Toyota Corolla Altis 2020: Compact Sedan contender for Car of the Year

Updated Mar 09, 2022 | Same topic: Highlights of the Week

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020 offers Filipinos a gateway to both the future and an homage to the past all at the same time. Join me as we muse at why I think this should be your bet to be the car of the year.

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020: Compact Sedan contender for car of the year

  • Available with both tradition and the future in mind with the 1.6 DOHC and hybrid engine
  • Packed to the brim with safety features, even for the entry level
  • Unparalleled Fuel Economy at this segment.
  • Priced to undercut all its rivals

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020: Bringing sexy back

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020 was introduced with driving enjoyment in mind. They have vowed to no longer make “boring” cars as this has been the perception of the brand the past few decades. Toyota was listening and boy did they heed the call.

For one thing the styling of the Toyota Corolla Altis shies away from the dull and mundane. It still holds the same 3 box design but the design but its lines are more purposeful, each body panel more athletic and dare I say sexy? Toyota is back.

toyota corolla altis hybrid 2020

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020 brings sexy back

 

>>> Think other Compacts are better? Check these other contenders:

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020: More than the sum of its parts

The Toyota Corolla Altis has 2 flavors; Green and Sleeper. The Green flavor comes with a 1.8 liter Atkinson Cycle engine paired with an electric motor and makes 134 hp and 207 Nm of pull. These power figures can give you ample acceleration but more importantly unmatched fuel economy.

According to tests, driving the Corolla Altis Hybrid in grid-lock EDSA traffic will give you more or less 12 km/l, that number is mind-blowing. For a compact sedan with that much weight and power, it is unprecedented.

toyota corolla altis 2020

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020 has to be driven to be experienced

 

You also have the classic 1.6 liter DOHC petrol variant which I believe is powers one of the most slept on sedans ever. We rarely get a good 1.6 liter compact car anymore and Toyota reminds you that yes, it still exists and yes you can still have fun while driving.

The power rating wont knock your socks off but the point of driving a 1.6 Compact Sedan is enjoying the experience. The Toyota Corolla Altis, no matter what you choose or how you add it up, never really does add up. It seems to be so much more.

>>> Get a Toyota only with PHP 5,000 at Toyota Silang Cavite right in our Toyota promo!

Toyota Corolla Altis 2020: Unmatched resale value

Toyotas seem to be immune or at least less susceptible to depreciation and the effects of inflation. Every patriarch will tell you that Toyotas are bulletproof and tough.

I wouldn’t go that far, though I still think that if all cars are treated with tender loving care they will outlive even the owner itself, but it is this perception that matters. The fact that everyone and their dad perceives Toyotas to be such gives them their great resale value.

2020 toyota corolla altis

Everyone and their dad will tell you that Toyotas are bulletproof

>>> Update the Toyota Corolla Altis and other Toyota models' price in the Philippines

There are so many things about the Toyota Corolla Altis that in my opinion, warrants the award of car of the year. The fact that it gets us talking this way about a compact and undercuts its rivals in price, kit and technology, makes me want to get out and break my bank account and drive one home.

For more car of the year articles like this one, keep reading here on Philktose.com.

Know more about Toyota Corolla Altis 2024

Toyota Corolla Altis

The Toyota Corolla Altis is Toyota Motor Philippines’s entry into the compact sedan segment. Currently, this model has four available variants. There's the Corolla Altis E 1.6 CVT, the Corolla Altis G 1.6 CVT, the Corolla Altis V G-RS 1.6 CVT, and the Corolla Altis V 1.8 Hybrid CVT. These come with a price ranging from Php 1,054,000 to Php 1,665,000.

There are two engine options for the Corolla Altis. For the mid-spec G and entry-level E, they use a 1.6-liter inline-4 gasoline engine that makes up to 121 horsepower and 153 Nm of torque. The top-spec V trim meanwhile, gets a 1.8-liter hybrid engine that can deliver 121 horsepower and 207 Nm of torque.  

For transmissions, all of this model’s variants use a continuously variable transmission. 

Size-wise, the Toyota Corolla Altis comes with a length of 4,630mm, a width of 1,780mm, and a height of 1,455mm. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,700mm and a ground clearance of 175mm. 

Toyota Corolla Altis exterior

Toyota Corolla Altis 2024

In the local market, the Toyota Corolla Altis mainly competes against the likes of the Honda Civic, Mazda3, and MG 6, among others. 

>>> New and used Toyota Corolla Altis 2024 for sale in the Philippines

 

Toyota Corolla Altis Launch

On September 9, 2019, the Toyota Corolla Altis was launched. That same event marked the first time this nameplate got a hybrid version in the Philippines.

Car buyers can still choose a gasoline type of the E, G, and V variants, but the top-range trim level will no longer have the 2.0-liter unit that the previous generation Corolla Altis used to offer. Instead, the top-spec is equipped with a 1.8-liter hybrid motor, and 1.6-liter gasoline remains on non-hybrid models.

The Toyota Corolla Altis is sleek and very high-tech

Toyota Corolla Altis Exterior

The redesigned Corolla Altis has sleek lines and an aggressive swept-back headlight. It is one of the most attractive redesigns ever made in this compact sedan.

toyota corolla altis headlight

Toyota Corolla Altis headlight

toyota corolla altis taillight

Toyota Corolla Altis taillight

The sharp headlights of the Toyota Corolla Altis are more focused and aggressive than its predecessors. This sedan also features a trendy large grille. The large opening in the bumper's bottom half occupies most of the front fascia.

toyota corolla altis rear

Toyota Corolla Altis rear end

The exterior's side details feature the same shape as its previous iterations. It has a low-profile hood and a high trunk line. The redesigned sedan also features more distinct and intentional lines that differentiate the current generation from the previous ones.

