2025 Toyota Corolla SX review

They say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and Toyota seems to have taken that to heart with its evergreen Corolla.

There’s good reason for that too, because even though the current 12th-generation model was released way back in 2018, it’s still Australia’s best-selling small car by a very long way.

With 11,322 deliveries to the end of July this year, the Corolla hatch and sedan remains far more popular than it closest rivals, including the Hyundai i30 (6472) and Mazda 3 (6443). Granted, the current i30 hatch dates back to 2016 and has been facelifted twice, while the latest Mazda 3 hatch and sedan was launched in 2019.

But age clearly isn’t an issue for buyers, since these are Australia’s three most popular small hatchbacks by a large margin, led by the Corolla range despite offering fewer choices than ever following the axing of all non-hybrid versions of Toyota’s core passenger models last year.

Then again, it does have the advantage of a hybrid powertrain over the other two hatches, which isn’t at all common in this segment. Beyond this, there’s the similarly priced i30 Sedan Hybrid, while the Honda Civic and Cupra Leon hatches also offer hybrid power but for much more money.

The current Corolla Hybrid has changed so little in the past few years that the press car Toyota loaned to us first entered circulation as an updated model in 2023, which is why you see the brand’s old-style ‘Hybrid’ badges instead of the newer ‘HEV’ ones in our imagery.

Among the 2023 updates was a refreshed 1.8-litre powertrain and a revised electric motor to offer increased power, plus very minor cosmetic tweaks, new wheel designs, and a new infotainment system with connected services. There have been no real changes since then, except for the removal of the petrol-only variants as mentioned.

Despite this, even newer, smaller and significantly cheaper hatchbacks can’t get close to the Corolla’s enduring popularity, even if its sales were down 28.6 per cent in the first seven months of this year. The new MG 3 (available with hybrid power) has found 5770 new homes in the same period, while another relatively new light hatch in the Suzuki Swift Hybrid has recorded 2279 registrations.

What is it about the Corolla that keeps bringing Aussies back? Is it badge loyalty, or is it simply that good?

How much does the Toyota Corolla cost?

The SX sits in the middle of the three-level Corolla Hybrid range, and the hatch body style is priced at $35,260 before on-roads. It’s the only trim level where the sedan is cheaper than the hatch.

For context, although it’s an entirely different kettle of fish, the GR Corolla hot hatch is worth a mention. It costs $67,990 before on-roads for the manual, and $70,490 before on-roads for the auto.

Unlike its smaller but mechanically related GR Yaris three-door sibling, the GR Corolla has the same five-door body as the standard hybrid hatch but comes with several bespoke panels like the front fenders, front bumper, bonnet, and roof.

Otherwise, the Corolla SX Hybrid tested here is similar in price to its equivalent i30 and Mazda 3 rivals. Comparing hatch body styles only, the i30 starts at $36,000 before on-roads for the N Line, while the Mazda 3 starts at $31,310 before on-roads for the Pure. The more comparable Mazda 3 is the Evolve SP at $37,110 before on-roads.

There’s also the Subaru Impreza 2.0R hatch ($35,990 before on-roads), and the sedan-only Kia K4 Sport ($35,190 before on-roads).

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What is the Toyota Corolla like on the inside?

Dated, but just as functional as it’s ever been.

Don’t expect to find many luxuries in here, because the Corolla is merely here to serve a purpose. For that reason, you’ll be greeted with cloth upholstery and a plethora of hard, scratchy plastics, but the cabin is still a nice place to be.

That’s partly due to top-notch ergonomics. The seats and steering wheel offer a good range of adjustment, even if there’s no power seat adjustment, which makes it easy to get comfortable. These seats are also cushiony, while the cloth upholstery is friendly on cold mornings.

Then there’s the leather-wrapped steering wheel that comes with the SX, which is perfectly sized in terms of rim thickness and diameter, and feels nice in the hands. Its buttons are finished in dull black plastic and are entirely physical, which makes them easy to use on the move.

The only reminders that this is a budget-oriented car come with the other material choices here, as the dashboard and steering wheel boss look cheap, and there are other nasty plastics here and there – even if you shouldn’t be touching those areas too often.

In front of the wheel is Toyota’s part-digital hybrid instrument display, measuring 7.0 inches in SX spec. There’s hardly any customisation here, but it looks the part and offers loads of information using the directional buttons on the left of the steering wheel.

The infotainment system to the left is a similarly aged unit. At 8.0 inches it’s small by modern standards, and it sits in a bulky piano black housing atop the dashboard.

