How Much Fun is the Corolla Hatchback?

Ever since Scion went under, Toyota took over some of the models and made it into something else. One of these models was the iM. Last year, Toyota made it into the Toyota Im, but for 2019, it was made into the Corolla Hatchback. Designed to compete with the Golf GTI and Hyundai Elantra GT, the new hatchback has plenty of challenges to see how it compares. Paired with a manual gearbox and a 2.0L four cylinder, it would seem it is a perfect pair. But, just how good is it compared to the competition? Let's find out.

Of the three, I honestly have to say the Corolla is the prettiest. With the edges and curves, it has the right amount of attitude that a hot-hatch should have. It is small, rounded, and looks angry with those headlights. The headlights just remind me of a Sith Inquisitor from Star Wars: Rebels. That i the kind of face that should not be messed with. The Golf is a bit too rounded and the Elantra GT looks like it is a bored cat. As for the blue, it is a loud color. It grows on some people over time and for others it is a nice touch like a cherry on top. I, for one, loved it. My favorite part is mainly the front and rear with the edges.

As for interior, it is what one would expect out of a hot-hatch. There is some room in the back seats for children, a trunk big enough to hold a few suitcases, and front seats that are not only comfortable and supportive, but offer plenty of room. As much as I love the interior design, it does have some annoying flaws. These are all in the front for the driver and passenger. The one flaw is the placement of the cup holders. I sometimes found myself having to reach over what they were holding in order to change gears. If they were moved to a different spot, that would work fine. Maybe have it set on the dashboard in front of the passenger. The second flaw is the electronic parking brake. A hot-hatch, or any car with a manual transmission, needs a proper e-brake. The only good thing about it was that it automatically engaged when the Corolla was shut off. The last flaw is where the item holder is on the center console. It is up in a spot under the dash. It is not friendly enough to hold my phone. It seems the only thing it would hold properly is sunglasses. Everything else with the Corolla was fine. Visibility was one of the best aspects as well as the seat comfort.

Now, how much does this hot-hatch cost? This model as tested is only priced at a mere $24,325. It's a bit more than the MSRP of a Golf, but we know they can get pricey. This Corolla is a bit more than a thousand dollars more than the Elantra GT I tested over a year ago as well. What does the $24,000 price tag give someone who buys it? For safety, the Corolla comes with adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, road sign assist, traction and stability control, ABS, 7 airbags, blindspot monitoring, and LATCH for children. The Corolla also comes with adaptive headlights that swivel with the steering wheel to illuminate the road while turning. What else? The Corolla comes with an telescopic steering wheel, a powered driver's seat that is heated as well as the front passenger, an 8 inch infotainment system with Bluetooth Connectivity with Apple CarPlay.

So, how does it perform? Well, for me it lacks power. The naturally aspirated 2.0L only pushes out 168 horsepower. Sure, it is a chatty engine. It red-lines high and the power band matches. But with the low horsepower, that doesn't mean I can't chirp tires shifting into 2nd gear, but it is a bit underwhelming. It won't beat a Golf GTI in a drag race. Where the Corolla Hatchback shines is on the winding roads. The electronic assisted steering doesn't make the Corolla feel left out of how driving a car should. It is light for sure, but is sharp and direct. The IMT driving mode on the Corolla act like a rev-match when down-shifting, but performance feels better when it is turned off. The clutch is light. Braking for the Corolla is just as great as the steering. The suspension keeps the Corolla Hatchback from being dramatic through the cornering. It felt as if I was on a roller coaster. The entire driving experience felt controlled like it was on rails. That is how good it is. There is also another aspect of the Corolla Hatchback that is impressive. That is the fuel economy. With all of the messing around I did in the mountains and driving elsewhere, I still achieved 30 miles per gallon. The sheet says 28 mpg in the city, 37 on the highway, and 31 mpg combined. That is great.

So, would I buy a Corolla Hatchback? I would. It was a fun car that I missed when it was picked up. I would buy one for the sense that it not only had the safety of a higher priced car, but it performed great in the corners while looking good. The Golf performs great, but it is dull looking. The Elantra GT does not have what it takes to be a proper hot-hatch except for it being affordable and fun. Looking at what the Elantra has to compete with, it is also one of the uglier cars too. I just like looking at the Corolla Hatchback. It is indeed one of the most impressive hot-hatches on the market today.

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