Toyota Corolla Altis Interior

Inside the Corolla Altis Philippines are fabric or leather seats, depending on the variant. A mix of hard, glossy black-colored plastic surfaces, soft-touch material, and a touchscreen infotainment system are found in the rather high dashboard. The head unit is high-mounted and framed with a piano gloss border.

toyota corolla altis interior

Toyota Corolla Altis dashboard

The cabin has an ergonomic layout and ample amount of space. There is also a decent headroom inside. The Toyota Corolla Altis also features a fine-sized steering wheel with a telescopic adjustment and a good leather feel. It also features a nice instrument cluster boasting a multi-information display and a low seating position.

toyota corolla altis interior

Toyota Corolla Altis front seats

Toyota Corolla Altis Technology & Safety Feature

The radar cruise control system called the Toyota Safety Sense is the headlining feature of the Corolla Altis. This technology enables drivers to use the cruise control feature to almost an autonomous level. It allows a safe following speed and distance. 

toyota corolla altis camera

Toyota Safety Sense is the headlining feature of the Corolla Altis

In terms of infotainment, the base trims get the standard non-touchscreen unit while high trims have a touchscreen display head unit. It also supports USB, AUX, and Bluetooth connectivity. The infotainment system of top variants can output up to six speakers.

toyota corolla altis power button

The driver and passenger airbags come as a standard in the Corolla Altis. It is also equipped with ABS, brake assists, child safety locks, VSC system, day and night rearview mirror, parking sensors, rear camera, crash sensor, front and side-impact beams, and door ajar warning.

toyota corolla altis ev mode

Toyota Corolla Altis Platform & Chassis

The new-generation Toyota Corolla Altis Philipines is a five-seater sedan. It rides on the Toyota New Global Architecture or TNGA platform.

All models of the Toyota Corolla Altis feature a MacPherson strut for the front suspension and double-wishbone for the rear setup. 

This sedan has a length of 4,630 mm, a height of 1,435 mm, a width of 1,780, and a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. The hybrid version is slightly taller by 20 mm with 1,455 mm.

The all-new Toyota Corolla Altis sets on 16- or 17-inch alloys. The larger wheels get a two-tone finish for additional visual appeal.

  

 

 

 

Toyota Corolla Altis Engine & Drivetrain

Just like the previous iterations of the Toyota Corolla Altis, the current generation remains a front-wheel-drive and front-engined layout.
There are two powertrain options available for this compact sedan. The first one is the conventional 1.6-liter gasoline engine that generates 121 horsepower and torque of 153 Newton-meter.

The second option is the 1.8-liter hybrid unit that makes an output of 121 horsepower and torque of 207 Nm – with the help of the hybrid system. The electric motor is powered by a battery that is charged through regenerative braking. As of 2024, the Corolla Altis exclusively uses a CVT.

Toyota Corolla Altis 2024 Price List

The price of the Toyota Corolla Altis in the Philippines starts at ₱1,054,000 for the entry-level 1.6 E CVT, while the top-of-the-line Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV 1.8 CVT is priced at ₱1,665,000. For more details, please refer to our 2024 Toyota Corolla Altis price list as follows:

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 E CVT

₱1,054,000

Toyota Corolla Altis G 1.6 AT

₱1,130,000

Toyota Corolla Altis V G-RS 1.6 CVT

₱1,302,000

Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV 1.8 CVT

₱1,665,000

Toyota Corolla Altis Pros & Cons

icon like Things we like in Corolla Altis

  • Hybrid power  
  • Quiet but elegant styling 
  • Roomy 
  • Competent safety kit 

icon dislikeThings we don't like in Corolla Altis

  • Not that powerful 

Toyota Corolla Altis Specifications

Powertrain

Engine Size  1.6-1.8 L 
No, Yes
145-154 Nm
AT (CVT)
Drivetrain FWD

Suspension & Brakes

  MacPherson Strut
Disc
Electronic, Manual (Hand)

Dimensions

4,630 mm
1,780 mm
1,435 mm
175 mm

Capacities

  • of Seats: 5

​​​​​​​Exterior

Bi-Beam LED, Halogen Projector
16-17 inches

Interior

Fabric, Leather
Electronic, Manual
Automatic Climate Control, Manual

Technology

Push Button, Turnkey
Adaptive, None, Standard
None, With
Both, Other Apps
None
With
With
None, With
None
None, With
None, With
None, With

Safety & Security

With
With
With
None, With
With
With

​​​​​​​Toyota Corolla Altis FAQs

1. How much is the Toyota Altis 2024 in the Philippines?

The 2024 Toyota Corolla Altis costs between ₱1.135 million and ₱1.73 million in the Philippines.

2. What type of car is the Toyota Corolla Altis?

Type of Toyota Corolla Altis is a 5-seater sedan.

3. Is Corolla Altis comfortable?

Yes, it is. The driving position is fairly comfortable as well, and the Altis offers a spacious cabin with good visibility to the front, sides, and rear.

4. What are the colors available in Altis Philippines?

Toyota Corolla Altis colors are available in 6 colors in the following shades: White Pearl Mica, Celestite Gray Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Silver Metallic, Super White II, and Red Mica Metallic.

₱ 1,054,000 - ₱ 1,665,000

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Roy Robles

Roy Robles

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Sleek, Sexy, Athletic and Fast. These are words that were never used to describe our resident claustrophobe Roy Robles. After spending 10 years counting other people's cash in banks, he is just happy to be at Philkotse.com. Catch his articles everyday and make sure to honk if you see him.

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