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.

[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.

[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?

[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 :/

[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.

[MickC]

RayDonovan said:

It's a car you need to drive smoothly to get the best MPG. We're averaging 49mpg with ALOT of short journeys..

Hmph. Well where's the fun in that? might as well have bought a 1.8