The Toyota Corolla is reliably predictable. It is easy to drive and a very fuel-efficient daily driver.
The Corolla lineup comes in all shapes and forms. It has consistently received positive reviews in the Ascent Sport hatchback and ZR hatchback versions, mainly thanks to the available hybrid powertrain that makes it very efficient.
The beauty of the Corolla Hatch is its dynamic and sporty shape, looking brighter, bolder, and younger. However, one of the biggest complaints about the hatchback is the lack of comfort for rear passengers and its small trunk.
In comparison, the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid offers much more space for everyone, but great achievements often come from great sacrifices. In our case, more space means the sedan looks… well, just like another Toyota sedan.
How much does the Toyota Corolla Sedan Ascent Sport Hybrid cost?
There is no price difference between hatchback and sedan body styles for the Ascent Sport Hybrid models, so it all comes down to personal preferences.
- The price of the Ascent Sport Hybrid starts at US$27,395. In comparison, the gasoline version costs US$2,000 less. For an additional US$1,000, you can add factory satellite navigation and DAB digital radio.
Highlights of the Corolla Ascent Sport:
- 16-inch alloy wheels (15-inch with aerodynamic caps for hybrid sedan);
- Automatic bi-LED headlights;
- Automatic high beams;
- LED daytime running lights and taillights;
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system;
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay;
- Six-speaker sound system;
- Air conditioning;
- 60/40 split-folding rear seats with a central armrest;
- Electrically folding heated mirrors.
Hybrid models add air conditioning with temperature control: single zone in the sedan, dual-zone in the hatch.
The Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid is powered by a four-cylinder 1.8-liter gasoline engine producing 72kW of power and 142Nm of torque, coupled with a nickel-metal hydride battery and two electric motors.
Power is delivered to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission.
Is the Toyota Corolla Sedan Ascent Sport Hybrid safe?
The 2021 Toyota Corolla has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP based on tests conducted in 2018.
It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 86% for vulnerable road user protection, and 76% for safety assist.
Standard features across the range include:
- Autonomous emergency braking;
- Pedestrian detection;
- Cyclist detection;
- Lane departure warning;
- Lane-keeping assistance;
- Adaptive cruise control;
- Traffic sign recognition;
- Reversing camera;
- 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee.
Additionally, SX and ZR variants get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
How is the interior of the Toyota Corolla Sedan Ascent Sport Hybrid?
The Ascent Sport Hybrid is all about economy and efficiency, so it’s not surprising that the interior has also been done on a limited budget. It’s simple, predictable, and almost boring. Just pure functionality and absolute necessity.
Keyless entry and the push-button start system are definitely advantages. Unlocking the car doesn’t require pressing a button; just slide your hand on the door handle to open it.
This is a standard for most new cars now, but if you’re upgrading from a previous model that never had this feature, you’ll soon realize it’s a hugely underrated feature.
A key is also not needed to start the engine; the start button is located on the left side under the steering wheel.
The front seats upholstered in black fabric are soft and quite comfortable. The driver’s seat adjusts manually (electrically adjustable driver’s seat in eight directions is only available in the higher-spec ZR version). The door handles and dashboard are hard plastic with some splashes of polished black inserts.
The position of the 8.0-inch infotainment and information display was a bit surprising. To my disappointment, it’s not integrated into the dashboard at an angle pointing towards the driver but requires a little more time off the road.
As reported earlier, the graphics don’t feel particularly high resolution, the loading times are quite slow, and the overall look lacks the polish of European rivals as well as the latest Mazda interface.
The screen is operated via touch and hard buttons. I find this somewhat good: buttons give you immediate feedback and allow you to focus on the road rather than checking if you touched the right spot on the screen.
You also get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which helps avoid the standard system if you want to steer clear of it.
When it comes to storage, you’ll find a deep central compartment with an armrest, two cupholders, and pockets in the doors with plastic separators, a decent-sized glovebox, and a tray for small items under the dashboard.
The rear seats have plenty of legroom. However, there are no rear air vents for rear passengers in this grade.
The rear seats have a 60/40 split fold that allows you to utilize even more space in the trunk, which comes in at an impressive 470 liters.
