Updated 2023 Toyota Corolla gets new powertrains in Japan

The Toyota Corolla has just received an update in its home country of Japan. Yes, this is still the 12th-generation model that was initially launched back in 2018, but it does get some bits that improve performance, convenience, and safety.

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Sport

Starting off with its looks, it does retain the same shape and style as the previous year’s Corolla. The front end still features a large grille, and the LED headlamps still assume a sharp, knife-like shape. The aforementioned LED clusters however, do get a new design for their LED daytime running lamps.   

It's also interesting to point out that this model sports a large “C” logo up front. This has been present on the Corolla for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) for a while now.

The Corolla Sport from the rear

The side still looks sleek with minimal character lines, and the rear still retains the pair of C-shaped LED taillights as well as the black trim piece on the lower rear bumper.

The rear, on the other hand, still does bear the standard Toyota badge. For the 2023 model year, the said logos now get blue accents if it uses a hybrid powertrain.

Further updates for the JDM Corolla can be found in its cabin. For instance, the eight-inch headunit on the older model was replaced with a much larger 10.5-inch touchscreen. Of note, this new touchscreen runs on the marque’s new infotainment software. This features cloud-linked navigation, and over-the-air updates. It also gets wireless Apple CarPlay while retaining Android Auto. An optional Wi-Fi package is also available.

Inside the 2023 Toyota Corolla for Japan

Safety was also improved with the addition of the Proactive Driving Assist system. This enables the JDM Corolla to aid the driver in avoiding obstacles on the road by autonomously applying the brakes combined with automatic steering.  

Under the hood of the Japanese-spec 2023 Corolla are three different powertrains. There’s a 1.8-liter hybrid, a 1.5-liter mill for the sedan and wagon, and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine for the hatchback Sport trim. The latter two replace the 1.8 engine and 1.2-liter inline-4 turbo engine that was standard on the outgoing model.  

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Sedan

At the maximum, the new 1.5-liter M15A-FKS can produce up to 118 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. The 2.0-liter M20A-FKS meanwhile can output 167 horsepower and 202 Nm of torque. Both are then paired to a Direct Shift continuously variable transmission

For the hybrid, its electric component was further improved with a new lithium-ion battery and upgraded electric motor. This equates to an additional 10 horsepower, bringing up the Corolla Hybrid’s combined output from 121 horsepower to 131 horsepower.

The JDM 2023 Toyota Corolla in three body styles

If you’re curious about their pricing, the Corolla Sport hatchback which is the more powerful of the bunch, has a price ranging from 2,200,000 yen to 2,890,000 yen (around Php 887,000 to Php 1,175,000 at current exchange rates). The Corolla Touring Wagon in turn starts at 2,070,000 yen (around Php 834,000), while the sedan starts at 1,990,000 yen (around Php 805,000).

Will the improvements on these new JDM Corollas find their way to our own locally available Corolla Altis? For now, we don’t know yet. So better stay tuned here on Philkotse for more news and more automotive industry updates.