DRIVEN + VIDEO: Does The All-new Toyota Corolla Hatchback Have Enough JUICE To Fight The Civic And Mazda 3 Hatches?

In the entry-level car category, it used to be a problem. Simply put, cars were goofy, unsexy and lacked any real panache.

Today, that's no longer an issue.

Entry-level autos have adopted much snappier styling and technology from luxury-oriented products has filtered down. Hell, you can even option starter cars with lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control systems.

When it comes to one of the world's best-selling vehicles, the Toyota Corolla, this is no different. Now available as a hatchback, it aims to take on the likes of the Honda Civic hatchback as well as the Mazda 3, which is known for its zoom zoom.

How does it fair, you ask? See Kelly Blue Book's impressions in the clip below.


The word Corolla doesn't always conjure up the most exciting of words, sensible, reliable, fun-free usually come to mind. So what about Toyota's 2019 Corolla Hatchback? It's modern exterior looks full of zippy promise and eye-popping frivolity, but does it deliver in the performance arena, and equally live up to the old reliable Corolla name? Let Micah Muzio take you on a tour of Toyota hot hatch discovery.

MDarringer - 10/7/2018 10:22:27 PM

-3 Boost

Toyota could out GTI the GTI if it wanted to and the quality and reliability would be so much better as well. Do it Toyota. That ain't pretty but it's not egregiously hideous either.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 10/8/2018 10:53:04 PM

+2 Boost

@MD My 2000 BMW 3 Series only had 168hp. But it was not burdened with a CVT. And yes Toyota could add a turbo and make this a much more memorable drive. And it would run beyond 300,000km too.

cidflekken - 10/7/2018 11:28:59 PM

+6 Boost

Has Toyota ever really been able to build a truly competent sporty FWD car? From 1985 on, the Celica was FWD, but I don't recall it ever really giving cars like the Prelude or Integra any fits when it came to sporty driving.

MDarringer - 10/8/2018 8:11:37 AM

+1 Boost

The answer is yes, but not for the USA.

TomM - 10/8/2018 12:25:34 PM

+4 Boost

How many people do you know that are proud of the "performance" and "handling"of their Corolla?

Producing a Celica would be the obvious answer - but Toyota is now having the same problem Cadillac once had - most of their Buyers are getting well past retirement.

MrEE - 10/8/2018 7:17:11 PM

+1 Boost

Easily out sell Civic and Mazda3 hatches, though sales of these are not broken out by these manufacturers.

mini22 - 10/10/2018 9:06:08 PM

+1 Boost

Back in the 80's Toyota had the MR2, the GT86,a GTI like Toyota GT hatchback.The Celica was a performance FWD hatch with 200 HP 1.8 4 cylinder. Toyota certainly has the ability and the capability to do it.Even the Toyobaru twins have a decent handling platform. a BRZ recently posted a 3:14 time at VIR with Car and Driver. Not bad for a car with little power and a terrible torque curve. The question is does Toyota really want to do a GTI competitor. If it had the power and handling and I had to choose between the 2 it would be the Toyota all the way.