Clash Of 2019?

There's considerable hype around the introduction of the new Toyota Corolla hatchback in South Africa, but will it be fit to compete against the segment-leading Volkswagen Golf? Toyota Corolla vs Volkswagen Golf - it feels strange writing that, but it’s a clash that's coming, and soon too. It’s hard to answer that question with confidence at this point as we have yet to drive the new Corolla hatchback and specification and pricing for our market remains unknown for now. We can, however, look ahead to the future and imagine what might be, or what will not be for that matter too. So, in that vein, here is a quick rundown of how we see this fight going down. The Corolla has a decisively sporty look and will appeal to the more youthful buyer. Built on the same TNGA platform that underpins the C-HR and Prius, the Corolla hatchback has a sporty, low-slung stance with a large, gaping grille which adds to its presence. The sleek LED headlights have integrated daytime running lights while the curvaceous rear-end is complemented with slim LED tail lights.

Wheel sizes are expected to range between 16-inches up to 18-inches on the higher spec versions. Overall, we think the Corolla hatchback looks very good and depending on your taste, it might even trump the (more conservative) Golf in terms of exterior styling. That said, with its sportier R-Line package applied, the Golf is a handsome machine, too. The sophisticated Golf is more conservative in design but it's been a recipe for success for Volkswagen. In comparison, the Golf is built on Volkswagen’s MQB platform and adopts a more grown up, mature look based on a successful styling recipe which has made the Golf exceptionally popular worldwide. LED headlights are standard on higher spec derivatives (GTD, GTI and R) while being optional on lesser Golf derivatives. Wheel sizes range from 15-inches to 19-inches, depending on the derivative you choose. The Corolla is likely to offer more features as standard which will improve its value proposition against the Golf.

The Corolla hatchback features a seemingly neat interior design and upholstery options will likely include cloth, leather or both depending on the specification. The South African market will likely receive an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a full-colour 4.2-inch multi-information display. Other key features for the Corolla hatchback include an electronic parking brake, USB and auxiliary audio inputs, a 12V accessory socket and 60/40-split rear seats. Higher-spec models could feature dual-zone aircon and smart entry and start. South African specification (and pricing), however, has yet to be confirmed. An upmarket and modern design in the Golf gives it visual clout but many features are extra cost options. The Golf’s interior appears to be more premium-looking in its design with a wide range of infotainment options on offer, including a top-end, 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system which is optional. Like the Corolla, the Golf is offered with cloth and leather upholstery, depending on the derivative you choose.

Many of the nice-to-have features for the Golf are offered as options though. And that is where the Corolla might pip the Golf - in the consumer’s pocket. By potentially offering more features as standard, cash-strapped buyers are likely to appreciate the potential added value on offer in the Corolla. The Corolla's 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine from the C-HR should offer reasonable performance. While Toyota South Africa has yet to confirm local specification for the Corolla hatchback, it is likely that our market will initially receive a 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine (familiar from the CH-R) with 85 kW and 185 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission with rev-matching technology sounds like the one to have while a new Direct Shift CVT with a 10-speed sequential shift mode is expected to be offered locally too. We wonder how it might compare to the Golf's excellent DSG transmission? A 1.8-litre Atkinson Cycle petrol-electric hybrid version is also on the cards.