Toyota India today launched the 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis, which is the the third generation of the car launched in India since the brand was launched here in 2003. The car has been expected here ever since the first bits of information about it trickled out sometime in 2012.
The last generation of the Toyota Corolla Altis was launched in India in 2008 and since then has received a facelift to keep it in contention. The new Corolla Altis is an all new car, which hopes to give the likes of the Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Jetta, Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Octavia and Renault Fluence.
Toyota’s reputation for making reliable products started with its introdcution in India in 2003, and has since then been able to sell more than 88,000 units. The previous generation Corolla lost out a lot on sales due to the company taking a long time to give the car an upgrade or a update, creating ample opportunities for rivals to take advantage. 
The 2014 Toyota Corolla has been launched at a good time, most of its rivals are older and they will be replaced/updated only in 2015, the car is much nicer to look at than before, it has got quiet a bit of kit and it still will be backed up Toyota’s reliability. Toyota has also priced the Corolla pretty aggressively, at least the launch prices are aggressive, to give it an advantage over its rivals. Details below:
Price
Diesel Variants
- Altis DJ : Rs. 13.07 Lakh
- Altis DJ (S) : Rs. 13.64 Lakh
- Altis DG : Rs. 15.04 Lakh
- Altis DGL : Rs. 16.68 Lakh
Petrol Variants
- Altis J (S) : Rs. 12.00 lakh
- Altis G : Rs. 13.74 Lakh
- Altis G-CVT : Rs. 15.04 Lakh
- Altis GL : Rs. 15.38 Lakh
- Altis VL-CVT : Rs. 16.89 Lakh
Design
The 2014 Toyota Corolla was one of the first cars to get Toyota’s new ‘Keen Look’ design, first showcased by the Furia Concept. Though the variant we get is a bit toned down as compared to the U.S. variant, it is still quiet a looker we think, unlike the previous generations where the design was deliberately kept sedate. “Sleek” is what comes to mind when you look at the new Corolla, with the dual-port headlamps which flow into the grille, the sculpted front bumper weith the prominent air-intake. The side profile has got a big change and adds to the lithe look of the Altis, the car has grown in length by 80-mm and it shows. Move to the rear and the design philosophy continues, with the long LED tail-lamps with integrated fog lamp etc. but it is not as aggressive as the front.
Move inside and you see that the company has spent a considerable amount of time refining it. The previous generation Altis had an interior which reflected the design employed outside, simple and hard-wearing. The new Corolla’s interior also reflects the design employed on the exterior; it is stylish. Toyota has given the Altis dual-tone interiors in India, not everyone in the office agrees with the black-and-beige combination, but beige is popular in India and this decision by the company is not expected to put people off. The dashboard is distinctly divided into three parts horizontally, the centre console is tilted towards the driver and features a touch-screen multi-media system, the climate control system is sleeker. The new 3-spoke steering wheel, and instrument cluster along with the centre console will surely make drivers in the new Altis feel more special. The interior feels less cluttered than before as there are not many different trims, materials used here and that makes it look very classy. Space inside has increased thanks to the increase in the overall length of the car by 80-mm and also due to the increase in width by 16-mm. Boot space has been reduced by 5-litre to 470-litres in the quest for more interior space. Toyota has introduced a new party trick at the rear, the two main seats can individually recline, which is a first in the segment.
Paint Options
The 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis is offered in 7 paint options which include – White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Mica Metallic, Grey Metallic, Blue Metallic, Champagne Mica Metallic, Super White II and Celestial Black.
Engines and Transmissions
The 2014 Corolla Altis continues to be powered by either a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine or a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol engine. While the diesel engine is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission, the petrol engine is also available with a 7-speed CVT.
Performance figures for the diesel and petrol engines remain unchanged; the diesel delivers 88 BHP @3800 RPM and 205 Nm @ 1800-2800 RPM, while the petrol engine produces 139 BHP @ 6400 RPM and 173 Nm @ 4000 RPM.
Features
Standard features on the Corolla Altis J (only diesel) include:
- LED tail-lamps with integrated fog lamp
- Turn signals on the ORVM covers
- Electrically adjustable ORVMS
- Tilt and telescopically adjustable steering wheel
- Automatic air-conditioner (standard on all diesel variants, available from the G petrol variant)
- Rear reclining seats
- 60:40 split fold-able rear seats
- Power socket for the rear passengers
- Multi-information display on the centre console
- Dual front airbags
- ABS+EBD+BA
- 3-point seat belts for all rear passengers
The Corolla Altis JS variant gets the following over the J:
- Touch screen multimedia system with USB and AUX support connected to 4 -speakers
- Remote boot open
- Security system
The Corolla Altis G variant gets the following over the JS:
- Electrically adjustable and retractable ORVMs
- 7-spoke alloy wheels
- Chrome plated radiator grille
- 7-inch touchscreen multimedia system connected to 6 speakers
- Audio controls on the steering wheel
- Leather steering wheel cover
- Instrument cluster brightness control
- Front fog lamps (petrol variant only, none of the diesel variant get front fog lamps)
- Anti-glare IRVM
- Reverse sensors
The Corolla Altis G-CVT variant (petrol only) gets the following over the G:
- Paddle gear shifts
- Eco driving indicator on the instrument cluster
The Corolla Altis GL variant gets the following over the G:
- LED headlamps
- Automatic headlamps with auto-leveling
- 15-spoke alloy wheels, 15-inch ones on the petrol and 16-inch ones on the diesel
- Leather seats
- 8-way electrically adjustable driver seat with lumbar support and height adjustment
- Rear sunshade
- Stop-start system
- Smart entry
- Reverse camera with display on the multimedia screen
- Automatic rain-sensing wipers
The Corolla Altis VL-CVT variant (petrol only) gets the following over the GL:
- 16-inch, 15-spoke alloy wheels
- Cruise control
- Paddle gear shifts
- Eco driving indicator on the instrument cluster
The “Benchmark Collection” adds the following accessories to the Corolla Altis:
- Daytime running lamps (added to the top of the fog lamp)
- Illuminated scuff plate
- Leg room illumination
- Chrome garnish on the front bumper, rear bumper, side moulding, ORVMs and boot
What do you think of the 2014 Corolla Altis? Let us know in the comments section below.
