Toyota Corolla Touring Sports reminds us why we can’t have nice things

Toyota is on a roll with its new products ever since the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2018, showcasing new iterations of vehicles we sorely wished would come here. We all remember the eye-catching Corolla hatchback revealed earlier this year, and we did a story on how it aced independent crash tests, but Toyota wasn’t finished with the Corolla just yet. Here we have a combination of style and practicality in the Corolla Touring Sports.

Yes, it’s a Corolla station wagon. Made for the European market only (sigh), and revealed at the 2018 Paris Auto Show, the Corolla Touring Sports will feature one conventional gasoline engine and two hybrid options. The sole gasoline variant is a 1.2L turbo four cylinder with 116hp. The hybrid variants are a choice between a 1.8L or 2.0L, with 122 hp and 180 hp respectively. This essentially makes the Corolla one of the most efficient choices in this segment. The new Corolla Touring Sports has a wheelbase of 2700mm, and boasts excellent rear passenger space.

Externally, the Corolla Touring Sports has a sweeping roofline and wide, flared wheel arches. There’s also what looks to be a panoramic sunroof. It looks very shooting brake, and the wide stance gives it some sporty appeal. There will be bi-tone color schemes at launch, combining the body color with a black finish to the roof, roof pillars, and the lower grille.

Based on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-C platform, the new Corolla features a proven MacPherson strut front suspension system, an all-new multilink rear suspension arrangement, new shock absorber valve technology and, for the first time, the availability of Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which also happens to be our favorite feature in top end Lexus models. Handling is improved and the Corolla has a low center of gravity thanks to low engine mounting height, low hip point of the seats, and the location of the hybrid battery behind the rear seats.

Toys come in the form of a head-up display (HUD), JBL sound system, wireless mobile phone charging, and a big touch screen for Toyota’s Touch Multimedia System.

Again, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is tailored for the European market, so the chances of getting our hands on one are close to zero. We have to collectively lay down for a bit and try not to cry. Or cry a lot.