Debuting in 1966, the Toyota Corolla is a mega-bestseller with over 47.5 million units sold in more than 150 countries and regions. We test-drove the new model, which has undergone a full model change and debuted this September.

The Toyota Corolla, a long-selling model that Japan proudly offers to the world, first debuted in 1966. It grew alongside its rival, the Nissan Sunny, and is now sold in over 150 countries and regions, with an astonishing cumulative production of 47.5 million units.

The 12th-generation new Corolla saw the hatchback "Corolla Sport" make its advance debut in June 2018. The sedan "Corolla" and wagon "Corolla Touring" that we test-drove were launched later in September 2019. We participated in a test drive event for the new Corolla held in Yokohama City to assess its quality.

The new Corolla was developed with an active adoption of TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) design principles, emphasizing a low-center-of-gravity, sporty styling, a balance of driving enjoyment and ease of maneuverability, and advanced safety and connected services. It's essentially a "miracle cure" to break through the current average user age of 70 for the sedan and 60 for the wagon, aiming to attract a younger demographic.

The new Corolla's body dimensions are 4,495mm in length, 1,745mm in width, and 1,435mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,640mm. The Touring model is 1,460mm in height. While the length, width, and wheelbase have been reduced compared to the global model, it features a Japan-exclusive body that is larger than the previous generation.

Although it has grown from a 5-number to a 3-number class vehicle, it can be considered a special model that only Toyota could create. We were able to test drive three models: the wagon type "Corolla Touring HYBRID W×B," the sedan "Corolla HYBRID W×B," and the sedan "Corolla S (1.8L gasoline)." Afterward, for comparison, we also drove the previous and current "Corolla Sport."

The wagon-bodied "Corolla Touring" boasts a rather attractive side profile. The large 17-inch aluminum wheels with gray metallic finish and 215/45 tires, combined with a design that gives the impression of low ground clearance, create a sense of spaciousness despite its compact size. Elements like the one-piece LED headlamps with a pronounced curve and the large, trapezoidal lower grille frame with mesh grille contribute to an image entirely distinct from Corollas of the recent past.

Opening the rear hatch reveals a reversible deck board that can be adjusted in two stages for the cargo area floor height. Its flat shape, both vertically and horizontally, evokes images of use in various sporting activities, further contributing to its youthful appeal.

The driving performance of the THS II hybrid system with reduction gear (electric continuously variable transmission), which combines a 1.8-liter engine with a maximum output of 72kW (98ps) and 142Nm of torque, with a 53kW (72ps)/163Nm motor, is also quite good. This is thanks to the increased displacement from 1.5 to 1.8 liters, which results in less noticeable power fluctuations or drops when the motor hands over primary driving force to the engine during acceleration.

The suspension is similarly impressive. Despite being equipped with low-profile 17-inch tires (Yokohama), it effectively absorbs vibrations when passing over bumps. Admittedly, on rougher surfaces, a "zzzz" sound does intrude from the cargo area, but this may be an inherent characteristic of a wagon body.

The sedan "Corolla," which we drove next, resolves the slight drawback of noise intrusion experienced in the wagon. This is because the interior and trunk space are separated, leading to less road noise penetration.

The phrase "compact and refined sedan" is becoming a relic of the past, but the new Corolla has brilliantly revived it. It's lighter than the wagon, and even when navigating ordinary intersections, the body tucks in crisply with a single steering input, offering enjoyable agility. Its level of refinement appears high.

When one hears "Corolla sedan," an image of an "old man's car" might come to mind, but the test car's Black Crystal Shine body paired with dark 17-inch wheels exudes an aggressiveness that dispels such notions.

We overlooked this in the wagon while focusing on the cargo space, but upon opening the rear door of the sedan, we noticed quite a few scuff marks from shoe toes. This is likely a consequence of the slightly tighter rear legroom, stemming from the shorter wheelbase compared to the global model.

The other sedan model, equipped with the 1.8-liter gasoline engine, offers a nimble driving experience powered by a single powertrain and provides sufficient performance for users seeking a more affordable option.

Speaking with Chief Engineer Yasushi Ueda of the Corolla after the test drive, he stated, "The Corolla has been loved by many users both globally and in Japan for a long time, but as announced at the press conference, the average age of our users is currently in their 60s and 70s. If this continues, the Corolla name might disappear. One of the goals in developing the new model was to appeal to younger people, and this was driven by a sense of pride as engineers."

Naofumi Kobayashi from the MS Vehicle Performance Development Department and Ryo Shimazu from the MS Chassis Design Department responded, "For the sake of creating an even better car, we pursued a vehicle that is easy to drive and enjoyable to be in for extended periods. To achieve this, by making the vehicle's movements predictable in response to external disturbances from the road, the occupants' bodies are not forced to move, and their gaze remains stable. We focused not just on the 'amount of movement' but on the 'way of movement,' researching motion patterns that maximize the human body's postural correction capabilities."

Specifically, they optimized the balance of the damper's damping force for both compression and rebound, setting it to shift load to the front during body roll. This, they explained, significantly improved gaze stability, the ease with which the turning posture is settled, and line tracing capability.

"The crucial point is that we were able to achieve this intentionally," a young engineer told us. Indeed, when comparing the new and old Corolla Sport models, the new one felt to have an advantage in terms of gaze stability and the crispness of the steering response. To think that the Corolla has been developed with such meticulous attention to detail... It has turned out to be a truly excellent car that we highly recommend experiencing for yourself.