We thought since the Corolla Altis is the most awaited car in this segment, we should review the Toyota Corolla Altis without any delay. We feel the car looks amazing, inspired by its elder and much more expensive sibling , the Camry. However we are a bit disappointed with the rear. It looks a wee bit like the old Corolla and you can mistake the new Altis to be the old Corolla if you see the rear first. Check out the big photo gallery of the Corolla Altis after the jump.
All the variants in the Altis range get high intensity discharge lamps. The rear tail lamps have LEDs. The car has some very interesting small touches. For instance when you open the mirror on the sun blinder, the light above it gets switched on automatically . There are puddle lamps on the front two doors, scuff plates and two glove boxes. The boot is decent enough. Alloys look good and like all Toyota’s the built quality is fantastic. The gear lever feels good to hold and the wipers are somewhat like the Civic with flat blades. The Corolla Altis comes with 195/65/15 Bridgestone Turanza ER300 tubeless steel belted radials. On overall appeal it doesn’t beat the Civic, but a test drive of the Corolla Altis will mostly make us think otherwise. Test Drive Review to come soon.
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September 7th, 2008 at 2:22 am
i had already posted my first impression of the car acouple weeks after the prelaunch. there are good & bad points when comparing with the erstwhile competitors and extrapolating the upgrades/new-launches in the price bracket awaited.
1. the overall design does not seem to be extra-ordinary. toyota tried a safer way and fiddled with the exterior by cloning (tried?!!!) it with its bigger sibling. They have not really made much exciting.simply, because it is a predictable shift in looks. Camry is still far ahead. (and so is civic)
2. The length/wheel base remained unaltered and thus provided toyota to reuse the entire chassis with bit of readjustments. The chassis & suspension’s behaviour is yet to be seen.
3. Except the front-dash, rest of the trims and space remains the same.
4. Rear end is not that awe inspiring.
Now the positives;
1. The Top two variants 1.8GL & 1.8GV comes with HID auto adjustable lamps for much brighter night illumination & power washers.
2. Power diven adjustable driver seats for the 2 variants.
3. Sequential shift AT in 1.8V
4. Flat rear floor (like civic)
5. Engine power to match the competition
6. Tilt with telescopic steering (taller guys will have little more legroom)
7. Better paint finish & looks more solid than the earlier ‘flimsy’ feel.
8. Again, an executive class.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Thanks Sanjeev for your opinion. I can’t agree with you more. I think the new Corolla is based on the old one and hence Toyota is able to price it well. In America the Corolla xRS has the exteriors of the Altis and interiors of the old Corolla so there is no doubt that Toyota is using the old car as a base. The rear is very disappointing and it just does not come near the Civic in terms of looks and appeal.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:32 am
I don’t understand why US folks don’t get this version?
September 12th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I guess maybe the US Corolla is better
October 7th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
The Toyota, never use to launch an ” all to gether new model”. It tends to improve the earlier one. All the generations of corolla are such improvements. Thus old owners never get frustrated, so far parts and services concerns. Simultaneously, new touches, which do not basically affects the old model are being launched. Therefore you never impress of the revision of models. But the built quality and the engine performance….. you said about it !