Toyota Corolla Hatchback

1.8 Hybrid Excel 5dr CVT [Bi-tone] [2026]

We feel a tad sorry for Toyota. It is a fab firm that makes everyday cars for everyday people – quietly, unassumingly, and without a hint of fanfare.

But that can easily lull you into thinking its cars aren’t actually very good, or forgettable, or both.

And none of the above does Toyota any justice at all.

After all, it's one of the most reliable automotive brands on the planet, and produces cars that are superbly economical and generous in terms of standard equipment.

The Corolla, then, surely fits that definition better than any other Toyota – certainly today.

And one thing that proves our point is that it's probably completely lost on you just how many years this car has been around.

It outdates many of us, having first launched way back in 1966 - the year England won the World Cup! Yes, that's right; next year, it'll be celebrating its 60th anniversary, albeit with a long gap that saw it discontinued in the UK from 2007 to 2019.

The Corolla has taken on quite a few forms over the decades: fastback, coupe, saloon, and is now available in hatchback and estate versions in the United Kingdom, and we’re interested in the hatchback today.

It is now in its 12th generation, too – this current model was launched in 2018 and underwent a facelift in 2023 – and it features a fifth-generation hybrid powertrain.

Minor tweaks for the current year include revised paint jobs and newly designed alloy wheels, as well as the ushering in of more environmentally friendly materials to the car.

Is the Toyota Corolla finally ready to come out of its shell and tell the world it's a great car? We have really high hopes – so let's find out.