Toyota Corolla Axio Hybrid and Corolla Fielder Hybrid

2014 Toyota Corolla Axio Hybrid

2014 Toyota Corolla Fielder Hybrid

I wasn't expecting to see that but the 11th Generation Toyota Corolla, launched last year, has now spawned a hybrid model and what's all the fuss about? It seems that the Corolla tradition has taken to a whole new spin by offering fuel-efficient Hybrid versions of the Corolla Axio sedan and the Corolla Fielder wagon in a country where fuel consumption is the norm.

Whatever but what's the difference? Toyota says that both the hybrid Corollas gained an exclusive front grille, front and rear Synergy Blue emblems, an exclusive Light Blue Metallic body color, and other distinctive elements. On the interior, you can expect blue-highlighted instrument gauges which seems to look as futuristic as...ahem you know what that creepy song is. Plus, they also come with special seat fabric and an exclusive interior panel design, artificial-leather ornamented instrument panel and upper door trim, and a shift stick knob with blue-accented leather cover.

2014 Toyota Corolla Axio Hybrid interior

2014 Toyota Corolla Fielder Hybrid interior

While the hybrid models are heavier than the normal petrol models because of the added nickel metal battery needed to generate electric power, Toyota gave those hybrid Corollas some tweaked suspension settings to handle the added weight but I'm not quite sure if these added settings worked out brilliantly but (ahem), they're still a bit tad old fashioned.

What you may noticed that both of them comes with the 1.5L petrol engine as seen on the Toyota Aqua compact and with THS-II, mated with CVT gearbox, I was expecting that the fuel economy, as calculated by JC08 Mode standards, is 33.0km/L. It was. 33.0km/L of fuel consumption means that's more than what you get than the Toyota Prius!

Say what? The Corolla Hybrids are fuel efficient than the normal Prius?! Of course, while the Prius' fuel economy is 32.6km/L, the Corolla Hybrids are 0.4km/L more! Also, it's cheaper to buy than the Prius because of the intro pricing for just 1,925,000 Yen for the Axio Hybrid and 2,085,000 Yen for the Fielder Hybrid. That means that the Prius is the least we're worrying about. It's those that we're worrying about...almost because the only thing more worrying than the Prius is its little brother, the Aqua because think about it, it's cheaper than the Prius, more fuel efficient than a Prius, and more of a hassle than the Prius.

While Toyota says that they're expecting a monthly sales target of 1000 units for the Axio Hybrid and 1500 for the Fielder Hybrid but like most JDM hybrids, I'm expecting these to exceed the sales target because hey. This is Japan and Hybrids and ECO is the JDM norm of today, which is annoying all the time.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation