Motoring legends come in many shapes and forms.
Motoring legends come in many shapes and forms. The Ferrari F40 is a legend because it was a sports car in its purest form. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a legend because it pioneered technologies that entered the mainstream today and was/is owned by rich and powerful dictators and businessmen alike. However, the Toyota Corolla is the people’s legend. Introduced back in 1966, the Corolla name entered India only 11 years ago. Quite apt considering the car we’re testing happens to be the 11th generation Toyota Corolla. The car has been available as both a hatchback and sedan globally and after achieving sales that overshadow the population of Canada, the latest generation Corolla Altis is in India, in an attempt to do well in the not so lucrative D-segment.
For the review we buckled into the D4D diesel variant of the Altis and through a road test of 500 kms, took the car through hours of bumper to bumper traffic on bad roads, and also went flat out on the expressway through dry patches and retreating monsoon drowned roads alike. Tested with a full passenger load of 5 adults and a loaded up boot, we truly experienced the car in every situation you would encounter.
Exterior
One the outside Toyota has shown some truly Japanese organization in terms of the design. Like their country’s train system, every line on the car has been organized and balanced to a hair’s width. Up front you get an all new set of swept back headlamps that highlight the fact that Toyota has set aside the ideologies for subtle and understated styling. The chrome accents on top of the headlamps merge with the new front grill seamlessly.
Below the chrome accents are 4 daytime running LEDs on each side, that are visible during the day time, but not overwhelmingly attention seeking like the ones you see on many other cars these days. Even the dual chrome slats in the front grille extend into the headlamps giving the front a vibrant appeal.
The front bumper has been beefed up to give the new Altis more muscular look, which is complemented by the bulky overhangs. Contrary to the headlamp cluster, the bumper has rather dull black inserts at the sides and a 3 slat air black dam. The black inserts don’t add much to the look stand alone unless you get the fog lamps(Petrol only), but give the front a much needed slimming down. The wide wheel arches and a wide bonnet make this already curvy car look bulbous and the front bumper works well to keep that in check.
At the back the new Altis still has familiar overtones as the outgoing model, but the striking resemblance is to the Lexus GS series luxury sedan. Toyota has taken inputs from its luxury subsidiary to make its bread and butter model a more premium product. The rear bumper is a larger unit and makes the proportions at the back quite voluptuous. The integrated reflectors are miniscule in comparison and the tail lamp has a sharper styling. Between the tail lights and below the rear Toyota logo is a chrome strip that merges with the clear lens element of the tail lamps.
At the side, the Camry like chissled look is all the more evident and the shoulder line isn’t docile anymore. A chrome strip adorns the windows and the Altis gets a choice of 15” or 16” inch alloy wheels. The car has a good ground clearance, and there’s also a large gap between the wheel and wheel arch especially at the back.
The 80 mm increase in length and the 15 mm increase in width, have definitely given the car a more imposing presence, but the job hasn’t been done at the cost of aesthetics. In fact, Toyota has improved on the old plain Jane look. Overall, Toyota has given the new Altis a more futuristic look and it wont blend into the background like it did before.
Interior
Before we get to the goodies or finish quality inside let’s talk about space. The new Altis gets a 100 mm increase in its wheelbase. This increase isn’t just something to brag about on paper, the space inside the car has genuinely improved for the driver and passengers alike. The increased length results in a very airy cabin. The interiors feature a black and beige dual tone finish. The dashboard uses premium touch materials that have been fit very well.
The centre console houses a 7 inch touch screen multimedia interface that supports Aux, USB, AV, SD Card inputs along with Bluetooth audio streaming and telephony. There’s a remote to control the functions from the back seat as well. The screen can be tilt adjusted for glare, but the interface itself has an almost Nintendo like display. When the sunlight is strong, make sure your DRLs aren’t on because the display dims down to a point where you’re literally looking at a black screen.
There is only one button on the entire display, while all other functions are done through the touch screen. One issue with this is that if you are say, playing music though Bluetooth, the volume cannot be adjusted directly. You can either do it through the steering mounted controls or press the button on the screen to access the main menu and lower the volume from there. It’s not a herculean task but seems like a bit much for a very basic function for any entertainment system. The reverse camera display is also through the same screen and the camera is very effective even at night. Putting it into reverse though can be a fidgety affair as it refused to budge on more than one occasion.
