2019 Toyota Corolla Altis - Things we like

Toyota Philippines finally made the call to bring the latest model of the quite popular Corolla Altis in the country. It might not be the most awaited or anticipated car of the year but it certainly is one of the best in its segment. And the new model has undergone a series of changes to make it that much better. We are already quite impressed with it and in this story, we will share with you the things that we like about the 2019 Toyota Corolla Altis.

Reworked design

The new Corolla Altis continues to charm everyone with its dashing looks and reworked design and that is one of the best things that we like about it; Toyota kept the silhouette of the previous model intact and added new elements to freshen things up which worked! To begin with, the headlamps of the new Altis look sharper. Perhaps, this has also something to do with the new integrated LED daytime running lights. Then we have the new single-piece chrome slat between the headlamps which enhances the overall front appearance.

We also like the way how the front bumper has been cut to accommodate those sharp angular lines, especially the fog lamp housings. And, of course, the large radiator grille finds its way in the new model as well.

Nothing much has been changed in the side profile of the new car. All we get is a set of new alloy wheels which do look great. And at the back, there are new tail lamps with signature LED lighting. It is the best element to see at the rear. The entire tail lamp assembly is still a two-piece combination type but the new signature LED lighting makes a huge difference.

Welcoming interior

The interior of the Corolla Altis has always been pretty decent. It provided a good amount of comfort and luxury. The cabin of the new one offers a bit more because the dimensions of the car have been slightly changed; it is 10 mm longer, 5 mm wider, and 45 mm lower. This means there is marginally more space on the inside and thus improving the overall comfort. It also gives an airy feeling while sitting in the cabin.

Other than that, there is a large 7-in screen in the instrument console; consider it as an enhanced MID. It is capable of showing a plethora of information to the driver. Then we have a touch screen display that supports CD/DVD, MP3, AUX, Bluetooth and T-link (Android and iOS) for entertainment. For convenience, we also get a one-touch auto window, auto-dimming mirror, and engine push to start/stop button.

Safety features

Since it is a Toyota, one should not really worry about the onboard safety features because Toyota does not really like to compromise that at any cost. We applaud Toyota for always giving safety a top priority. The new 2019 Toyota Corolla Altis specs include various safety features like 7 airbags, ABS, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, and Toyota Safety Sense which undertakes a few advanced features like a pre-collision system, automatic high beam, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert, and dynamic radar cruise control.

Hybrid engine option

The biggest addition in the new Corolla Altis is the 1.8-litre hybrid engine. We do not have many hybrid vehicles in the Philippines and that is one of the reasons why they are not popular here. People are not aware of the benefits of it. However, with a Toyota now being in the hybrid territory, we hope things will change. So the hybrid variant of the Corolla Altis comes with a 1.8-litre engine which churns out a max power of 97 hp at 5200 rpm and 142 Nm of peak torque at 3600 rpm. Supporting it is an electric motor which generates 71 hp of power.

So, the total power output of this model comes out to be 121 hp. And the transmission is CVT. There is also a conventional engine option available too - a 1.6-litre unit that produces 121 hp of max power at 6000 rpm and 153 Nm of peak torque at 5200 rpm. You can have it with either the CVT or a 6-speed manual, whereas the hybrid variant is available on with CVT.

The 2019 Toyota Corolla Altis price starts at Php 999,000 which is its most affordable variant. It shoots as high as Php 1.58 million for the top-end hybrid model. There are various colour options available depending on the variant you choose.

Also Read:- 2020 Toyota Corolla Altis - All you need to know