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Corolla T Sport

You've read about the family-friendly Corollas, now stand back for the hot one! No hatchback line-up would be complete without the addition of a high-performance three-door flagship. Although prices are still a closely guarded secret, hopes remain high for the Corolla T Sport after the success of the Yaris variant.

March 2002

You've read about the family-friendly Corollas, now stand back for the hot one! No hatchback line-up would be complete without the addition of a high-performance three-door flagship. Although prices are still a closely guarded secret, hopes remain high for the Corolla T Sport after the success of the Yaris variant.

But where the Yaris matched low weight and agility to its performance package, the heavily equipped Corolla is burdened with more bulk. Although offering 189bhp, the 1.8-litre VVTL-i unit feels breathless before 6,000rpm and demands rapid use of the gears and a firm right foot to maintain its momentum.

The short-shifting gearbox, so involving on the Yaris, is a bit of a letdown, too. Despite a solid feel and the benefit of a sixth gear, there's too much travel in the gate and we struggled to find second when making quick downchanges.

But the T Sport still has a great deal to offer. The nicely balanced chassis and revised suspension provide a firm but supple ride that should soak up the bumps of Britain's roads as well as its rivals. The car remains stable in even the most demanding corners and feels predictable on the limit, but it ultimately fails to serve up the thrills today's discerning driving enthusiasts crave.

The new Corolla T Sport is the third model in Toyota's line-up to benefit from the performance treatment - but it looks set to be the least exciting. The sporty package has not fully capitalised on the excellent ride and handling of the all-new Corolla, although the T Sport still offers good looks and a solid build that should attract some buyers away from the VW Golf GTI.

At a glance

* Corolla T Sport on sale next month, price unconfirmed

* Hot model uses 1.8-litre VVTL-i unit mated to six-speed gearbox

* Aimed at rivals including Ford Focus ST170 and VW Golf GTI

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