2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Performance

Hybrid cars don't have to be slouches, but sadly, the Corolla Hybrid isn't on the impressive end of the spectrum. The power plant under the hood is a 1.8-liter four-pot combined with a pair of electric motors that produce a total of 138 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque. These middling outputs are below what you'd find in the Prius. Power goes to the front wheels as standard, though AWD is available on all but the XLE, and since the Corolla Hybrid prioritizes efficiency above all else, it takes around ten seconds to get close to 60 mph. Performance is bland overall, but the trade-off is the superior fuel economy the car is known for. Driving modes include Normal, Power, and Eco, with Eco being even more anemic than Normal, and Power barely adding any oomph at all.

The naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine in the Corolla Hybrid is paired with two electric motors and a 1.3 kWh battery. The result is an underwhelming 138 hp and 105 lb-ft, which isn't conducive to enthusiastic acceleration at all. And, paired with the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive CVT, leaves much to be desired overall. From a standstill, you'll need patience in spades to get going, and there isn't much change when you select Power drive mode. This means you won't be able to execute passing maneuvers without submitting a planned proposal first, so don't expect to hit top speed regularly.

Finally, some good news. While the Corolla Hybrid offers rather poor performance in terms of outputs, the trade-off is a welcome one. Gas mileage figures are 53/46/50 mpg city/highway/combined - some of the better EPA estimates in the class. Toggling Sport mode drops these figures to 50/43/47 mpg while opting for the all-wheel drive train sees the sedan achieve 51/44/48 mpg and 47/41/44 mpg, respectively.

Hybrid Corollas get a smaller gas tank than the gas-only versions, with an 11.4-gallon capacity. Theoretically, this means a range of around 570 miles on a full tank in its most efficient guise.