New Toyota Corolla to repair reputation of CVTs

When news broke last week surrounding Toyota’s next-generation Corolla hatch, specifically that it would retain a continuously variable transmission (CVT) transmission, you could almost sense a collective sigh across the internet.

While the Corolla remains Australia’s best-selling passenger vehicle, confirmation that its replacement will continue with a CVT automatic in place of a regular torque-converter or even dual-clutch automatic has already drawn the ire of critics.

Why, you ask? Pulley-and-belt style CVTs are currently fitted to a large number of Toyota cars because they produce better fuel economy than traditional toothed-gear automatic transmissions. A rubbery powerband and slurred transitions from low to middling and high revs are typical hallmarks of a CVT.

But those traits will be at least partially mitigated in the next Corolla by a new 'launch gear' for its CVT, which will also incorporate a ‘direct shift’ function that Toyota claims brings 20 per cent quicker gear-shifts.

Speaking with Australian journalists at last week's Geneva motor show, where the 2019 Corolla was revealed, chief engineer Yasushi Ueda said the upcoming Corolla (or Auris in Europe) rectifies much of the delay that tends to leave motorists unexcited.

“Instead of the first gear ratio with a CVT, we use a direct gear drive train as a first gear. After that from the first gear shift to the second gear shift, the ratio changes from direct gear shift to CVT,” he said.

After getting up to speed, the transmission switches from a toothed mechanism to a belt-style system. According to Ueda-san, this facilitates not only better shift feel, but fuel efficiency improvements of about six per cent.

Ueda-san also spruiked the new infotainment system and interior in the upgraded Corolla, promising big improvements. However, he refused to name specifics.

One of the more relevant unveilings at this year’s Swiss show, the next-generation Corolla promises to be a sportier, more upmarket proposition when it arrives in Australian showrooms in August.

The new Corolla has been remade from scratch, according to Toyota, and will be underpinned by the Japanese marque’s new TNGA platform to make it longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces.

Overall, the hatch’s length has increased 40mm to 4370mm and height has reduced 25mm to 1450mm.

The architecture (which also underpins the C-HR and Prius) enables a longer wheelbase than before which, teamed with a lower centre of gravity, new multilink rear suspension and more body rigidity, will purportedly contribute to enhanced ride and handling.