Thinking about a 2.0 Hybrid Corolla

[MickC]

I'm thinking of ditching my old 2.2 Diesel Civic for a Toyota, since Honda no longer make cars in the UK. Looking at a hatchback 2.0 hybrid version of the Corolla, I usually buy used between 1-2 years old.

Any experiences of the 2.0 model especially versus the more common 1.8? Any good to drive? This will be my daily driver, I've still got the TVR for summer fun next year, so I'm looking for tips on what extras to look for etc. If anyone has experiences of both a civic and a Corolla, I'd appreciate their views. There seem to be more estate versions than hatchbacks, but I don't really need the space (no dogs or children to cart around! ), but used prices seem similar.

I quite like the shape of the C-HR too, but for some reason they only do that in the 1.8 and I suspect it won't be as good to drive - thoughts on that welcome too.

[Composite Guru]

I have just bought a brand new Corolla GR Sport with the 2.0 engine.
Forget the 1.8, it is pretty gutless. The 2.0 is where you want to be, it makes quite a bit of difference.
Getting about 55 mpg currently but the car only has 900 miles on it. That should get better and see up to 65mpg according to other owners.
As for driving, it handles really well. Nice and grippy and feels good when steering. Nice and pointy.
Boot is not huge but big enough for me. I have a roofbox for extra capacity.

Edited by Composite Guru on Thursday 29th September 19:39

[mn272331]

My current company car is a 1.8 Corolla estate. It is a really relaxing drive, comfortable and averages around 60mpg.
The 2.0 would be a marked improvement, I would think.

You can get a 2.0 CHR. I’ve had two. They aren’t fast, but they have a decent turn of speed and are much easier to drive in the motorway than the 1.8, due to the extra poke.
They handle quite well for what they are, but are a lot smaller inside than the Corolla.

[MickC]

Composite Guru said:

I have just bought a brand new Corolla GR Sport with the 2.0 engine.
Forget the 1.8, it is pretty gutless. The 2.0 is where you want to be, it makes quite a bit of difference.
Getting about 55 mpg currently but the car only has 900 miles on it. That should get better and see up to 65mpg according to other owners.
As for driving, it handles really well. Nice and grippy and feels good when steering. Nice and pointy.
Boot is not huge but big enough for me. I have a roofbox for extra capacity.

Edited by Composite Guru on Thursday 29th September 19:39

Thanks. Yes deffo 2.0, suppose I'd better go and test drive one. They all seem pretty well spec'd, is there anything to look out for that's not standard?

[MickC]

mn272331 said:

My current company car is a 1.8 Corolla estate. It is a really relaxing drive, comfortable and averages around 60mpg.
The 2.0 would be a marked improvement, I would think.

You can get a 2.0 CHR. I’ve had two. They aren’t fast, but they have a decent turn of speed and are much easier to drive in the motorway than the 1.8, due to the extra poke.
They handle quite well for what they are, but are a lot smaller inside than the Corolla.

Interesting I've not seen a used 2.0 CHR advertised but google pops up a review from 1999 saying they expect 25% to be 2.0. I'll keep an eye out.

[Composite Guru]

MickC said:

Composite Guru said:

I have just bought a brand new Corolla GR Sport with the 2.0 engine.
Forget the 1.8, it is pretty gutless. The 2.0 is where you want to be, it makes quite a bit of difference.
Getting about 55 mpg currently but the car only has 900 miles on it. That should get better and see up to 65mpg according to other owners.
As for driving, it handles really well. Nice and grippy and feels good when steering. Nice and pointy.
Boot is not huge but big enough for me. I have a roofbox for extra capacity.

Edited by Composite Guru on Thursday 29th September 19:39

Thanks. Yes deffo 2.0, suppose I'd better go and test drive one. They all seem pretty well spec'd, is there anything to look out for that's not standard?

Depends on what spec you buy. There isn’t much to add. The more options you add the longer you wait for your car from what has been seen.

Also if you go for 2.0 make sure they add the free optional spare wheel.
The 2.0l comes with the 12v battery in the boot. The spare sits in the gap next to it under the false floor. If not you just get a huge empty space.

[Bobtherallyfan]

If you go for the 2.0 you will find the boot is tiny compared with the Civic.

[MickC]

Spare wheel is a good call thanks, although I'm probably looking for used so might have to be an added extra. Last time (for this Honda) I bought a 2nd hand space saver spare, looked fine until I actually tried to use it and it caught the on the break calliper so would not actually turn! Doh. Hello RAC, it's me again.... I hate not having a spare and that gunk injector kit is a waste of time.

Boot looks ok from the above picture, but I suppose the floor is high compared to a non hybrid?

[Composite Guru]

MickC said:

Spare wheel is a good call thanks, although I'm probably looking for used so might have to be an added extra. Last time (for this Honda) I bought a 2nd hand space saver spare, looked fine until I actually tried to use it and it caught the on the break calliper so would not actually turn! Doh. Hello RAC, it's me again.... I hate not having a spare and that gunk injector kit is a waste of time.

Boot looks ok from the above picture, but I suppose the floor is high compared to a non hybrid?

The boot is the 2.0 version because the 12v battery is under the floor. The 1.8 gets a deeper boot but only if you don’t have the spare wheel.
The hybrid battery is under the backseat from what I’m aware.

[Teebs]

We picked up a 2020 GR Sport 2.0 last Autumn and it's been excellent as expected.

Going in for its 2nd service tomorrow (major) - got the service for £316 and signed up to their service plan as it saves a little paying monthly.
We're planning on keeping the car for 10 years or so the extended warranty through Toyota is well worth it..