It’s also surrounded by thick black bezels, with a small volume knob on the right. The screen is at least sharp and responsive, powered by Toyota’s modern user interface and presented in a graphic design that looks nice and functions reliably.

Smartphone mirroring is also wireless as standard, and we had no issues with Apple CarPlay except for typical drop-outs under some of Melbourne’s toll gantries.

Below that is a physical climate control system, comprising a row of silver-finished buttons in a sea of piano black. There’s no doubting its functionality and it’s far preferable to any screen-focused arrangement, but that material gets smudged in no time.

More of it is found around the gear selector, which was already looking pretty second-rate in our tester. The gear shifter itself is large and finished in leather, and you’ll find a handful of physical driving-related buttons nearby, along with more scratchy plastic.

Surprisingly, the SX is fitted with a wireless phone charger in front of the gear selector, which didn’t get my phone too hot while charging. You’ll also find a single USB-C port on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat.

There are two cupholders tucked under the soft central armrest, which covers a small storage box. Inside is a second USB-C port, but otherwise the cabin is a case of what you see is what you get – although I like the closed-in ambience created by the black headliner.

This is especially evident in the rear seats, as the window line swoops up towards the back of the side doors. There aren’t any amenities like USB ports or even air vents back here, which isn’t unusual in the mainstream small-car segment, even if the price point here suggests it should be.

Rear occupants get more of the same cloth upholstery, which is more prone to staining than other cloth trim if you’re transporting kids. The bench seats are soft, but space for fully grown passengers is limited due to the car’s tight packaging.

Headroom is compromised in particular, while legroom will be fine so long as the front passengers aren’t too tall. The middle rear seat is especially squishy, and there’s a driveline tunnel despite this being a front-wheel drive car.

This houses the exhaust underneath, and the driveshaft in the all-wheel drive GR Corolla.

The boot’s relatively small, and the Corolla’s compact rear-end makes for a narrow load space. I managed to fit a golf bag and trolley in it while keeping the parcel shelf in place, but that was like a game of Tetris and there was no space left over for anything else.

At 217 litres, it’s much smaller than the cargo capacity of the i30 hatch (395L) and the Mazda 3 hatch (295L). It’s even smaller than the notoriously compromised Impreza, which is quoted at 291L.

Still, you do get a large, flat load floor and an low lip to slide things over when loading up. On either side are deep storage cubbies, but you’ll have to remove the parcel shelf to fit taller items.

You can hang the boot floor on the parcel shelf using the floor’s hook and the shelf’s loop, which keeps it out of the way to access the space-saver spare.

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Powering the Corolla range is a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a hybrid transaxle to produce peak power output of 103kW (Toyota doesn’t state a combined torque figure). Drive is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Our week with the car predominantly involved highway driving, but also included some suburban stints in heavy Melbourne traffic, so we were still very impressed that we matched Toyota’s fuel economy claim.

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How does the Toyota Corolla drive?

The Corolla has long been an unremarkable car to drive, at least in garden-variety (non-GR) form.

Therefore the ‘whitegoods on wheels’ label isn’t entirely unjustified here, but the Corolla is at least a supremely efficient electrical appliance. Few cars match the fuel economy claims of their manufacturers, but the fact the SX Hybrid did in our hands says a lot about the prowess of Toyota’s hybrid powertrains.

The real-world fuel consumption of petrol-electric Toyotas continues to impress us, as it did most recently with the latest hybrid Camry. When it comes to the Corolla, you’ll find it’s smooth and brisk enough under acceleration, offering acceptable performance for an economy car.

The engine will make some noise if you lay into the throttle, revving away in a dreary fashion that’s typical for many CVT-equipped powertrains. Still, the hybrid system adds some poke, and the overall experience is indicative of a segment-leading hybrid.

You’ll notice the Corolla attempts to drive in electric mode where possible, and there’s a button to lock it into that mode, although it deactivates beyond speeds of around 40km/h. This contributes to its economy advantage, and there are no complaints here.

The Corolla also offers a well-balanced chassis, and it’s these solid bones that form the foundations of the very accomplished GR Corolla.

Even so, some may be pleasantly surprised by just how well composed non-performance versions of the Corolla actually are. Mainstream hybrid versions like the SX don’t feel sporty per se, but they do offer direct steering and a relatively taut suspension setup that does well to minimise body roll in bends.

It’s also difficult to unsettle the Corolla in normal driving, even on rough Victorian roads at 100km/h or more. It inspires confidence, making it easy to drive the car in everyday situations without any unexpected behaviour when it comes to ride, handling, and braking.

