Anthony on Autos: 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid XLE Sedan

by Anthony Fongaro - photos by Toyota - 09/12/2023

We have to talk about the Toyota Corolla. No, don’t close out of this! For years, the Corolla was one of Toyota’s best-selling cars. As a Toyota, it’s gone through the same changes as its more popular brother, the Corolla Cross. Surprise surprise, that means that the Corolla can come in a hybrid. Usually, a hybrid version of a vehicle gives far superior gas mileage at the sacrifice of acceleration and a louder engine drone. Is that the same for the Corolla, and is it still as bland as ever? Let’s take a look!

Although the Corolla has generations behind its belt, the styling for the sedan has never been too extreme. Same for this 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. My test car was painted in a nice shade of gray along with 16-inch alloy wheels. The front lights are slick and angular, but there are plenty of fake vents along the grill. Being a hybrid, the Toyota logo is in blue. From the side, it’s nice to see a small sedan. It’s well-proportioned with large enough door mirrors. When you see the rear, yeah, it’s bland. There are some badges for the name and Toyota, but it is uninspired. I’ll say the Corolla Sedan is non-offensive.

Moving inside, this is a Corolla, so there are plenty of hard plastics. With a gray interior, the cabin isn’t inviting, but mostly everything is where you’d expect it to be. The seats are supportive enough for long journeys, and this model came with strong heated seats. Steering wheel controls include media buttons along with buttons for the adaptive cruise controls. Since this is the XLE, it comes with an eight-inch infotainment system with six speakers. The graphics aren’t the best, especially for the reversing camera. Thankfully, this does come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An optional JBL nine-speaker audio system with a subwoofer sounds much better than the standard six speakers.

Not a surprise, the rear seats are small. I wouldn’t use this as an Uber. The trunk space is pretty much on par with small sedans. If you want more space, there is the hatchback or the Cross crossover. I’m glad that Toyota stuck with tried-and-true buttons and knobs for the climate control. They’re very easy to use on the move. Dials are digital, and you can see the energy flow and distribution in front of you and in the infotainment system. I’m also glad that the Corolla Hybrid comes with an auto-hold feature for the brake. Makes it easier to drive when you’ve had knee and femur surgery.

Now for the engine. Hybrid Corollas get a 1.8-liter hybrid inline-4 producing 134 horsepower/100kW and 156 lb-ft/122 Nm. With front-wheel-drive and an eCVT, this rockets the Corolla Hybrid from 0-60 MPH in 10 seconds. Yes, 10 seconds. Take this with a grain of salt. I never had to go from 0-60 MPH. I did a lot of 0-30 MPH and sometimes 0-45 MPH, but I never thought the hybrid really needed that much power. That’s because this is more of a city car, or will just cruise on the highway, eating up the miles. As you’d expect, handling isn’t the best. Plenty of understeer and the Corolla Hybrid doesn’t enjoy going into any corners with vigor.

This is a hybrid, so it’s all about fuel economy. When you have to accelerate, the engine is quite noisy. That said, once you get up to speed, The Corolla Hybrid has Toyota’s safety suite of adaptive cruise control, lane keep monitoring, and blind spot monitoring. As a hybrid, this had some massive MPG. On the highway, I was hitting 62 MPG! The trip computer was showing over 500 miles of range. Those are fantastic numbers. Even when I was in stop-and-go traffic or driving to the train, I wasn’t dropping below 50 MPG. It may not be a quick car, but it sure is efficient! 

Time for pricing! As a top-of-the-line Hybrid XLE sedan, the starting price is $26,600. Add an additional $675 for the JBL speak which I would recommend, and the total price is around $28,000. Here’s a surprise: I enjoyed my time with the Corolla Hybrid. Bet you didn’t see that coming. Yes, it’s plastic, but the overall experience was pleasant. It’s easy to maneuver and I never thought this needs more power. When you’re getting over 60 MPG, it’s hard to even get one of the tick marks down on the fuel gauge.

Is the Corolla boring? Well, yes. That’s the point. Corolla buyers, especially the Corolla Hybrid, aren’t looking for an expensive vehicle. $28,000 may seem like a lot, but prices for all cars have been steadily increasing. You could get away with saving a few grand with the SE which is a few grand cheaper. I would recommend that one. At the end of the time, the mission of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is fuel economy, and it achieves it. It may not be as sporty as a Honda Civic or have the tech of a Hyundai/Kia product, but it does the job. That’s exactly what it’s made for. It’s honest about what it is, and that’s a nice thing.