Review: 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Text and photos by Emily Chung

My 2004 Toyota Corolla is still in great shape with over 600,000kms on it! With proper maintenance (more than the manufacturer’s recommendations – those are minimum guidelines for the purposes of their warranty), Corollas can last a long time. I wanted to see what has changed with the long running nameplate and road tested the hybrid version.

Initially introduced as a subcompact car in 1966, the Corolla has been one of Toyota’s most enduring models. 55 years later, the 2021 Toyota Corolla is now a popular compact car with modern design and technology, and has a hybrid option available.

 

Exterior Design

The 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has the signature front grille common across the brand with angled headlamps (Bi-Beam LED) and a larger honeycomb front bumper. A blue halo in the Toyota emblem marks its hybrid technology.

A stylish hubcap covered our road test’s 15” wheels.

A surprising feature included in our vehicle was the front windshield de-icer! The 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid we tested is ready for our Canadian winters with both front and rear heated seats, heated exterior mirrors, as well as a heated steering wheel.

Interior Design

Our road test interior was Macadamia SofTex – two different colours that helped give the interior cabin an open and spacious impression. The 8-way power adjustable driver seat is comfortable and the premium package adds lumbar support feature.

The front dashboard is minimalistic in design and most controls are within easy access for the driver. Buttons and switches are kept to a minimum on the steering wheel and the instrument panel displays enough information without seeming too cluttered.

In terms of the centre screen there’s enough size to display information so that the driver can see it at-a-glance, though it took some time to learn how to operate the 7-in TFT Multi Information Display.

The energy monitor shows the flow of the vehicle’s current power source, and trip information displays how much power was regenerated.

The vehicle also has an ECO accelerator guidance and will give you an ECO score for you to see if your driving was environmentally-friendly. Keep in mind that safety takes priority over being eco-friendly so use these metrics as a guideline.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid adds value with automatic climate control, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, auto high beam, and auto up/down for all windows. Another feature appreciated is that the lid on the centre console moves front and back. When the lid is moved forward, this is at a comfortable position for the driver or passenger to rest their arm. The downside is that it covers one cup holder in the forward position.

If your mobile phone has wireless charging capability, you’ll appreciate the wireless charger located just in front of the gearshift. This charger has a separate on/off button.

It’s possible to keep the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid in EV mode. According to the owner’s manual, the EV mode “…allows you to drive in residential areas early in the morning and late at night, or in indoor parking lots etc. without concern for noises and gas emissions.” Other drive modes available are normal, eco, and sport.

Under The Hood / Basic Maintenance

The engine bay is very compact with plumbing, fluid reservoirs, sensors, and mechanical components tightly placed together. Fluid reservoirs are visible (of note, there are 2 for the cooling system) and the minimum/maximum levels can be easily seen. The vehicle requires full synthetic 0W-16 engine oil and a recommended replacement of 6 months or 8,000kms. This is encouraging because modern engines are notorious for burning engine oil, in part because of manufacturers' extended oil change interval recommendations. Toyota's guideline for this engine is reasonable.

Our road test came with a spare tire located underneath the trunk floor. Instructions in the owner’s manual about changing a flat tire with the spare are easy to follow.

Overall, the owner’s manual provided a lot of helpful information. For example, directions on how to replace do-it-yourself items such as light bulbs and the cabin air filter (air conditioning filter) are included. There’s also information on safety systems and how they operate, what to do in case your vehicle is stuck in mud, dirt, or snow, as well as considerations for storage, cargo capacity and load specifications.

There is a vent below the rear seats for the hybrid battery. Remember to keep this area clear from clutter and other objects as it needs to intake air for the hybrid battery to prevent it from overheating. Periodically remove any dust with a vacuum cleaner, and don’t attempt to blow it out (e.g. with an air gun) as debris may be pushed further into the vent.  

Child Car Seat

In terms of installing a rear-facing child car seat, the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is surprisingly spacious so depending on the length of the child car seat, you may not need to move the front passenger seat too far forward to accommodate the car seat’s recline angle. The rear seat bench is relatively flat without a lot of ‘give’ in the seat cushion. It’s still comfortable to sit on, and it means that you may be able to get the correct recline angle for a rear-facing child car seat installation without needing pool noodles or a rolled towel. Always check the level indicator on the side of your child car seat, of course.

The headrest of the rear seats leans forward slightly so when you install a forward-facing child car seat, you’ll likely want to remove the head rest so that the back of the child car seat will sit flush with the car’s seatback.

The UAS anchors are clearly marked and they are located at the edge of the cushion just behind the marked cap.

The rear tether anchor is placed just behind the headrest, also underneath the marked cap.

Of note, the instrument panel gives the driver notification of whether passengers in the rear seats have their seatbelt fastened. This is handy when older children buckle themselves in as it reassures the driver that the seatbelt is indeed ‘clicked’ in.

Lastly, the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid rear seatbelts start just above the top of the seatback. This is a great design because the belt will be more likely to lie flat over the shoulder of your child when they’re sitting front-facing in a booster seat.

Storage / Trunk

Storage space in the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is what you’d expect from a compact vehicle with multiple cup holders and door pockets. The trunk space is more than sufficient for daily errands, though take note that the space narrows towards the seats to accommodate for the wheel wells.

If you’re planning to move a bit more cargo around, the rear seats easily fold in a 60/40 split.

Toyota has continued to evolve its Corolla nameplate, adding new technology to keep it current with today’s vehicle owners. Starting price for the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is reasonably set at $24,990 CAD.

Model tested:

2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

1.8L 4-Cylinder engine w/Hybrid Synergy Drive

Electronically Controlled CVT

Front-wheel drive

Seating Capacity: 5 people

Road Test Terrain: 60% city, 40% highway

Tested MSRP: $28,790 CAD (incl. freight/PDI)