1.8 hybrid engine is considered as a new engine to my definition since the existing engine in the Corolla is a 1.8 NA. It's surprising there is hardly any information or leaks about the new Corolla model when it's due to launch in 1 or 2 months time.

Called 3 Toyota dealers this morning. Two informed no more stock throughout Malaysia, one dealer informed limited stock and will check if there's any available, and he just texted me no more available. If you know of any dealers that still have the high spec 1.8G in Celestite Gray for sale, can let me know.

Also, it was mentioned that the new Corolla will just be a facelift, no hybrid engine as it will still use the same old engine. If it's just adding a few USB ports here and there and some other useless features added here and there, I'd say forget it. I'll go look for a Mazda 3 although comfort-wise it will lose to the Corolla.

Yes, RM8k is the standard rebate from what I was told. However, the highest discount (standard RM8k + SA rebate) is said to be RM12k at this point. Though, it's no more use since there's no more Corolla model for sale already.

Has any Corolla (current model) owner here compared the Corolla sedan to the Corolla Cross non-hybrid? Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the differences between the 2 vehicles mainly in these areas:-

1. Acceleration power. Is it true that the Corolla sedan has better acceleration as claimed due to lighter wieght? I noticed that the difference in weight is minimal. The SUV is only 40kg heavier than the sedan.

2. Handling and suspension. Which is more comfortable? Almost the same? For long journey comfort, which is more comfortable?

3. Rear space and legroom. The rear space of the sedan is roomier and larger than the SUV on paper and real life right?

4. I noticed the Corolla sedan comes with ECO and SPORTS mode. Does the Sports mode contribute to a sportier driving dynamics of the Corolla when compared to normal mode vs. the Corolla Cross non-hybrid especially GR Sport?

5. Any other meaningful or worthwhile differences worth mentioning other than one is SUV while the other is sedan? Things like SUV is higher and sedan is lower, ground clearance is higher with SUV etc. those are already a given.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 4 2023, 01:41 PM

Yes, I noticed on that too in the specifications, thanks. I presume the double wishbone at the rear suspension of the Corolla sedan is a superior setup that will improve handling but I'm not sure if it brings any meaningful differences in real life driving. If yes, do people find the Corolla sedan to have improved cornering capabilities during spirited drives when compared to the Corolla Cross, and in what sense it is "better"? From what I gather, there is little to zero difference between torsion beam and double wishbone in normal or sedate driving conditions.

Also, the Corolla Cross GR Sports come with "performance bracing" added to the vehicle although it has a torsion beam at the rear. Hence, I'm not sure how do all these add up.

1. Double Wishbone without bracing (Corolla sedan)
2. Torsion beam with bracing (Corolla Cross GR Sport)
3. Torsion beam without bracing (Corollas Cross normal versions)

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 4 2023, 02:12 PM

When I test drove both Corolla Cross hybrid and Corolla GR Sport, I can't derive any meaningful difference between the two vehicles although the GR Sport has some mechanical improvements added to it (performance bracing, stiffer tuned front and rear suspension, EPS with Sports ECU). Either the differences are negligible, or the test drive conditions are not conducive, the short test-drive routes are just around the showroom with many vehicles all mostly crawling at tortoise speeds so there isn't any chance to do any spirited drives other than on certain long stretches where hard acceleration can be evaluated. That's about it, hard acceleration testing where the power can be evaluated. There isn't any opportunity to do any hard cornering to gauge the other improved aspects of the suspension and steering of the GR Sports.

In summary, I wonder if there are people who have experienced both Corolla sedan and Corolla Cross in more favourable conditions or perhaps owning both cars and have extensive hands-on experience with these vehicles.

Yes I am aware of that. However, it's really going to be a Toyota either the Cross GR Sport or Corolla sedan. 1.8-litre engine of the non-hybrid GR Sport is adequately powerful to me. Performance is not the main criteria for me, interior Mazda may win but I'm going with Toyota's dependable reliability.

Mazda CX30 High+ is about RM150k, not far off from Corolla Cross but still a bit more expensive. Trying to keep it below RM145k, the lower the better.

Also, the looks of the Cross GR Sport has grown on me especially the revised front grille which makes the overall vehicle look much better now compared to the normal versions of the Cross, coupled with the albino (clear) lights at the rear. I am aware the Mazda CX30 has much better classy looking interior. However, I'm not too fond of the exterior of the CX30 particularly the big piece of black cladding all round the vehicle around the tyres which in my view made the car look less appealing and classy.

I also feel that the wow factor of the Mazda CX30 / CX5 in terms of exterior looks and design has somewhat worn off. When the original CX5 was firstly launched many years ago, they looked good, and after the facelift model came out and then CX30 came out, they looked even better. However, fast forward today, the design looks a bit "old" now, perhaps seeing the vehicle for too long as it became common already. Unlike the new Mazda 3 it still looks good though. Also, the CX30 looks a bit small to me when I look at it several times when driving on the road, the last being yesterday. Not too sure why it looked smaller than its actual size but perhaps the lower height made it look smaller when compared to say Toyota Corolla Cross which looked larger. I now prefer the looks of the Toyota Corolla Cross especially GR Sport to the Mazda CX30 solely on the exterior. The new design from Toyota has been much improved in terms of looks and elegance.

The Mazda 3 sedan looks good both exterior and interior and if I were to pick a Mazda, it would be the Mazda 3 sedan and not the CX30. Nevertheless, the choice is more or less confirmed, which is a Toyota.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 5 2023, 10:23 AM

Thanks. I am actually a little half-hearted in the search of the current non-facelift Corolla sedan since the Corolla Cross GR Sport now looks more appealing and is a newer model just launched earlier this year even though the current Corolla was sold at a massive discount. When I was at the Toyota showroom earlier, I told the sales person that apart from the standard RM8k discount, there are sales people who gave an additional RM4k discount so the total cash rebate is RM12k. He told me if there's one available for sale, he could sell it to me at RM15k discount as he has sold some at that price!! Don't know if that's true or not, may be just sweet talk.

