Notice anything different about these corollas? No, we’re not talking about the discreetly modified headlights and grille introduced today in Japan. The compact car eschews Toyota’s front badge to make way for a capital “C”. The JDM model has had it for quite a while and the 2023MY sticks to the model-only badge. The tailgate retains the corporate logo, with blue accents front and rear indicating the electrified powertrain.
The twelfth generation has been around since 2018 and Toyota is giving it a little boost in its home market. Without going into details, we’re told that the 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain has an upgraded electric motor while the 1.5- and 2.0-litre petrol models have revised engines offering better fuel economy. Additionally, new body colors are available, while some exterior details have been updated.
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Customers in Japan can upgrade from the eight-inch touchscreen to the new 10.5-inch infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay. At an additional cost, Wi-Fi connectivity is available while some trim levels benefit from standard front and rear parking sensors. An expanded range of safety kits are offered with the change of model year, adding Proactive Driving Assistance which helps the driver avoid getting too close to pedestrians, bicycles and parked vehicles by guiding and automatically applying the brakes.
The 2023 Corolla in the land of the rising sun supports over-the-air updates to improve safety features even after the vehicle is purchased. Speaking of which, the pre-collision system can now detect oncoming vehicles when turning right at an intersection and pedestrians crossing the road when turning right or left.
Pricing for the Corolla sedan starts at 1,990,000 yen and goes up to 2,998,000 yen ($13,700 to $20,700). The wagon known as the Touring sells for 2,070,000 yen to 3,048,000 yen ($14,200 to $21,000) while the hatchback sold as the Sport can be had from 2,200,000 yen to 2,890 000 yen ($15,100 to $20,000) depending on specifications.
