Thanks to Toyota Singapore, we had the opportunity to test drive the all-new Corolla Altis over the weekends and if you are wondering whether the car is worth buying, read on to find out more!
Built upon the stellar reputation of the Toyota Corolla’s iconic badge, the all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis represents a triumphant showcase of Toyota’s philosophy of constant improvement. This year, the series’ 11th generation fuses stylish design with durability and reliability, to redefine the legend that is the Toyota Corolla Altis. When we were driving the all-new Corolla Altis, we realised that there are more Toyota Corolla Altis on the roads than other brands of cars.
The all-new Corolla Altis’ design theme exudes the confidence of a modern, advanced vehicle. With a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs, the car holds an athletic stance with greater presence. More pronounced flared wheel arches and a clean yet impactful sculpted surface adds an air of elegance to its sporty exterior. Viewed in profile, a sweeping crease in the body sheet metal spans the length of the sedan and accentuates the integrated door handle design.
The exterior tapers towards the front and rear of the vehicle to emphasize its wheel arches, with a longer, faster sloping roofline that blends into a shorter rear deck to give the sedan a sportier image.
A horizontally oriented dash structure enhances the interior with a sense of spaciousness while providing a more intuitively functional space to interface with vehicular controls. The interior offers a premium aesthetic with its use of piano-black gloss trim highlighted by cyber carbon accents, while posh trimming conveys an upscale yet sportier image. Ornamental stitching along the edge of the dash pad adds the intricacy of craftsmanship to the interior’s upscale nature.
As a result of the increase in vehicle wheelbase, passenger comfort in the all-new Corolla Altis’ interior package has been dramatically improved, with significantly increased legroom for rear seat occupants.
A new sporty 3-spoke steering wheel, designed with a characteristic V-shaped silver ornamentation and clad in genuine leather, provides excellent ergonomics driving to remain a comfortable experience, even for longer journeys. Shortcuts to access frequently required information and audio controls are placed within easy reach to ensure safe driving at all times.
The all-new Corolla Altis offers an efficient 1.6-litre, four-cylinder 16 Valves DOHC engine equipped with Dual VVT-i that generates a power output of 121 bhp and 154 Nm torque. The Dual VVT-i varies the timing and lift of the engine’s valves to suit driving requirements, resulting in improved responsiveness, superior fuel economy of 6.5l/100km, and low CO2 emission of 151g/km.
Our Take On The All-New Corolla Altis
From a driver’s point of view, the all-new Corolla Altis is for the minimalist. Although there are not much features like the luxurious Kia Optima K5 to rave about, the all-new Corolla Altis does offer the driver and its passengers a very smooth and comfortable journey on the road. Spacious in the interior with sufficient legroom, the road experience is no doubt a very comfortable one. In terms of driving experience on the road, the all-new Corolla Altis’ 1.6-litre, four-cylinder 16 Valves DOHC engine equipped with Dual VVT-i is very responsive, quiet, and smooth. The gear transmission is barely audible and the braking grip is tight; allowing for sufficient reaction time in the event of an emergency. If you are looking for a power-packed car with a lot of features, then the all-new Corolla Altis is not for you. Will the all-new Corolla Altis attract young buyers? Probably yes for young couples with children but probably no for the yuppies [young urban professionals].
Bolstered by an impressive 5-year unlimited mileage warranty plus 1-year of free servicing, the all-new Corolla Altis is currently priced at SGD$135,988 with a CEVS Rebate of SGD$5,000.
For more information and updates from Toyota Singapore, do check out Toyota Singapore’s Website!
