Toyota Corolla Touring Sports estate review

Just like its name, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is longer than the standard Corolla hatchback.

We could end the review there and go for a long lunch, but that’s not the attitude a Toyota Corolla estate would have. It’s a car that does everything properly – there’s nothing half-hearted about it.

Besides very few early cars, all Corolla estates come with hybrid petrol engines. There are two to pick from – one is a bit more powerful than the other, but both manage over 55mpg. And, because they’re ‘self-charging’ hybrids, you get an easy automatic gearbox and low running costs without the hassle of plugging in to charge the battery.

The interior is the same whether you pick the hatchback or the estate, but further back there are more changes than you might expect. With a longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels), the Touring Sports has more rear-seat space than the hatchback. Which takes away one of our gripes with the hatch.

Then there’s the boot, which is almost twice the size as what you get in the hatchback. In fact, the Corolla estate is so practical that you can even get a van version!

The Corolla Touring Sports is a great all-rounder, but there’s one car you should also consider – the Suzuki Swace, which is identical besides some minor bodywork changes and is often a bit cheaper than the Toyota.

The Corolla’s dashboard is pleasingly straightforward. Buttons on the wheel for primary functions and proper controls for the air conditioning make it really easy to use – you won’t need to acclimatise or read the owner’s manual.

Both screens are uncluttered and show the need-to-know information without overloading you. When the Corolla range was updated, it gained a new touchscreen which is much better than before. The graphics have been sharpened up and the responses made quicker, and the whole system is focused around connecting your phone and using its apps and capability.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean that, once connected, your phone will automatically beam onto the screen without you needing to take your phone out of your pocket.

The base Icon trim is still well equipped, with wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights, a reversing camera and push-button start. Mid-range Design trim adds a powered bootlid, auto wipers and bigger alloy wheels, while top-spec Excel is more luxurious with laminated side windows to reduce outside noise, auto high-beam assist and a JBL premium sound system. There’s also the GR Sport trim, which looks a bit meaner but doesn’t drive any differently.

Excel and GR Sport add a few trim garnishes, but on the whole the materials in the Corolla are hardwearing rather than plush. This actually suits the Corolla – the durable feel matches Toyota’s 10-year service-activated warranty – and means that you don’t need to worry about muddy boots or sticky fingers ruining the interior.

Whereas the Corolla hatchback is cramped in the rear seats and can’t compete with rivals for boot space, the estate is much more impressive.

The rear seats are mounted further back in the estate, freeing up extra legroom so that most adults will now be comfortable. However, if your passengers are particularly long-legged, a Skoda Octavia offers a bit more space.

Like the hatchback, the door bins are shaped to hold a slim water bottle and nothing else, and it’s a bit stingy that only the top trim level gets rear USB sockets and dual seatback pockets. However, air vents and lights for the rear passengers come as standard.

Upfront, there’s allocated storage for coffee cups, a phone and a couple of water bottles, but otherwise you’ll have to keep your odds and ends in the merely average sized glovebox.

Or in the 596-litre boot, which is absolutely massive. You’ll have to be careful, because you’ll quickly start to think that anything will fit in the boot, and there are some limits – you won’t get a DFS corner sofa in, for example. There are some useful features in the boot, such as a 12V socket, curry hooks and underfloor storage for valuables.

When you need even more luggage space, the rear seats fold near-enough flat, giving you a massive 1,600 litres to fill.

Like the hatchback, your choice is between 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines. Both are hybrids, so the engine is joined by a small battery and electric motor.

The 1.8 engine is straight out of the Prius, and it offers 122hp in earlier versions of the Corolla and 140hp more recently. In the update to the engine, the e-motor was beefed up, which has greatly improved the acceleration time. The Corolla isn’t for budding racing drivers, but the extra power makes it better for day-to-day driving and potentially more economical – because you’re not leaning so hard on the engine.

Upgrade to the 2.0-litre engine and you’ll get 178hp, plus a brisk 0-62mph time. Again, don’t expect a sports car driving experience, but the extra power helps the car feel more relaxed at speed.

With a light right foot, both engines can nudge 60mpg in mixed driving, and you could easily see more around town where the electric motor does most of the work.

The Corolla is at its best if you drive calmly. Ask for hard acceleration and the eCVT gearbox spins the engine up to a lot of revs, creating a droning din that ruins the refinement.

The Corolla’s driving experience is competent and composed – ideal for the daily hustle and bustle. It’s not an entertaining drive and, if you try to rush the car, you’ll just get unpleasant engine noise.

There’s a sense of everything in harmony in the Corolla’s driving experience. The steering is accurate, the body control is tight (it doesn’t wobble through corners) and it’s calm over bumps. Both pedals are consistent and predictable.

Toyota’s set up the Corolla to be comfortable rather than sporty, which means it’s perfectly suited to our uncomfortable roads. Maybe that’s not surprising seeing as the Corolla is built in Derbyshire.

Entry-level cars on the smallest wheels are the most comfortable, but even the GR Sport trim level won’t try to knock your fillings out over speed bumps.