Toyota Corolla hybrid 2018 review: snapshot

The Toyota Corolla 2018 hatchback range is now available with a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain in every variant.

Previously buyers were only able to access a sole hybrid version, but now there's the choice between the Ascent Sport ($25,870), SX ($28,370) or ZR ($31,870).

Every Toyota Corolla hybrid model has a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric drivetrain that combines Toyota's 'e-CVT' automatic transmission with a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack and an electric motor with maximum outputs of 53kW/163Nm. Combined maximum power is 90kW. Fuel consumption is class-leading, rated at 4.2L/100km.

So, what do you get in each grade of Corolla hybrid? Here's a rundown.

The Ascent Sport has LED headlights (with auto high-beam), LED daytime running lights, LED tail-lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch touchscreen media system with Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, voice recognition, USB/auxiliary connectivity and a six-speaker stereo, push-button start, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control.

All Ascent Sport models come with a plastic steering wheel with audio controls, but at least there's an electric park brake and a 4.2-inch colour info display for the driver.

Safety has been a big focus for Toyota, with every automatic Corolla fitted with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection (day and night) and bicyclist detection (day), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, speed sign recognition, active cornering control (torque vectoring by braking), a reversing camera and seven airbags (dual front, front side, curtain and driver's knee).

The next step up is the SX, which adds fog-lights, privacy glass, a 'premium steering wheel', a wireless phone charger, DAB+/DAB digital radio and satellite navigation with live traffic updates. The SX has two USB ports (one front, one rear), and blind-spot monitoring is added to this grade and the one above.

Flagship ZR grade versions look the sportiest of the lot, with a set of 18-inch alloy wheels adding some presence. Inside there are heated front sports seats, leather/'ultrasuede' seat trim, driver's lumbar adjustment, a 7.0-inch driver info display, ambient lighting, a head-up display and a JBL sound system with eight speakers. ZR models also gain electro-chromatic (auto-dimming) rear-view mirror and high-grade bi-LED headlamps.

ZR hybrids have the biggest boot capacity of all Corolla hatch models, with 333 litres of cargo space (VDA). The rest of the hybrid models have a space-saver spare wheel, which impacts boot space to the tune of more than a hundred litres (217L).