[Composite Guru]

Teebs said:

We picked up a 2020 GR Sport 2.0 last Autumn and it's been excellent as expected.

Going in for its 2nd service tomorrow (major) - got the service for £316 and signed up to their service plan as it saves a little paying monthly.
We're planning on keeping the car for 10 years or so the extended warranty through Toyota is well worth it..

Exactly what I’m thinking of doing. At least I’ll know where car ownership is going by then. Still not buying the EV knee jerk just yet.

[Teebs]

Composite Guru said:

Teebs said:

We picked up a 2020 GR Sport 2.0 last Autumn and it's been excellent as expected.

Going in for its 2nd service tomorrow (major) - got the service for £316 and signed up to their service plan as it saves a little paying monthly.
We're planning on keeping the car for 10 years or so the extended warranty through Toyota is well worth it..

Exactly what I’m thinking of doing. At least I’ll know where car ownership is going by then. Still not buying the EV knee jerk just yet.

We did look, but the Corolla is just so good.

[Teebs]

Just as a small note on the Corolla indirectly, the main dealer that we have used for servicing have been exceptionally helpful and a real step ahead of VW / BMW who we've used in the past. Not a major point, but makes everything slightly easier.

[MickC]

Thanks for all the tips. Just picked up an 8 month old 2.0 GR Sport. Bit of an impulse buy but it had everything I wanted on it.

Now I need to get used to driving an auto.... oh and paying road tax again, no more 20 quid a year :/

[Teebs]

MickC said:

Thanks for all the tips. Just picked up an 8 month old 2.0 GR Sport. Bit of an impulse buy but it had everything I wanted on it.

Now I need to get used to driving an auto.... oh and paying road tax again, no more 20 quid a year :/

Great stuff.

[5s Alive]

The 2.0L is a great engine not least because of Toyota's [dynamic force] twin injector per cylinder design. Both direct and indirect injection for different load/running conditions. For me the main benefit would be having the valves cleaned by the indirect fuel injection and not suffering from the same carbon buildup as DI only designs.

Very nearly bought one but went for full EV before the incentives dried up. Enjoy.

[Tea Pot One]

I've been looking for a Corolla or estate version in 2L form to replace my X3 M40i (yes, that's right!) due to a 42 mile each way commute I am now doing to work.

I have driven a 2L C-HR and it was great. The newest 2L Corolla is 7.5 to 62 and boasts better batteries I believe ... but that is the 2023 model.

I have a Yaris 71 plate and tbh it has converted me to the Toyota badge ... and I am a serious petrolhead. The car has to be enjoyable and the Yaris is. The C-HR surprised me as at 8 to 62 you can give it some stick more than my 4.8 to 62 BMW. It is quite adequate speed wise and fun.

I am also looking at the Rav4 PHEV as it is 6 to 62 and good speed wise if not as involving as the C-HR due to the higher centre of gravity.

FWIW my wife is getting 55-60mpg from her C-HR and I get 65mpg from the Yaris.

Toyota have the hybrid tech nailed and I have noticed a lot more Ubers are now Corolla as opposed to Prius .

[5s Alive]

Tea Pot One said:

I've been looking for a Corolla or estate version in 2L form to replace my X3 M40i (yes, that's right!) due to a 42 mile each way commute I am now doing to work.

I have driven a 2L C-HR and it was great. The newest 2L Corolla is 7.5 to 62 and boasts better batteries I believe ... but that is the 2023 model.

I have a Yaris 71 plate and tbh it has converted me to the Toyota badge ... and I am a serious petrolhead. The car has to be enjoyable and the Yaris is. The C-HR surprised me as at 8 to 62 you can give it some stick more than my 4.8 to 62 BMW. It is quite adequate speed wise and fun.

I am also looking at the Rav4 PHEV as it is 6 to 62 and good speed wise if not as involving as the C-HR due to the higher centre of gravity.

FWIW my wife is getting 55-60mpg from her C-HR and I get 65mpg from the Yaris.

Toyota have the hybrid tech nailed and I have noticed a lot more Ubers are now Corolla as opposed to Prius .

Toyota's hybrids are underrated in my opinion and a much better steer than they are given credit for. My gen 3 Prius was one of the best cars I've driven although it did have an Eibach Koni set-up with strut/chassis braces/rear anti- roll bar. Enormously entertaining even [especially?] with the limited power output. So much so that I told the Thruxton instructor that I could have lapped quicker my own car, didn't tell him it was a Prius - even with Tiff Needell's unwitting interference. Long story...

[Teebs]

5s Alive]The 2.0L is a great engine not least because of Toyota's [dynamic force said:

twin injector per cylinder design. Both direct and indirect injection for different load/running conditions. For me the main benefit would be having the valves cleaned by the indirect fuel injection and not suffering from the same carbon buildup as DI only designs.

Very nearly bought one but went for full EV before the incentives dried up. Enjoy.

Interesting, cheers.

[MickC]

Tea Pot One said:

<snip>

FWIW my wife is getting 55-60mpg from her C-HR and I get 65mpg from the Yaris.

Toyota have the hybrid tech nailed and I have noticed a lot more Ubers are now Corolla as opposed to Prius

I am nowhere near that mpg, put about 4 tanks in so far and I'm only getting about 43mpg according to the cars display thingy. Not much better than the old 2.2 deisel! Thats doing mainly short journeys though.

Guess I need to modify my driving style a bit, less of the heavy foot. But I thought it would be better than that even while driving normally.