Used 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

In the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Toyota has returned to its roots by creating an efficient and affordable 5-door compact that also happens to be stylish, feature filled and fun to drive. Younger buyers will appreciate the Corolla Hatchback’s impressive standard-feature set that includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while their parents will like the long list of standard driver assists designed to help avoid accidents.

Young or old, everyone will like the Corolla Hatchback’s impressive price point, which undercuts a number of competitors including the Mazda3 and Honda Civic, although the less-well-equipped Hyundai Elantra GT bests the Corolla Hatchback by about $650.

Toyota has recommitted to building fun and exciting cars from the ground up, and the 2020 Corolla Hatchback is a perfect example. The taut suspension, precise steering and quick-reacting brakes all keep the promises made by the Corolla Hatchback’s aggressive styling. The 2.0-liter engine offers 168 horsepower, which may not seem like much but actually delivers fairly brisk performance in this lightweight 5-door.

The standard 6-speed manual with downshift-rev-matching is a joy, but we think many people will actually prefer the convenience of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and we’re okay with that. Why? Because this is one of the smoothest, most engaged CVTs we’ve driven in a while, with clever features like a built-in launch gear that delivers instantaneous acceleration from a dead stop.

There’s also the added benefit of greatly improved fuel economy over the manual, as well as additional safety features like full-speed dynamic cruise control. Toss the Corolla Hatchback into a corner, and you’ll delight at its ability to instantly go where it’s pointed without complaint. The big 18-inch wheels and tires on the XSE and Nightshade offer the most grip, yet the ride never feels choppy or irritating, even over rough patches of pavement.

For an economy car, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback has one very upscale interior. Soft-touch surfaces abound, enhanced by real seam stitching and intelligently designed controls. Seat comfort is supremely good, and there’s even available power lumbar for the driver. The large 8-inch Entune touch screen sits prominently atop the center dash and features hard buttons that make navigating the infotainment system’s various functions a bit easier. We found rear-seat legroom is a bit tight, but doable. Cargo space is also on the small side for this class, but the folding rear seats with flip-folding head restraints make it easy to increase the Corolla’s cargo hold in seconds.

We like the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback’s look. Its racy image is eye-catching without going overboard with too many lines and tacked-on bits, and its low stance furthers the image of a car ready to tackle turns. LED headlights and taillights look sharp, and Toyota offers a variety of unique paint colors, including a number of 2-tone packages featuring a black-painted roof cap.

Optional on the SE grade is the new Nightshade option that includes black 18-inch wheels and various blacked-out trim pieces, giving it the appearance of having been run through a high-end custom paint shop without the high-end price. From a functional standpoint, the Corolla Hatchback’s rear hatch offers a wide opening for easy loading and has sufficient height as not to endanger the foreheads of tall people.

SMARTPHONE CONNECTIVITY
With the ability to interface with Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and Android Auto, you’ll never have to worry about your infotainment system becoming obsolete. Simply connect your smartphone via the USB port, and you can instantly access message, navigation, music and popular apps all via the Corolla Hatchback’s 8-inch touch-screen monitor.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE 2.0
No matter which trim you buy, it will come standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0. Driver assists include a pre-collision-warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and assist, adaptive cruise control and auto high-beam headlights. Cars equipped with the CVT automatic add full-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-tracing.

Given a starting price just under $21,250, Toyota’s Corolla Hatchback is amazingly well equipped. The base SE comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, LED headlights and taillights, 16-inch alloy wheels, Smart Key entry with push-button start, a tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel, color-keyed heated power mirrors, 6-speaker Entune 3.0 audio with App Suite, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay plus two front USB ports, an 8-inch touch screen, 4.2-inch multi-information display, eight airbags, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (see Favorite Features) and hill-start assist. Add the CVT automatic and you’ll get an enhanced version of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, paddle shifters and 3-level Drive Mode Select featuring Normal, Eco and Sport.

Stepping up the XSE brings a whole lot more including 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED fog lights, blind-spot warning indicators, 7-inch TFT (sharper image) multifunction display, and an 8-way-power driver’s seat with power-lumbar support. The SE Preferred Package adds a blind-spot monitor and an upgraded Entune 3.0 system (requires a CVT). The XSE Preferred package adds wireless cellphone charging, 8-speaker/800-watt JBL audio, navigation and access to Remote Assists. Regrettably, this option package too is only available with an automatic transmission.

Thanks to its small size and relatively lightweight body, Toyota’s 2020 Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine doesn’t need a ton of power to make it zip along. With 168 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, the Corolla Hatchback can comfortably merge and pass with confidence.

We prefer the 6-speed manual with its downshift-rev-matching feature, but it precludes buyers from a number of desirable option upgrades and isn’t very practical in day-to-day heavy traffic. Those who opt for the CVT automatic won’t be disappointed thanks to its manual-shift mode and launch gear for rapid acceleration. The CVT also gets better fuel economy and allows for full-speed radar-based adaptive cruise control that covers a range of speeds.

2.0-liter inline-4
168 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm
151 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/37 mpg (manual), 32/41 mpg (automatic), 30/38 mpg (XSE)