The new Toyota Corolla has proven popular with more than 13,000 reaching the UK’s roads since its launch in March this year. The British-built Hatchback and Touring Sports, plus the Corolla Saloon, are now getting a series of upgrades and are being joined by new model versions for 2020.

Significantly, Corolla becomes exclusively a hybrid range in the UK with the discontinuation of the 1.2T turbo petrol engine. The new line-up carries forward Toyota’s improved 120bhp 1.8-litre system and the new, 181bhp 2.0-litre hybrid which made its debut with this model. This dual hybrid strategy is also applied to the new C-HR crossover.

Corolla’s early success since its launch has continued with its election by international judges as one of seven finalists for the 2020 European Car of the Year title, an award which will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show on 2 March next year.

New Corolla GR Sport

Corolla is the latest model to benefit from the influence of Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s global championship-winning motorsport arm, with the introduction of new GR Sport models. These feature design and specification details designed to give the car a wider, more planted and powerful look and a sportier cabin ambience.

The dedicated styling elements include a sharper design for the lower centre bumper section, a wide honeycomb mesh pattern for the front grille and piano black surrounds for the grille and fog lights. There is a black insert in the rocker panels and the new 18-inch black alloy wheels have a contrasting bright machined finish to the tips of each spoke and red GR centre caps (17-inch diameter wheels in the same design are featured on the Touring Sports model). At the rear there is a silver insert in the lower bumper, creating the look of twin tailpipes and a diffuser.

The finishing touches are black backgrounds for Toyota emblems on the bonnet and tailgate, official GR (Gazoo Racing) badging and the option of a new Ash Grey paint finish.

The GR Sport cabin is fitted with sports front seats, upholstered in fabric with a dedicated pinstripe pattern and with seatback and cushion bolsters finished in black and grey synthetic leather. It is also equipped with Toyota’s latest multimedia package, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions for seamless smartphone integration.

The equipment specification matches the Corolla Design grade and further includes a new seven-inch colour TFT multi-information screen with 3D-effect graphics, and a colour head-up display. Other standard features include Toyota Safety Sense, LED headlights, smart entry, rear privacy glass, automatic wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and power-adjustable door mirrors with an auto-folding function.

The new head-up display measures 265 by 70.5mm and presents data clearly in the driver’s line of sight, even in bright light conditions. Brightness and the position of the display can be adjusted using controls on the steering wheel.

Corolla Touring Sports TREK

The new Corolla Touring Sports TREK celebrates a partnership between Toyota and the bicycle manufacturer TREK. It stands apart from the rest of the range with its SUV-influenced look: the suspension has been raised by 20mm and special exterior styling details have been added, including black edging for the front and rear bumpers, silver-finished front and rear under-runs, black wheel arch mouldings and black rocker panels with silver inserts. There’s a new machined/black contrast design for the 17-inch alloy wheels and TREK badging on the tailgate, plus rear privacy glass, a honeycomb-pattern grille and LED headlights.

The interior features further special detailing, including TREK-branded scuff plates, a special two-tone fabric upholstery and subtle wood-finish trim on the dashboard. The specification matches the regular Corolla Design grade, with the addition of a power tailgate with kick sensor. It also adopts the new Toyota multimedia system (see above).

Corolla Excel

For 2020, the Corolla Excel grade has been enhanced with the standard provision of sports seats with black leather upholstery and red accents. The Excel Touring Sports further adds the convenience of a hands-free power tailgate that can be opened using a kick sensor below the rear bumper.

Corolla Saloon

The Corolla Saloon matches its Hatchback and Touring Sports stablemates by introducing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functions as standard on all versions. It’s also available with a new Scarlet Flare paint finish option. The Saloon’s powertrain choice is the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid system.

2020 Corolla range

The new-look Corolla range is available in Icon, Icon Tech, Design, Excel and GR Sport grade for the Hatchback and, with the addition of TREK trim, Touring Sports. The Corolla Saloon, powered by the 1.8-litre hybrid system, is offered in Icon, Icon Tech and Design specifications.

Toyota’s latest multimedia system, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions, is standard on all new Corolla models.

The new line-up is on sale and available for delivery now; GR Sport and TREK model deliveries will commence in January 2020.