THE COST OF LOOKING GOOD

• Published date: 27 May 2023
• Publication title: New Zealand Herald, The (Auckland, New Zealand)

Sure, if you buy an entry-level GX in white or silver, then it may as well be as beige as that natty chunky knit cardigan your nana gave you for Christmas in 1998. But the ZR, with its two-tone black-on-red colour scheme and chunky 18-inch alloy wheels is having none of that

The sharp two-tone paint job highlights the more European styling elements of the Corolla, adding emphasis to the upward kick at the C-pillar, while the angular LED headlights and satin chrome inserts around the lower DRLs give it a more aggressive attitude at the front.

The inside is a notch above as well, with some very slick and sporty seats (that are thankfully also comfortable), as well as nice soft-touch materials replacing some of the hard plastics of lower-spec Corollas.

Of course, the combination of Corolla and hybrid also represents a combination of the best-selling car in the world and proven fuel-saving tech that is capable of impressively low fuel consumption numbers — and here’s the key: generally regardless of how you drive it.

The latest generation of Corolla came with a genuine bump in driving dynamics when it launched back in 2019, so that last part is important, as it means the Corolla can be fun. Its accurate steering combined with an agile chassis and thoroughly predictable dynamics making for a surprisingly engaging driving experience, providing you crank the stereo up to drown out the groaning of an engine hooked up to a continuously variable transmission, that is ...

And that “hybrid” part of its name also means that, even if you do take advantage of that decent chassis, your...