The screen has been placed inside a carbon fibre patterned plastic housing with a chrome garnish around it. Toyota has tried to offer something premium with it, but honestly it just comes off as tacky. The carbon fibre pattern isn’t uniform and though it looks good from far away, up close it looks like an afterthought. Perhaps it would be better suited to all black interiors. To one side of the screen in the car security system flasher, which takes up quite a big chunk of the centre console and towards the steering wheel is the hazard light toggle.
Below the main screen is the automatic climate control system where the buttons for the front and rear defogger have also been integrated. The AC is very easy to use and is powerful enough to take you from Arab to Arctic weather in mere seconds. As previously mentioned, the dashboard sits very high and this helps overcome the lack of a rear AC vent.
The car was loaded up with 3 passengers at the back as well, who never faced a lack of cooling. The AC vents on the dashboard sit tall, so the air spreads through the cabin effectively. Under the climate control system is a 12V power socket and there’s a little storage for toll tickets or spare change. The gear-knob has a brushed aluminium finish around the leather. The steering wheel, which can be manually adjusted for reach and rake, also gets the same garnish at the bottom, and houses controls for the volume, switching between tracks and entertainment system modes to the left, with the telephone control, voice command and MID toggle button to the right.
The push button starter, parking sensor on/off button and the electronic ORVM controls are placed near the drivers’ knee and there’s a little cubby hole for storing small items as well. The top end variant has a smart key option with an ambient unlock system for the driver door. The key has the lock/unlock buttons along with a boot lid open switch. The key itself feels cheap considering the fact that it’s offered only on higher models.
The instrument cluster has an analog tachometer, engine temp gauge, fuel gauge and speedometer. The dials are garnished in chrome and between them is the Multi-Information display that shows the real time fuel consumption, two trip meters, odometer, outside temperature, cruising distance, average speed etc. The blue back lighting for the dials has a very calming effect and looks especially nice at night. The lighting also dims down in tunnels to accommodate for the light sensitivity.
The seats on the Corolla Altis are amazingly comfortable. They’re very well padded, offer great under thigh and shoulder support. The leather stitch on the top end variant feels very classy and the top end model gets an 8 way adjustable power seat with lumbar support controls for the driver seat. Between the front seats is an armrest that is also draped in high quality leather on the top end variant and it opens up to a shallow tray and a deep storage pocket below that. Between the arm rest and gearknob are two illuminated cupholders with a chrome garnish at the top.
The rear seats get a similar level of comfort and there’s an arm rest with cup holders here too. The new Altis is 15 mm wider as well, so this car is a great 5 seater. The exhaust bump at the back is negligible and 3 people can sit behind 6ft+ tall front passengers comfortably.
There’s a sunshade at the back as well and the rear seat can be reclined too. There are storage pockets behind the front seats, the doors have adequate storage space and there’s a 12V power socket behind the driver arm rest too. The seats are all very well padded and comfortable to the extent that despite travelling through some really horrible road conditions, passengers at the back fell asleep with ease. This comfort is also extended to the drivers’ seat making this car great for long journeys.
Be warned though, the soft seats and suspension setting tempts you to take a snooze, so if you’re driving long distance, a periodic refresher is necessary. Odd kind of bitter-sweet this. There’s also a total of 5 roof mounted lamps. Two up front, one in the middle and two reading lamps at the back seat. Boot space comes in at 470 litres and is adequate for 2 large and 2 medium-sized bags.
The interiors are a genuine step up from the old Altis. It falls short of being outright premium, but it is more focused on practicality. The combination of more knee room, better head room and more width makes the new Altis get the space of a palace, even though the interior styling falls short of royal.
Performance, Handling and Ergonomics
Toyota hasn’t changed the engine options nor have they retuned the engine for improved performance. The petrol is the same 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder VVT-I engine that produces a maximum power output of 140 PS at 6,400rpm and 173Nm of torque at 4,000rpm . Transmission options on the petrol include a 6-speed manual as standard and a 7 speed CVT-I gearbox that now features paddle shifters as well.
