AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING7/10
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Safety9/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8/10
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FEATURES8/10
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POWER8/10
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COMFORT8/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY9/10
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VALUE8/10
Mention Toyota and hybrid in the same sentence, and most people probably think of the Prius, but it’s not the automaker’s only gas-electric car.
Another solid choice is the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, which carries over unchanged this year. It’s offered in four trim levels, starting with the LE in front-wheel drive (FWD) at $28,350, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,760. All other trims are all-wheel drive (AWD): the LE AWD at $29,850; the SE at $32,010; and my top-line tester, the XSE, at $36,410. The Corolla Hybrid doesn’t get plugged in and so is not eligible for any provincial or federal emissions rebates.
Styling: 7/10
Previously, the appeal of this particular hybrid was its safer styling compared to the less-than-pretty Prius; but that model recently got a very impressive makeover. Toyota’s designers were aggressive with the Corolla’s nose treatment, and that big lower grille and protruding hood tip are a bit overbearing. The Corolla’s LE trims ride on 15-inch alloy wheels, while the SE and XSE have 18-inch rims. Two-tone paint with a black roof can be added for $540 to $795, depending on the body colour.
The dash design is plain but functional. Lower trims get fabric seats, while the XSE exclusively has faux-leather-trimmed upholstery. If the red stripes are too much for you, plain black is available.
Safety: 9/10
The 2024 Corolla gets the highest five-star crash-test rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2023 Corolla received a Top Safety Pick award from the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). But while it earned the top “Good” score in most tests, it got the next-step-down “Acceptable” for the updated side crash test, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV; and the updated moderate front overlap crash, which now considers potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as those in front. A “Good” score in the new side crash will be needed for Top Safety Pick in 2024, which means the award will no longer be within reach without some changes to the car.
Standard driver-assist safety features on all trims include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a safe exit alert that warns of traffic approaching from behind, adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-keeping and tracing assist, road sign recognition, emergency front braking, and the back-up camera that’s required on all new vehicles.
Features: 8/10
The entry-level LE trim includes push-button start, an eight-inch centre touchscreen with connectivity trial subscriptions and available Google-based navigation subscription, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, and automatic climate control. Meanwhile, the LE AWD also gets a heated steering wheel along with that extra traction. The next-step-up SE then adds wireless charging and power sunroof.
My XSE tester topped all that off with a three-year navigation trial, eight-way power driver’s seat, faux-leather upholstery, and heated rear seats. The features are about in line with the price, but I would have liked to have dual-zone climate control in my top trim as well.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
The Corolla Hybrid’s simple dash design translates into controls that are generally easy to operate. Larger vent mode buttons would be appreciated, as these are stashed in a row of identical small ones, but it’s better than having to tap through touchscreen menus to work these, and the temperature and fan speed are dials, as is the volume control.
Even then, functions in the infotainment interface are straightforward, and if you have the Google-based subscription, saying, “Hey, Google” will wake the system up and listen for your commands. If I could put one thing on my wish list, I’d like backlighting on all lock and window buttons to reduce fumbling for them at night.
Practicality: 8/10
The Corolla’s trunk volume of 371 L is at the lower end of the scale, where the Hyundai Elantra has 402 L – and it’s also offered with a hybrid powertrain. The rear seats fold to carry long items. Small-item storage up front is about average for this compact-car segment.
Comfort: 8/10
The Corolla’s seats are supportive and comfortable, and stay that way on longer drives, although the top-line XSE is the only trim that gives you a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The seat heaters have high and low settings.
Headroom is slightly more generous than in the Prius, although there isn’t as much as there is in rivals like the Elantra Hybrid or Kia Niro Hybrid. It’s about mid-pack for front-seat legroom, but matches the Prius and falls a bit short of the Elantra and Niro for rear-seat space. It’s a bit tight for long-legged passengers, although there’s space for slipping one’s feet under the front seats.
Power: 8/10
The Corolla Hybrid uses a 1.8L four-cylinder engine mated to an electric-motor hybrid system, making a combined 138 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque. That power goes to the front wheels through an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT). The AWD system uses another electric motor at the rear, providing emissions-free added traction. The hybrid battery is charged via an electric motor-generator under the hood, as well as through regenerative braking, and the Corolla Hybrid doesn’t get plugged in.
Those aren’t huge power numbers, but the Corolla Hybrid still gets the job done. It’s fine from a stop in city traffic, and can handle highway merging and passing, albeit with a firm foot on the throttle. Once up to speed, it cruises along nicely.
Driving Feel: 8/10
The Corolla Hybrid automatically switches between gasoline, electricity, or a combination of the two, depending on driving conditions, and does it almost seamlessly. There is an EV (electric vehicle) mode button, but don’t expect an actual EV when you press it. Instead, it’s meant to keep the Corolla on electricity at low speeds; but it does that anyway, and just a touch too much throttle shuts the EV mode off.
The steering is responsive, and while there isn’t a lot of feedback through the wheel, it’s very pleasant to drive. The ride is smooth and composed, and the brakes have none of the harsh feel that you can sometimes get when there’s a regenerative system. Overall, it’s simply a well-done everyday commuter car.
Fuel Economy: 9/10
The Corolla Hybrid is officially rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 4.6 L/100 km in the city, 5.3 on the highway, and 4.9 in combined driving, and it uses regular-grade gasoline. In my week with it, I came above that at 6.3 L/100 km, albeit with a lot of highway driving when the battery doesn’t kick in as much.
That combined-driving number is within a decimal place of rivals, where the Toyota Prius and Kia Niro Hybrid are good for 4.8 L/100 km, and the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is pegged at 4.7. Honda will be offering a Civic Hybrid for 2024, but fuel consumption figures weren’t available at time of writing.
Value: 8/10
At $28,350 to $36,410, the Corolla Hybrid is mid-pack in a slim segment, where most hybrids are SUVs rather than sedans. We don’t have pricing for that upcoming Honda Civic Hybrid, but the Kia Niro Hybrid runs from $33,044 to $41,744, while the Prius is $39,010 to $45,110. There’s also the Corolla Cross Hybrid that’s offered in two trims starting at $34,190 before tax. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is the value-priced model in the mix, offered in a single Luxury trim for $29,774 (all prices including delivery).
The Verdict
For those who don’t want to move up to the more-powerful but more-expensive Prius, the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is a comfortable and fine-driving alternative. It could also be a viable alternative to a regular Corolla, if the wallet allows it: my XSE tester was $3,900 more than a non-hybrid XSE, but if you intend to keep your car for a while, the fuel savings could be worth the difference. Before you automatically look for a small hybrid crossover, have a look at the sedan side of the dealership as well.
| Engine Displacement | 1.8L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Hybrid I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 139 net hp |
| Peak Torque | 105 net lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | 4.6 / 5.3 / 4.9 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 371 L |
| Model Tested | 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid XSE AWD |
| Base Price | $34,650 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $1,760 |
| Price as Tested | $36,510 |
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Optional Equipment
None
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