5 things to know about the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

We recently drove the all-new 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback, which was revealed at the New York Auto Show in March.

In case you missed our full first-look review, here are 5 things you should know about the all-new Corolla Hatch.

Replacing Corolla iM

When Toyota nixed the Scion brand, it absorbed some of its models, including the Scion iM hatchback. Under Toyota guise, it was rebadged as the Corolla iM and had a very short lifespan of 2 years.

Toyota now ditches the iM completely, creating a vehicle that’s all-new from the ground up and built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

Now featuring Apple CarPlay

When phone-mirroring software became available, Toyota’s company line was: Nope, we’re not doing it. Execs swore up and down that their Linux-based Entune was better than anything that Apple or Google could concoct. And company officials said they were concerned about vehicle owner privacy if the company went to a system proffered by a third party.

Even though I’m not sold on Apple CarPlay (at all), it is eons better than what Toyota was offering for its subscription-based navigation services and infotainment system.

Now, in what feels like a complete reversal, Toyota is rolling out CarPlay in its new vehicles. We’ve seen it show up so far in the Lexus UX, Toyota Avalon and now the Toyota Corolla Hatchback.

Here’s to hoping Android Auto is next.

Up-level standard content

During the press preview, the media couldn’t quite grasp the level of standard content on the new Corolla Hatchback. During the Q&A, there was question after question:

• So, lane trace assist is standard?
• Passive entry and push button start are standard? Even on the base SE?
• LED headlights are standard?
• Road sign assist is standard?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Other standard features include: the aforementioned CarPlay, an 8-inch touch-screen display, an enhanced pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

Oddly, what’s not standard: Blind spot monitoring.

A new 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine

The engine for the new Corolla 5-door is all-new as well. It’s a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 168 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.

And that’s a nice amount of power for a petite vehicle.

The previous iM delivered 137 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque.

Another key thing to note: Even with increased horsepower, this new engine also reaps better fuel economy. EPA estimates 42 mpg on the highway when equipped with the continuously variable transmission and 37 mpg with the manual. That’s an increase of 8 mpg and 2 mpg, respectively, over the previous Corolla iM.

Already in dealers

The 2019 Corolla Hatchback made its debut in March at the New York Auto Show, and this new compact vehicle already hit dealers four short months later.

Pricing starts at $20,910 for the base SE and $23,910 for the up-level XSE.

This is about a $1K increase over the outgoing iM, which makes sense considering all the additional standard equipment.

The Bottom Line

To say I was wowed by the all-new 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is an understatement. The engine is peppy, both the automatic and manual transmissions are really nice, and the content included at the $20K price tag is impressive.

Whether you’re shopping for a first car for your teen or you simply want something economical and compact for yourself, this new Corolla Hatch should top your must-test list.

For more information on the 2019 Corolla Hatchback, be sure to check out our full first-look review.