New 2023 Toyota Corolla goes on sale from £29,610

Updated powertrains, trim levels and more technology in Toyota Corolla mid-life refresh

The Toyota Corolla, one of the world’s most popular cars, has been given a mid-life refresh for 2023 and order books are now open. The British-built Corolla is available exclusively with hybrid power in hatchback or Touring Sports estate guise.

In 2018, Toyota launched the 12th generation of its Corolla - which returned the famous nameplate to the UK - replacing the Auris. Once again rivalling the likes of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and the new Peugeot 308, the 2023 model can be had in four trim levels - Icon, Design, GR Sport and Excel. 

Every version of the new Corolla receives Toyota’s latest infotainment system on a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The firm says the system is an “easier, more intuitive user experience and future-proofed so that new features and upgrades can be provided via seamless over-the-air updates.” 

A four-year subscription to Toyota Smart Connect is included, enabling cloud-based navigation and real-time traffic information. There’s also a new ‘on-board voice agent’ that can operate the infotainment functions and even features like operating the windows. 

A new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster comes as standard across the range, which can be customised to the driver’s preferred driving style with four different modes - Casual, Smart, Sport and Tough. Also inside the new Corolla, Toyota has also given it new graphics, trim and upholstery materials along with ‘Dark and Light’ themes. In addition, there are LED headlights, fog lights, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, reversing camera and heated front seats.

Kicking off the range is the Icon, and in the hatchback bodystyle, it starts from £29,610. For this, you get 16-inch alloy wheels, a wireless charger, keyless entry and front and rear parking sensors. In addition, there are LED headlights, fog lights, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, reversing camera and heated front seats. The Touring Sports bodystyle can also be had from Icon guise and up. 

Above this, there’s Design from £31,180, which adds 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-LED headlights, tinted rear windows, auto-folding door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, ambient cabin lighting and the option of a panoramic roof.  

The GR Sport is the sportiest version of the new Corolla (as we’re not getting the 295bhp GR Corolla in the UK). It starts from £32,390 and offers a unique bodykit, 18-inch alloys, GR sports seats and on the Touring model, a hands-free powered tailgate. The GR Sport also offers exclusive paint finishes. 

The Excel model starts from £32,800 and features 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive headlights, leather sport seats, a head-up display, rear-seat air conditioning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

All versions of the new Corolla come with the choice of the ‘self-charging’ hybrid powertrain in either 1.8 or 2.0-litre guise, with both options receiving more power in this facelift. The former now produces 138bhp while the latter has been tuned to deliver 193bhp. Both are still mated to a CVT automatic gearbox driving the front wheels.

The 1.8-litre model’s 0-62mph acceleration time now stands at 9.2 seconds, while the 2.0-litre will complete the same sprint in 7.5 seconds. Despite the increase in performance, CO2 emissions remain unchanged at 102g/km for the 1.8-litre model and 107g/km for the 2.0-litr version. 

Partnership
Need to sell your car?
Find your best offer from over 5,000+ dealers. It’s that easy.

Toyota also says the Corolla should feel more refined thanks to a recalibrated throttle set-up and further refinements to powertrain noise under acceleration, making it quieter.

Check out our review on the new Toyota GR86 here...

Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Recommended

Used Toyota Corolla (Mk12, 2019-date) review
Used Toyota Corolla - front
Used car tests

Used Toyota Corolla (Mk12, 2019-date) review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Toyota Corolla covering the Corolla Mk12 that has been on sale since 2019
6 Oct 2023
Top 10 best hatchbacks to buy 2023
Best hatchbacks - header image
Best cars & vans

Top 10 best hatchbacks to buy 2023

We’ve selected our top ten best family hatchbacks so you don’t have to.
24 Aug 2023
Top 10 best estate cars to buy 2023
Best estate cars - header image
Best cars & vans

Top 10 best estate cars to buy 2023

A good estate car delivers practicality, space and low running costs - here are the 10 best estates on sale in the UK today
20 Jul 2023
Top 10 best hybrid cars to buy 2023
Best hybrids 2023
Best cars & vans

Top 10 best hybrid cars to buy 2023

As more and more cars get the hybrid treatment, these are the top 10 best hybrid cars to buy now…
14 Jul 2023

Most Popular

New Renault Scenic 2023 review: the famous nameplate returns in style
Renault Scenic - front
Road tests

New Renault Scenic 2023 review: the famous nameplate returns in style

We get behind the wheel of new all-electric Renault Scenic to see what all the fuss is about
27 Nov 2023
“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”
Opinion - Renault Twingo
Opinion

“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”

Mike Rutherford thinks Renault is doing more than any other manufacturer when it comes to making affordable electric cars
26 Nov 2023
New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed
Dacia Duster - front
News

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed

Dacia has taken the wraps off the latest Duster, which arrives with a new look and fresh technology
29 Nov 2023