. Of course, the same can’t be said for the all-new hatchback version. From the ground up it’s completely different with only passing similarity in the design department. The new hatchback takes over for the Corolla iM in the lineup and is only available in two trims, SE, and XSE.
The Breakdown
Excellent visibility (Both)
Good standard safety features (Both)
Very comfortable ride (Hatchback)
Tight rear seats (Hatchback)
Numb handling (Sedan)
No Apple CarPlay (Sedan)
2019 Corolla Specs
- 132 horsepower from base engine
- 128 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 13 cu-ft. of cargo capacity (Sedan)
- 17.8 cu-ft. of cargo capacity (Hatchback)
- Voice control works very well
- Standard departure warning is fantastic
- Complimentary maintenance is excellent
2019 Toyota Corolla Powertrain
Three different engines are available in the Corolla for 2019. The base engine in the sedan is a 1.8-liter inline-4 with 132 horsepower. It’s one of the slowest cars we’ve ever tested with 0-60 times of over 10 seconds. Nevertheless, the LE Eco is actually slower albeit not by much. Both are fairly loud and buzzy. Regardless of transmission choice, the sedan isn’t particularly engaging for those behind the wheel.
The hatchback though is a totally different story. It comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 168 horsepower that gets routed to the front wheels through either a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. While it’s not fast by any means it’s by far the most ardent entry into the Corolla lineup in decades.
2019 Toyota Corolla Fuel Economy & MPG
As always, the Corolla is generally a very economical car to fuel. Even the thirstiest version, the manual transmission sedan gets 30MPG combined. Its Eco trim level bumps that number to 34MPG and the hatchback can do as well as 36 MPG combined.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Overall the Corolla is above average when it comes to driving comfort regardless of whether you prefer the four door or the five door. Both are compliant over almost any road surface with a slight edge going to the hatchback thanks to more cushioning from the seats themselves. Driving dynamics couldn’t be much more different in these cars though. Where the sedan is very ho-hum about the way it goes down the road, the hatchback seems eager to attack turns.
What’s even more impressive is that when one does, the Corolla seems to smile and ask for more. If there’s anything we’d change about it, it’s the rear seats that are considerably more constrictive than those in the sedan. Still, the reduction in rear seat space is on par with many rivals and provides a big boom in terms of trunk space. While the sedan only manages a paltry 13 cubic feet of space the hatchback provides nearly 18.
Entertainment & Technology
Much like the way these two cars handle, their technology couldn’t be much more different. The only real similarity, Toyota’s Entune infotainment system is clunky at best, typically requiring multiple steps or redundant button presses to get where you want to go. A huge leap forward for the hatchback is the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa but they’re only in the hatchback. Sorry Android fans, though you outnumber Apple users, Toyota still hasn’t gotten around to including Android Auto in either Corolla. The hatchback also does a better job of placing the screen a bit more prominently which does make its use slightly easier.
Safety Features
Both Corolla’s offer excellent safety features including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Nevertheless, the hatchback gets the best of its sedan counterpart as it was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS while the sedan was not.
2019 Toyota Corolla Trims & Pricing
L – $18,700
The base Corolla is still well equipped, most notably with a full suite of advanced driver safety equipment like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Beyond that, it gets 15-inch wheels, LED headlights, a 6-inch infotainment system mated to six speakers, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat.
LE – $19,135
Bump up to the LE and you’ll get automatic climate control, 16-inch wheels, keyless entry, and heated mirrors.
LE Eco – $19,535
As a sort of standout from the bunch, the LE Eco gets its own special suspension tuning along with 15-inch wheels, a 140-horsepower engine as well as small aero changes compared to its identically equipped (interior-wise) LE sibling.
SE – $20,140
The SE trim is the base trim level for the hatchback. It gets 16-inch wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, as well as six speakers, LED headlights, automatic climate control, a 60/40 split rear seat, and a WiFi hotspot. The sedan gets all of the LE’s features but layers a rear spoiler, sport front seats, bumper-mounted LED DRLs, 17-inch wheels, and a sport-style gauge cluster on top of them. It’s also the only sedan with a manual transmission available.
XLE – $22,135
Consider the XLE to be a more luxurious variant of the LE. It has a 7-inch infotainment system, heated front seats, LED headlights, an app-based navigation system, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
XSE – $22,880
At the XSE level we find the top of the range for both the sedan and the hatchback. The sedan gets a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, paddle shifters, and SofTex upholstery. The hatchback gets 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, LED fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a better driver info display, and satellite radio.
Warranties
While the 3-year 36,000-mile limited warranty and the 5-year 60,000-mile powertrain warranty aren’t particularly special in any way, Toyota does lead the industry with a full 2-years or 25,000 miles worth of complimentary maintenance. That’s a big value all by itself and applies to both the sedan and the hatchback version of the Corolla.
What we think
2019 Toyota Corolla – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop 2019 Toyota Corolla on Carsforsale.com
It’s fascinating to see these two cars on sale together. For those transporting more people more often the sedan is likely the way to go but aside from that particular usage case the hatchback is a far better car. It’s better looking, more pleasurable to drive and use, and we think it’ll eschew in a whole new attitude about the Corolla. One that will continue its long history of sales dominance.
