ESC for Corolla sedan too

TOYOTA’S vehicle stability control (VSC) system is now standard across the four-door Corolla sedan range, bringing it in line with many of its key rivals and the upgraded five-door Corolla hatchback line-up released last November.

However, while first examples of the safer small sedan entered production in Japan in December and are now available at Australian Toyota dealerships, the entry-level Corolla Ascent sedan misses out on the front-side airbags now fitted as standard across the hatch range.

Nor does the 2010 Corolla sedan score the revised front and rear-end styling that distinguishes the 2010 Corolla hatch, which unlike the sedan now also comes standard at base level with Bluetooth and USB connectivity and a new steering wheel with multi-information switch.

There are no price increases associated with the addition of ESC, which was already standard in the Corolla Conquest hatch and sedan, Levin ZR hatch and Ultima sedan.



Previously, Toyota’s VSC stability and TRC traction control systems were available as an option on base Corolla Ascent hatch/sedan and Levin SX hatch models, as part of a $1500 advanced safety pack that also comprised front-side, side curtain and driver's knee airbags.

As with the 2010 hatch, the safety pack for the Corolla sedan now costs $500 on Ascent models and is standard from Conquest and Ultima level.

While it no longer includes ESC, the safety pack continues to comprise side curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag and, in the case of the sedan, front-side airbags, which are standard on all hatches.

Toyota Australia advises the four-door Corolla will receive “some” cosmetic upgrades from late in the second quarter of this year, but the sedan looks set to continue with an inferior base safety specification to the hatch.

Australia’s version of Corolla – the world’s top-selling car with more than 35 million sold worldwide – has been fully imported from Japan since 2000, the first year in which the Corolla became Australia’s most popular small car.

About 1.1 million Corollas have been sold in Australia, accounting for 22 per cent of all Toyota sales. The Corolla recorded its 10th straight year as the segment leader here last year, when 39,013 examples were purchased, making it Toyota’s best-selling model in 2009.

The Corolla was Australia’s best-selling vehicle bar none last July, August and October, but so far this year has been outsold by the Mazda3.

Meantime, Toyota last week also announced a new range of genuine accessories for its new Camry Hybrid, including an anti-theft locknut for its standard alloy wheels, headlight covers, bonnet protector, seat covers, 60kg roof racks, front parking sensors and a FollowMe in-dash navigation and multimedia system, regular and slimline weathershields and a low-profile rear spoiler (both of which are pictured above).