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AUSTRALIA’S bestselling passenger car will finally offer Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), as part of a MY17 Toyota Corolla makeover that also sees a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it facelift for the sedan.
While the cost of the so-called Safety Pack – which also bundles together lane-departure alert and auto high beam on the small-car market leader for the first time – has yet to be finalised for the otherwise-unchanged 2017 hatch (out at the end of this month), it pushes the just-released base Ascent and mid-range SX sedans up by $1500 and $750 respectively.
However, the MY17 sedans cop price hikes of up to $930, with the Ascent manual now starting at $500 more than its 2016 counterpart, at $21,240 before on-road costs. Specifying Safety Pack increases that to $22,740 (though it does also bring alloy wheels), or $24,990 with the optional CVT auto that the vast majority of buyers choose.
Exterior changes on the MY17 sedan run to a more streamlined nose with redesigned headlights, grille, and bumpers, LED tail-light lenses, and extra chrome, while inside the restyled centre stack ushers in different climate control switchgear and rounded air vents.
Rounding out the modifications underneath the MY17 sedan are larger shock absorbers, upgraded body and engine mounts, and an additional rear damper bush to promote a more favourable handling/ride compromise. Furthermore, noise/vibration/harshness levels decrease thanks to more wheel housing insulation and thicker sound-deadening material in the floor.
But with the all-new Holden Astra and Subaru Impreza hitting the scene, as well as the next-generation i30 and Civic hatch just around the corner, it will be interesting to see if the Corolla can maintain its segment sales crown.
2017 Toyota E170 Series II Corolla sedan pricing
Ascent manual: $21,240 (up $500) Ascent CVT: $23,490 (up $500) SX manual: $23,820 (up $830) SX CVT: $26,070 (up $830) ZR CVT: $31,920 (up $930)
