Tech and two-tone for 2020 Toyota Corolla update

ALL Toyota Corolla hatch variants will gain Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring when a 2020 model year update arrives in November, bringing with it additional active safety tech on mid- and high-spec SX and ZR variants plus a two-tone paint option and electric driver’s seat adjustment on the ZR.

The sedan version of Toyota’s 12^th-generation Corolla is confirmed to launch around the same time as the updated hatch and is expected to reflect this raised level of standard equipment.

Responding to criticism of the Corolla hatch’s paltry 217 litres of boot space, Toyota will offer a puncture repair kit on the base Ascent Sport petrol in place of the standard full-size spare, liberating an extra 116 litres of space to match the spare-free ZR hybrid range-topper’s 333L. Whether this will be a cost option or not is yet to be confirmed.

Safety tech upgrades on the SX and ZR comprise rear cross-traffic alert and a low-speed ‘parking support brake’ function that works up to 15km/h and can sense static obstacles.

Toyota says the systems prevent collisions by audibly and visually warning the driver then reducing accelerator response and, if necessary, applying the brakes unless cancelled by the driver braking manually.

Petrol and hybrid ZR variants get the option of contrasting black paint to the roof, pillars and spoiler over the Crystal Pearl, Volcanic Red, Oxide Bronze, Silver Pearl and Eclectic Blue premium paint finishes.

Two-tone will also be available with a new metallic option called Feverish Red, which is to be offered (without the black roof) on lower-spec Corollas.

In addition to the new safety tech and available two-tone paint finish, the Corolla ZR also gains eight-way electric adjustment for the driver's seat.

Pricing for the updated Corolla range is yet to be announced and Toyota is yet to indicate whether two-tone paint will carry an additional cost over the premium paint choices that currently command a $450 premium.

The Corolla hatch range is currently priced from $22,870 for the Ascent Sport petrol manual, rising to $31,870 for the automatic ZR hybrid.

Corolla sales to the end of June have slumped 21.5 per cent to 15,019 units in a small car segment that is down 18.1 per cent. The model has fallen behind the Mazda3 (15,215, down 11 per cent) and ceded market share to the Hyundai i30 (14,376 units, down 4.0 per cent)

and Kia Cerato (11,373 units, up 11.2 per cent).