To drive, the old D-4D 1.4-litre
common-rail direct injected turbocharged diesel engine, continues to be a
smooth running unit. The six-speed manual gearbox it is mated to is a slick
shifting unit with relatively short throws and, therefore, is not tedious to
operate. The diesel powertrain does suffer from turbo lag. So if the revs
happen to fall below 1,800 and you need to get going in a hurry, then you will
need to shift down. Otherwise, this diesel engine continues to be as good as it
ever was. We do expect acceleration to be a smidge slower however, given the
increased weight of the car.
Toyota
Corolla Altis Logo, New grille and headlamp combois more aggressive and
upmarket
If ride quality on the previous Corolla
Altis was good, then on the new one it’s even better. Bumps, ruts, rumblers and
potholes: pretty much all of it is ironed out so that the passengers enjoy the
benefits of a pliant and cushy ride. It’s only the craters among potholes that
catch this car out. Otherwise, it remains composed and dignified. With the new
suspension, the handling has improved, too, and one can feel that this car
feels even more planted or less unsettled around a bend than before. Having
said that, in its segment the Toyota Corolla Altis still doesn’t set the
handling benchmark. What it does do is return a very good balance between the
two, which is probably more than what most customers want. The steering has
become slightly more direct and it also feels heavier, which will not help
while negotiating chock-a-block city traffic. On the plus side, feedback from
the steering wheel is now improved.
Toyota
Corolla Altis Rear Seat Back
The cars that were given out to the media
came shod with Yokohama 205/55 R16 tyres, which did a good job of maintaining
contact with the tarmac. The wheel-wells, however, look as if they were
designed to accommodate bigger wheels. Toyota insiders say that the wheel-wells
look larger because the suspension has been raised to increase ground clearance
for the car to operate on our fabulously surfaced Indian roads. That does make
sense, especially when you factor in the car’s increased wheelbase, which would
inevitably lower the break-over angle over particularly high-speed bumps.
Design
of instrument panel is much improved and looks classier than before too
On the whole then, the 11th and newest
generation of the Corolla Altis does meet expectations of most people. It’s
good-looking, well-built and drives well. The new car also promises improved
comfort, courtesy the increased space and better seats working in combination
with a very good ride quality. It’s also feature-rich, for the new car offers a
touchscreen multimedia system, Bluetooth connectivity, 12V power sockets at the
front and back, automatic climate control, steering-mounted controls for the
multimedia system and phone. In the petrol version the Corolla even gets a sat-nav.
Depending on how Toyota price this vehicle, it should be able to continue on
the winning streak that was started by the Corolla brand in India.
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Specs:
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 GL
·
Price $ 33,725.40 (estimated) ·
Engine 1798 cc, inline four, with
dual VVTi ·
Transmission CVT ·
Max Power 140 PS at 6400 RPM ·
Max Torque 173 Nm at 4000 RPM
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