What makes the Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid a great choice for a sedan?

Because it’s a Corolla and a hybrid electric vehicle!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the car itself to see the why and the how Toyota Motor Philippines made this Corolla Altis trim such an irresistible offer to buyers looking to save (a lot) as they purchase a quality sedan.

The Toyota Corolla holds the honor of being the world’s best-selling passenger vehicle with over 1.6% global market share. That’s 44.4 million Corollas sold since 1966 and somewhere in Japan is a first-generation model bought in 1969 by Shougo Asada that has 560,000 kilometers on it but continues to run perfectly until today.

Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system, on the other hand, is one of the most awarded automotive technologies in history, winning an unparalleled four titles in 2004 alone.

This 12th-generation Corolla Altis is the first Corolla to use the Toyota New Global Architecture platform and is offered globally with a petrol engine, flex-fuel option, and as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). In the Philippines we only get the petrol option and the HEV.

Now that we’ve established how this vehicle is a combination of a great nameplate and an award-winning tech, let’s see the specs and features of this top trim Corolla Altis 1.8 V Hybrid CVT.

Size-wise, it is just as long (4,630mm), just as wide (1,780mm), but a little taller (1,455mm) than the petrol-powered Corolla Altis. Wheelbase is the same at 2,700mm.

It uses a MacPherson strut-type front suspension with stabilizer and a double wishbone-type rear suspension with stabilizer. Front brakes are ventilated discs while the rear are solid disc brakes.

The steering system uses a column with tilt and telescopic adjustments and a rack and pinion with electric power steering (EPS).

On the body are bi-beam LED (light emitting diode) headlamps with manual levelling adjustment, LED daytime running lamps with line guide, an auto light control system with Follow-Me-Home feature, LED front fog lamps with chrome plating, a gloss black lower grille, auto rain sensing wipers, chrome window sash blackout, a rear window defogger, full LED rear combination lamps, and a rear glass printed antenna.

Tire size is 225/45 R17 with 17-inch wheels.

The cabin has leather seats (eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, four-way manually adjustable front passenger’s seat), 60:40 split rear seats with center armrest, power lumbar (driver only), leather multi-function steering wheel with MID (multi-information display) + audio + phone + voice + Dynamic Radar Cruise Control + Lane Departure Alert controls, an electronic parking brake with Brake Hold, auto dimming mirror, sun visors with mirror lamp and ticket holders, rear sunshade, silver plated inside door handles, soft touch material with matte black ornament on the door trim, synthetic leather on the door arm rest, glove box with lamp, rear console box, four cupholders (two in front and two at the rear), four bottle holders (two in front and two at the rear), seatback pockets (driver and front passenger), and an illuminated entry system.

Powering the infotainment system is a seven-inch color display system with CD + DVD + MP3 + Aux-in + USB + Bluetooth + K2 Audio Enhancing Technology + T-Lin for iOS and Android. Audio is sent to four speakers and two tweeters.

It also comes with Toyota’s Smart Entry system to just keep the key in your pocket or bag and it will unlock the doors when you reach for the handle. Use the Push Start system to start the hybrid engine.

Another great thing about this model is the addition of Toyota Safety Sense. It is a suite of safety systems that includes Pre-Collision System, Automatic High Beam, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Assist, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Standard safety features include Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist system, SRS airbags (driver, passenger, curtain shield, driver knee), Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, two three-point ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) seatbelts with Pretensioners and Force Limiters in front and two three-point ELR seatbelts in the rear, a child restraint system (tether anchors and two Isofix), a reverse monitor, clearance and reverse sonar, an anti-theft system with immobilizer, an LED high mount stop lamp, and it comes with Toyota’s Smart Entry System that features a touch sensor on the driver, passenger and back door.

At just P1.580 million, you might be wondering how it is priced so low. The TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) law provides a 50% tax rate cut for hybrids and the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 V Hybrid CVT is built in Thailand, the AFTA’s (ASEAN Free Trade Agreement) means zero import duties (for cars built within ASEAN).

Cover photo from Toyota Motor Philippines, others by Kap Maceda Aguila