Toyota Corolla 2023 review: ZR Hatch

The key change for this 2023 model is a new hybrid system (which we’ll detail later) and improvements to the multimedia and safety systems. But other than that, the Corolla range will be familiar to anyone who has owned one in recent years.

Toyota has used a simple formula to offer a wide array of options - 12 variants - while keeping it easy to understand if you’re looking to buy. There are two body styles, a hatch or sedan; two powertrain options, hybrid or petrol engine; and three trim lines - Ascent Sport, SX and ZR.

Whichever combination of those elements you want can be had, making it easy for customers to get what they want.

The Corolla range will be familiar to anyone who has owned one in recent years. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

Prices stretch from $28,130 (all prices mentioned exclude on-road costs) for the Ascent Sport petrol hatch or sedan up to $39,120 for the ZR hybrid sedan.

Not surprisingly given the events of recent years, the current price has crept up since the hatch first arrived in 2018 and the sedan in 2020.

When the respective models went on sale the entry-level Ascent Sport hatch started at $24,370 and the sedan was $24,835, so that means the cost-of-entry to the Corolla has risen more than $3000.

Key changes include a new hybrid system and improvements to the multimedia and safety systems. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

One of the key strengths to the Corolla’s long-running success is its practical cabin and user-friendly interior design.

This has been improved for this 2023 update, with the overhauled multimedia system and the integration of 'Toyota Connected Services', bringing the Corolla into the ‘connected car’ world. 

For starters, the new multimedia system runs through an 8.0-inch touchscreen with new button layout plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. But it’s the Toyota Connected Services that’s an ever bigger change.

When paired with the 'myToyota Connect' smartphone app the system allows owners to remotely check a variety of information about their car.

You can look up how much fuel is left in the tank, whether the doors are locked or even if the windows are closed properly, all via your phone.

The app even allows you to remotely start the car or if you can’t find your car in a busy car park the app allows you to flash the hazard lights or honk the horn so you can find it. 

While all this is impressive and the Corolla offers up a very practical front seating space, with adequate small item storage and comfortable seats, one area where the Corolla could improve is the rear space. 

Even by small car standards the rear of the Corolla is tight, with very limited room for adults to sit comfortably thanks to the lack of knee and foot space. 

The Corolla ZR Hybrid has 333-litres of boot capacity. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

This is another area of noticeable change for this latest version of the Corolla, with Toyota introducing its fifth-generation of its popular hybrid powertrain.

This latest iteration takes the existing 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and pairs it with a new electric motor and redesigned hybrid transaxle and new lithium-ion battery (replacing the previous nickel metal hydride version).

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the rest of the range is largely unchanged. (Image: Dean McCartney)

The result of these changes is a lighter hybrid system and more power, with 103kW now available; that’s a 13kW improvement over the 2022 Corolla.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the rest of the range is largely unchanged but does get a very minor tweak, with a 1.0kW power increase to 126kW.

One noticeable absence from the 2023 line-up is the manual gearbox, which was previously only available on the entry-level model but has been dropped due to a lack of demand.

A big reason for the success of the Corolla in general, but the hybrid specifically, is its frugal nature.

Officially, Toyota claims the Corolla Hybrid uses just 4.0-litres per 100km, which is a very impressive return for this size of car. However, that is a backwards step from the previous system, which used a claimed 3.5L/100km. 

A good return on paper is one thing, but achieving it in the real world is something else. Thankfully for Toyota, the Corolla Hybrid we tested proved almost as frugal as advertised with the trip computer telling us we were using 4.9L/100km during our week-long test.

A big reason for the success of the Hybrid Corolla is its frugal nature.

In our experience, though, based on longer testing periods, the Corolla is very capable of hitting the claimed figure.

The car’s trip computer told us that fully fuelled we could manage nearly 700km, which is impressive, but (in theory) the 43-litre fuel tank provides the potential for up to 1075km of driving.

Even the 2.0-litre model is efficient, with claimed economy of 6.0L/100km, so either option is good for those looking to save at the pump.

The petrol model gets a larger 50-litre fuel tank, which gives it a theoretical driving range of approximately 833km. So, whichever Corolla you choose you can probably stretch your visits to the petrol pump pretty far.

Officially, Toyota claims the Corolla Hybrid uses just 4.0-litres per 100km. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

This is one area that Toyota hasn’t changed for 2023, with the Corolla still covered by its five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and five-year capped price servicing plan.

Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and each visit will cost you $245 - regardless of whether it’s a hatch or sedan, or the hybrid or 2.0-litre petrol powertrain.

The Corolla is covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. (Image: Sam Rawlings)