Toyota Corolla review

There are four trims available on the Corolla – Icon, Design, GR Sport and Excel – and each one is available with the 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre powertrain setups. 

Prices for the 1.8 Icon start at £30,795, then it’s £33,395 for the Design, £34,700 for the GR Sport and £35,795 for the range topping Excel model. It’s around a £1.8k uplift in each trim to go for the bigger engine. 

Looking for finance options? If you go for Toyota’s PCP as an example, a 2.0 Design model would cost you around £510 a month over 36 months/30,000 miles with a £3,500 deposit. 

What are the trims like?

Icon's standard equipment includes 16in alloys, LED headlights, heated front seats, dual zone aircon, 12.3in digital dash, 10.5in infotainment with wireless Apple/Android connectivity, wireless charging, reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors. Phew.

Design adds 17in wheels, rear privacy glass, auto folding door mirrors, auto wipers, ambient interior lighting and the option of a panoramic roof. Then you’re onto GR Sport: don't be thrown by the badge here, there's no extra performance element thrown in. You just get a flurry of GR-badged bits for a sportier look.

Top-spec Excel introduces 18in wheels, adaptive headlights, a part-leather interior upholstery, head-up display and the option of a bi-tone paint finish.

Which spec should I go for?

We'd certainly be tempted by the larger 2.0 engine if your budget stretches that far, as it's noticeably faster than the 1.8 and doesn’t impact hugely on economy.

Meanwhile Icon trim comes equipped enough to keep most people happy – there’s no difference in interior tech nowadays unlike Corollas of the past. And it’s the only trim that keeps you on the 16in wheels, which help the ride and efficiency.