Although the new upcoming Corolla sedan is still an option 2nd choice to the Cross GR Sport, I"m curious to know about the changes as small or trivial as they may be, and also the final price since being a CKD I can't imagine the model to be sold at the same price not to mention higher than the current CBU Thailand Corolla. It can't make any sense for CKD model to be priced the same or higher than CBU model.

We're actually hoping that there would be a cash rebate from Toyota for the month of August or September for either Corolla Cross GR Sport or new Corolla sedan, hence the wait. If there's none, we'll likely proceed as planned.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 6 2023, 04:12 PM

By the way, for recent buyers of new Toyota vehicles, may I ask what is the current or lowest interest rate you've got, and from which bank? I was told that the minimum load period is 2 years (I wanted 1 year but that's not possible) with minimum RM40k or 50k loan.

I emailed them, not once but twice last month to inquire on the new Corolla model and to notify that Toyota website still shows the June (and now July) promo for the Corolla sedan when it's not available for sale anymore after I inquired at few showrooms. All sales people mentioned it's out of stock throughout Malaysia.

This is the response I've got. I don't think they care anymore. Although the Corolla model is not available for sale anymore since last month, they still show the Corolla model on the Toyota website.

Greetings from Toyota Malaysia and thank you for your e-mail.
Kindly be informed that we are not able to confirm this information at the moment.
Feel free to visit our website for our current model line-up and for the latest news on any new model introduction, if any - click here.
We hope the above addresses your queries sufficiently.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682) should you require any further assistance with regards to your Toyota in the future.

Thank you and best regards,
Amalina
Customer Support Team

Thank you for your reply.
We sincerely regret to inform you that our stocks for Corolla Altis are limited at the moment and depending on stocks availability of each outlet.
Feel free to visit/contact any Toyota Sales Outlet about your interest so that our Sales Advisors can get in touch with you to provide further information (e.g. trade-in, viewing/test drive, down payment, on-going promotions/rebates, documentation, financing options, Customer Waiting Period @CWP, etc). Click here - Toyota Sales Locator
We hope the above addresses your queries sufficiently.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682) should you require any further assistance with regards to your Toyota in the future.

Thank you and best regards
Amalina
Customer Support Team

As of today, Corolla model is still shown on Toyota's website. Toyota doesn't bother to remove the model from the website and show a teaser of the new upcoming Corolla model to notify people of the facelift replacement model. They should have updated the information since June last month.

So the prices for the Corolla new model are already published on the website, but there is no information on the changes? I noticed the brochure of the Corolla is still the old one based on the current (old) model. Not proper as the information for the NEW Corolla both spec and price should be published at the same time.

Anyway, I noticed the price of the high spec NEW Corolla model has been increased to RM147,800 now. If I'm not mistaken, the current(OLD) high-spec Corolla model was sold at RM142,800? With the RM15k rebate it's RM127,800 for current (OLD) high spec model. So this new model is now RM20k more expensive than the current model, and the changes are still unknown. Not good I would think and surprised that CKD locally is more expensive than CBU Thailand.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 7 2023, 11:51 AM

The previous page ZeneticX mentioned rumours are the new Corolla will be CKD. Since your SA told you it's still CBU from Thailand, then the rumour may be a false one. If the new Corolla is still CBU from Thailand, then it's acceptable. However, the fact that remains is the current (old) Corolla which is not available for sale anymore was sold at RM20k cheaper (after discount) when compared to the new Corolla.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 7 2023, 04:07 PM

Several test-drive on Youtube revealed the current latest Corolla under TNGA platform to be vastly improved in handling whereas the old Corolla or Toyota cars in general are only good in comfort (soft suspension) but lacking in handling. The latest Toyota models with TNGA platform were said to have been noticeably improved in areas of handling while maintaining comfort. In one of the test drive videos of YS Khong up Genting Highlands, he has made this remark. He gave very good reviews on the Corolla when he brought it up Genting Highlands. Anyway, I don't think he ever gave any poor reviews as all the vehicles he tested all handled good or great to him.

The GR Sport package of the new Corolla doesn't look appealing or good value to me. The only mechanical tuning or difference is in the suspension while the rest are all cosmetic, unlike the Corolla Cross GR Sport where there are 3 mechanical changes or tuning in the suspension, steering and additional bracing at the bottom of the vehicle. The additional premium of RM5k between the GR version of the Corolla Cross and Corolla is the same but the Cross gets more mechanical differences/tuning. Perhaps the body kit of the new Corolla sedan is more substantial than the Cross and costs higher.

Haven't seen the Corolla sedan GR Sport in real life but the normal versions look good as it is. Hopefully they don't ruin the looks of the vehicle to make it like a racer boy car with the body kit. In my mind, Toyota did a great job with the Corolla Cross GR Sport as it looked better on the exterior than the normal Cross version mainly due to the revised grille at the front.

Just to update. The Toyota salesman at the PJ branch had called me today to inform that there is a unit of Corolla (high spec) in white that is still available at a RM11k discount. First come first serve. If anyone is interested I will post the contact here on this thread.

We have decided to go with Corolla Cross GR Sport so won't be getting the current Corolla even with the 11k discount.

RM11k first come first serve. White. If you are still interested I can forward the contact to you. PJ laser Motor.

Not sure if display car. I didn't ask but likely not a display because there isn't any white display in the showroom when I went there. I suspect rejected loan unit.

Details sent to your inbox. You may contact him to inquire.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 10 2023, 08:52 PM

28th August