Rediscovering the compact sedan—Why the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV ticks all the boxes

I grew up with the Toyota Corolla. Heck we were born in the same year—1966. My mom’s first car was a tiny first-generation two-door Corolla. It’s a car that needs no introduction—simply because it’s the bestselling car in the world, having sold over 50 million units worldwide since its launch. It also almost singlehandedly cemented Toyota’s reputation as the most reliable car in the world. It has become nothing less than an icon.    

But like a fine wine, the Corolla has gotten better and better with age. To the point that it has virtually perfected the art and science of the compact sedan. Case in point: the latest Corolla Altis GR-S HEV (yes, the Corolla gained the Altis suffix as part of its model name in 2008). And yes, the Corolla Altis flagship has gained the seemingly contradictory traits of excitement with the GR-S moniker (“GR” being short for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsports division) and efficiency with the Hybrid Electric Vehicle/HEV designation. 

Style-wise, the 2024 Corolla Altis is the best-looking iteration yet. It has evolved from a humble, basic, utilitarian small car into a sporting yet fuel-efficient compact sedan with luxurious amenities and a world-class suite of safety features.     

The striking front end looks almost like that of its bigger Camry midsize luxury sedan sibling’s, with its serious-looking bi-beam LED headlamps and the gaping grille that takes up a huge portion of the bumper. The Corolla Altis GR-S variants come with special GR-S Design front and rear bumpers and grille for an even sportier look. 

The side view is clean, gimmick-free, and beautifully devoid of extraneous curves and lines. The beauty comes from the gracefully sloping roofline, the distinctive black-colored side mirrors that are mounted on a vertical base, and the handsome machine-finish two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels.

The rear end may seem simple and straightforward, but is filled with details that underscore beautiful Japanese minimalism. It has a nicely sculpted trunk lid bracketed by two slim LED taillights and an equally sculpted bumper that incorporates slim and wide reflectors at either end, and a prominent diffuser in the center.         

All things considered, the Corolla Altis presents a timelessly elegant sedan that exudes luxury and class. It will look fabulous on the driveway of a five-star hotel or an exclusive golf club. Just riding in the Corolla Altis will make its owner and passengers look good and feel good. 

Thankfully, this beauty is more than skin deep, as the Corolla Altis, particularly the GR-S HEV variant, marries world-class design with state-of-the-art performance and efficiency.

Impressive performance for an enjoyable drive comes from its Hybrid 16-valve VVT-i four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a smooth yet responsive Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with manual control during those spirited runs. The Corolla Altis GR-S HEV offers three drive modes—Normal, Eco, and Sport—so you can tailor the car’s performance to your prevailing mood.  

The combination of HEV technology, which form part of Toyota’s multi-pathway campaign toward carbon neutrality, and the sporty GR-S design, allows the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV’s owners to help contribute to environment protection while pursuing their sporting automotive passions. And it’s not just all about aesthetics. The Corolla Altis GR-S adds even more thrill to every ride with improvements to the suspension and even the seat material. Every straightaway, curve, and braking point will put a smile on your face as the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV delivers an electrifying drive with you behind the wheel. It even has cutting-edge Dynamic Radar Cruise Control for the ultimate in stress-free long-distance driving. You will certainly enjoy both your daily commute and your weekend out-of-town road trips with the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV’s inspired responsiveness, handling and braking while consuming way less fuel and producing far less emissions than most other cars.  

Inside the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV’s spacious and finely crafted cabin, you’ll find advanced convenience features such as Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto with Wireless Charging, Panoramic View Monitor, and Wireless Charger for a truly enjoyable ride. You’ll luxuriate in leather seats with sporty GR-S trim and enjoy the convenience of the 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and four-way adjustable front passenger seat.

The Corolla Altis GR-S HEV features a 12.3-inch multi-info display and a 9-inch touchscreen voice-command infotainment system that delivers sweet-sounding audio via six speakers. Additional connectivity comes from USB ports and a 12V outlet. It is truly a high-tech environment that will impress anyone who rides the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV. 

Yet another strong suit of the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV is the crucial aspect of safety. Thanks to Toyota Safety Sense being standard, the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV boasts a plethora of advanced driver assist safety systems including Pre-Collision System (PCS), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and the aforementioned Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). 

Other safety features are Hill Start Assist Control (HSA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Brake Signal, Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) and no less than seven airbags (driver, passenger, side, curtain, and knee airbag for driver).     

Toyota Safety Sense plus all the other active and passive safety features combine to make the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV one of the safest cars on the road, making your ride filled with peace of mind for you and your loved ones. 

The Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV is truly the perfect car for the established individual looking for a ride that matches his or her lifestyle. It is a compact sedan that is exhilarating to drive but is responsive to a world that needs to reduce its carbon emissions.

Aside from the flagship GR-S HEV, the Corolla Altis also comes in the following variants: the midrange 1.8 G GR-S and the entry 1.8 E CVT. The top-of-the-line Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV comes exclusively in Platinum Pearl White Mica while the G GR-S is available in Red Mica Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, and Metal Stream Metallic. The Corolla Altis 1.8 E CVT, meanwhile, is available in the latter two colors plus Super White II. 

For more info, visit https://www.toyota.com.ph/corolla-altis.