Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2020 | is self-charging the way to go?

Toyota has quietly sold-out of the Corolla and the Camry but is it time that you went to the self-charging hybrid? Find out here

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Bob Flavin
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Unit C1, North City Business Park
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Ireland

[willfaulkner]

Love the sheep noises. Agree I’d stump for the Camry instead. Damn right about bringing back the Celica. So I’ve liked, commented (positively) and didn’t even skip the ads - I must know you!

[brianrocks]

Honest cars, Swift, Corolla, Octavia, all Mazda. The market needs such cars!

[vpenywise]

I just got my Camry Hybrid, it gives me 3.9/100 fuel consumption and... YES, the self-charging hybrids are the best bet for what "the automotive future might look like" :) Cheers and thanks fro the great review!

[musicmaker]

The centre screen is positioned at the correct angle; you are sitting at the wrong side of the car...☺

[ericrochford]

At the end of the day, it’s a practical A to B car. Won’t be exciting but will probably last longer than other cars on the road.

[kamaangirthearcher]

"self charging is marketing crap" its using fossil fuel to generate electric power like cars have always done to charge the battery. They give the impression that its perpetual motion, which its not. When running on fossil fuel, the car is dragging a large battery bank, an electric motor and associated auxiliary equipment like the charge controller as well as the load put on the ICE power train charging the hybrid system batteries when the output of the fossil fuel engine should be pushing the car along.

The laws of physics still stand at the minute so no such thing as a free lunch. These things are a token gesture. The infrastructure needs to be installed for all electric vehicles, there will be some cases where electric won't make sense, rural areas emergency vehicles etc.. but these vehicles in the face of the issue that they are trying to remedy is frankly pathetic.

[dingbatt]

I'm not sure why Bob expects it to have "CVT whine". It's not a belt driven CVT, it is what Toyota call an eCVT. It combines the advanced Atkinson cycle petrol engine with two motor/generators through a planetary gear box. Toyota would be better to just call it a Hybrid Synergy Drive (it's even written on a badge on the boot/hatch of all their hybrids) and avoid the bad reputation that belt CVTs have gained over the years. Search 'Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive' to find out how it actually works.
I drive a Camry hybrid and it is a different class of vehicle to the Corolla. Much quieter and more comfortable, and all round a better you go to park it in a tight urban parking spot.

A good review Bob. It's not an EV, it's a really efficient petrol car and you seem to get that.

[tradingcardboss]

🔥🔥Hate the way the screen looks like an after thought 🔥🔥 Keep up the great work

[freespeech]

I'm in the UK and the saloon is not longer available new (it was at launch) and it is the one I prefer. I totally agree about the dash intrusion and I find I bash my left knee getting in but I do love the car. I'm getting 4.5L/100km around town compared to the 50mpg from my 2013 Yaris CVT which is amazing. I'm glad they brought back the Corolla nameplate too.

[herguth]

Self charging? Does it have a unlimited power source?

[podge]

For those irritating people that argue the term self charging.... Toyota hybrids don’t need to be plugged in to charge, hence it charges as it drives with the help of a combustion engine. They’re extremely efficiently, burning less fuel. A lot of people don’t charge their plug-in hybrids which means they’re only burning petrol. So plug-ins are far more misleading

[charlesrowland]

hi bob good review would you say the 1.8 is drasticlley underpowered

[DriverM]

Bob, I wouldn't expect any Toyota hybrid to have CVT whine as their transmission doesn't have a CVT belt.

[robertlangham]

5 star testing sir, brilliant. Other car reviewers take note. I like your points about annoying default views from the sat nav, the observation about floppy, poorly positioned rear arm rest etc. This is the detail we need :-). Finally I totally agree with you observation re Toyota and honesty. One of the few car manufacturers that can be said about. Excellent review 👍

[paudieslattery]

Bob did you end up reviewing the touring/estate version?

[computerbob]

A lesson in marketing from Toyota!
How do sell things new that are based on 20 yr old
Redesign the exterior and call it a Corolla!

[nigelhghs]

Would you use the mode were it charges the battery with braking? Is there any disadvantages?

[Tammywana]

Hay Bob what's the benefits of any of the plugin hybrid to a every day hybrid? Love your work lad

[MM-lvmh]

What's the difference between this and Tourer estate? Same leg room and same interior?

[rafffe]

Does it rely on the fossil engine for heating the interior. or is it electric heating ?