Since this was a long distance test, we chose the diesel. The oil burner too, is the same unit as before i.e. a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder D4D turbo-diesel that delivers a peak power output of 88.4 PS at 3,800 rpm and 205 Nm of peak torque at 1800 rpm . The diesel is available only with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Understandably, the engine isn’t a performance mogul and is the smallest in the segment. The Altis does a great job of noise insulation and the diesel clatter isn’t all that present unless you cross the 3000 rpm mark. Even then the sound is fairly refined. The D4D has the Innova like vibe to it minus the vibrations. No matter how hard you rev, none of the engine shudder makes its way into the cabin.
Despite being an oil burner, the 1.4-litre is quite a rev happy engine. This is good because the VGT turbo has a lot of lag, and the spool kicks in only around 1950 rpm. The boost though, isn’t overwhelming and the progression is very linear. Initial performance lacks enthusiasm which is why the Altis falls behind its rivals. The diesel is more of a cruising mill which is why it is mated to a 6-speed manual, even with a small engine.
This makes the new Corolla a brilliant highway traveller and speeds of 100-140 km/h are pulled of effortlessly. However, overtakes become an issue because if you drop down to 80 km/h in 6th, you have to down shift to speed up. 5th and 6th gear are rather tall, so using them in city is a rarity. The speedometer tops out at 240 km/h, but the diesel is too small, so it can max out at around 185 km/h.
However, the engine efficiency is noteworthy. The car was stuffed to the brim with a full payload, being maxed out at all times and still delivered a fuel economy of nearly 14 km/l on the highway. In the worst conditions of bumper to bumper traffic, the mileage dropped to around 11 km/l. A full tank of fuel will get you a real world range of around 650 kms if you drive at regular speeds. The engine is adequate at best, but a 1.6 would be a lot easier to live with.
Handling on the Altis has improved as well. The electronic power steering has a better connect than the outgoing model and high-speed cornering ability has improved as well. The steering sensitivity makes cramped city maneuverability great, but one issue is that it doesn’t weigh up enough at higher speeds. Steering feedback still lags behind rivals like the Skoda Octavia and it requires constant inputs. The McPherson Strut suspension up front and torsion beam set up at the back, give the Altis a very soft and pliant ride.
Ride quality is impeccable and passengers at the front and back get an evenly pliant ride. Potholes, rough patches, paver blocked roads are tamed with ease though larger bumps will translate to a fair bit of bouncing. On the highways the cushioning is just right and maxing out the speedo never quite feels like it. The car is just amazingly planted and you really need to keep an eye on the speedometer because you don’t realize how fast you’re going. This is especially important because the brakes lack initial bite. You need to push down a fair bit before you can access the potential of the 4 disc brakes. The new Altis still comes into its own only in the mid-range. The lack of initial boost, low steering feedback and relaxed braking, mean that this isn’t the ideal drivers’ car. Passengers though will be extremely comfortable and the sheer comfort can seal the deal.
On the safety front the car gets ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and dual front airbags as standard. Fog lamps are only available on the petrol. The top end GL D4D variant also has a clutch start. One issue with the ignition is that to even use the power windows, the engine has to be started. The new Corolla Altis has better drive ability, but only when compared to its predecessor. The fun of the engine lies in mid range cruising speeds. The engines have been carried forward from the old model and the new car is a lot larger, so if you want a relaxed drive, it doesn’t get any better.
Verdict
The 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis is a big step above the old model. The design is a lot more daring, the interior fit and finish is eons ahead and the increase in interior dimensions make the new car a great 5 seater. Toyota has carried forward the old engines onto a bigger car, so even though the petrol is better than the diesel, performance or driving pleasure are not the reasons why you would buy one.
The 2014 Corolla Altis is peace of mind defined. Good quality interiors, new age design, paramount comfort and engine reliability mean that the new Corolla Altis is for a buyer who wants to get as close to a 6 figure odometer as possible and hold on to the car for at least 5-7 years. The old car was purely a decision for the practical part of the brain. The new Altis has successfully appeased the heart as well.
Prices for the 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis begin at Rs 12.51 Lakh and go up to Rs 17.66 Lakh for the petrol. Prices for the diesel begin at Rs 13.64 Lakh and go up to Rs 17.44 Lakh (All prices Ex-Showroom Mumbai)
2014 Toyota Corolla Colour Options (Click to enlarge):
2014 Toyota Corolla Image Gallery
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