There’s also a slight regenerative braking effect when charging the hybrid battery in ‘B’ mode. A handful of drive modes are on offer, with only minor changes between each – Sport mode sharpens throttle response slightly, Eco mode focuses on saving fuel, and Normal mode is… well, normal.

Supporting all this is an excellent driving position and strong outward visibility.

Small cars are usually always easy to place on the road, but the large side windows make head checks in the Corolla easy, alongside the support of blind-spot monitoring. You also get front and rear sensors as well as a decent reversing camera to assist with parking – there’s no surround-view monitor, though.

On freeways, you have the advantage of adaptive cruise control, which doesn’t feel quite as advanced as in the newest Toyotas, but does a good job of matching the speed of traffic around you and reacting to changes in conditions.

It’s rounded off with a lane-centring system that follow lanes well. The car is hesitant to apply strong steering force around tighter bends, but the system is competent enough to be reliable almost everywhere else.

Otherwise, everything’s largely as you’d expect for a Corolla. Refinement is good but not outstanding, with road and wind noise kept at acceptable but not low levels.

The 16-inch wheels of the SX variant allow for tyres with more compliant sidewalls, which iron out minor bumps like tram tracks better than the 18s on the top-spec ZR. This contributes to better overall ride comfort and makes the SX ideal for everyday commuting.

The Corolla’s electric mode is also perfect for lower-speed, inner-city environments, making it a convincing all-rounder so long as you don’t have to carry lots of cargo.

Its simple driver assist systems also mean there are no beeps and bongs, and we’re happy to report the car didn’t annoy us at all.

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

The Corolla is offered in three grades – Ascent Sport, SX, and ZR.

2025 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport equipment highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Space-saver spare wheel
• Automatic bi-LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Heated, power-folding mirrors
• LED daytime running lights and tail lights
• Cloth upholstery
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen (sedan)
• 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen (hatch)
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay
  • Wired Android Auto
  • DAB+ digital radio
  • Satellite navigation
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• Rear seat reminder
• 6-speaker sound system
• Air-conditioning
• Toyota Connected Services (12-month subscription)
• Keyless entry and start

Corolla SX adds:

• 7.0-inch driver cluster display
• LED fog lights
• Electric parking brake
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel, shifter
• Wireless phone charger
• USB charging port
• Satellite navigation
• Auto-folding side mirrors
• Keyless entry and start
• Privacy glass
• Remote climate control pre-conditioning

Corolla ZR adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• 9-speaker JBL sound system
• Front sports seats
• 8-way power driver’s seat incl. lumbar
• Leatherette seat accents
• Heated front seats
• Head-up display
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Ambient lighting
• Electric sunroof (sedan)

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

Is the Toyota Corolla safe?

Toyota Corolla vehicles built from January 1, 2025 are ‘unrated’ by independent auto safety body ANCAP, as the five-star rating it awarded in 2018 has expired.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian, Cyclist, Motorcycle detection
  • Junction assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Emergency steering assist
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane Trace Assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Reversing camera
• Safe exit assist

SX and up add:

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rear cross-traffic alert

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How much does the Toyota Corolla cost to run?

The Corolla is backed by Toyota Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which extends to seven years for the engine and driveline provided the car is serviced on time and within the Japanese brand’s national dealer network.

To see how the Toyota Corolla stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Toyota Corolla SX Hybrid hatch

The Corolla continues to justify its segment-leading status, even among a sea of strong rivals and keen newcomers.

There’s a degree of familiarity that makes it easy for just about any driver to feel comfortable behind the wheel, which is also true for most other modern Toyotas. It’s this that makes the Corolla attractive for a broad range of Aussie car buyers, who after living with the car for more than a few days will start to see real benefits for their wallets.

While the composed ride and confident handling will be a bonus for many, reliable safety and multimedia tech and nice-feeling interior touch points will make long-term ownership easier. As you’d expect from Toyota, build quality is top-notch and, even though our tester had been abused by many journalists, we had no material quality concerns to speak of either.

All that makes for a car that’s easy to recommend, since the hybrid system alone is enough to win tangible brownie points over its direct rivals. Of course, a lower asking price would further improve it, since a sub-$30,000 Corolla would be a proper commuter bargain these days.

Other than that, the 12th-gen Corolla hasn’t worsened with age, and the SX continues to hit a sweet spot for many.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Toyota Corolla. Click here to get a great deal.

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: Explore the Toyota Corolla showroom