Toyota Corolla Touring – time traveller

‘IT’S getting better all the time’ was an infectiously catchy lyric from The Beatles’ seminal 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band, hailed by many critics as the greatest ever recorded.

The same sentiment could reasonably be applied to the Toyota Corolla, a model that has evolved to become the world’s best-selling automotive nameplate with 50 million cars sold over seven decades.

Toyota holds great store by its ‘kaizen’ principle of continuous improvement, something that has seen the Corolla keep pace with changing customer tastes through to its current 12^th generation.

The latest 2025 Corolla and its Touring Sport estate sibling models are all British-built at the company’s Burnaston plant near Derby and all feature 1.8-litre petrol hybrid engines supplied by its factory in Deeside, North Wales.

Of the two, both of which are attractive in their own right, it’s our tested Touring model that has greater appeal given its elegant, low-slung profile and the fact that it’s also an estate car.

These refreshed models include Toyota’s 10.5-inch Smart Connect+ infotainment touchscreen placed high on the dashboard with conventional dial controls for air con and audio operation.

There are also enhanced features for the company’s safety and driver assistance systems plus new wheel designs, headlights, upholsteries and colour options.

Not surprisingly the lightweight fifth generation hybrid set-up (the power comes from the petrol engine boosted by an electric motor) is the best from Toyota so far.

Press the Start button, engage the CVT auto gearbox and the Corolla eases quietly away on electric power with little more than a hum.

Provided there’s sufficient charge in the battery it can potter happily through the suburbs until more power is needed, which is when the petrol engine kicks in.

Although officially named Touring Sport this isn’t really a sporty vehicle, the emphasis is much more on a smooth comfortable ride for all occupants, which is pretty much guaranteed with the Corolla.

Total power from the 1.8-litre system is 138bhp, so you’re looking at a fair acceleration figure of 0 62mph in 7.7 seconds, while economy is a strongpoint at an average 61.4 miles per gallon.

Switching between the drive modes of Eco, Normal and Sport makes a noticeable difference, the latter mode weighting up the steering and sharpening the dynamics and acceleration.

Move inside and there’s plenty of room for tall adults both up front and in the rear where three can sit in a row with little or no discomfort for a centre passenger.

Oddments stowage is useful too with a glovebox, door bins, a rear armrest with two cup holders, cubbies, trays and another pair of cup holders in the central console.

As for the boot, there’s 596 litres of luggage capacity and a cavernous 1,725 litres with the 60:40 split-fold rear seats flipped flat.

All models (from £32,145 for Icon trim) come well equipped to include the likes of multiple active safety aids, dual-zone climate control, auto headlights, heated front seats, a rear-view camera, 16-inch alloy wheels and parking sensors.

Opting for our tested Excel variant, top of the four trim grades, adds goodies like a head-up display, premium JBL sound system, leather upholstery, machined 18-inch alloys, a blind spot monitor, a smartphone charging pad and adaptive high beam headlights.

It’s a compelling proposition for anyone seeking a smart spacious estate with low running costs, proven reliability, solid build quality and a touch of style – at a genuinely reasonable price.