My U.S. 2019 Corolla Hatch initial impressions after reading/watching around what is out there currently on the net:
Likes:
- General body shape, lines & proportions are nice - this car will look really nice in black.
- LED DRL design looks pretty good/elegant, on otherwise odd-shaped headlights.
- Modern, LED headlights.
- Side-mirror signal indicators - should be standard passive safety feature on EVERY vehicle.
- Factory OEM fog-lights (unlike current U.S.-spec iM model)
- OEM alloy wheel design on both SE & XSE are solid.
- Rear bumper reflectors have NICE vertical design & integration into the body/bumper styling. Looks great.
- Rear tail lights have a nice, hawkish look to them, with LED lights.
- Standard body-colored 'shark-fin' antenna
- has a nice, wide, sporty crouching stance.
- No crazy, overdone lower body kit like the current iM hatch sports.
- New 2.0 liter engine isn't turbo-crap, and looks to be shooting for a better balance between decently 'spunky' acceleration & practical MPG economy.
- The new-design CVT automatic with unique integrated single launch gear is interesting on paper. Wonder how it will play out in the real world for both feel & reliability?
Dislikes:
- Front grill shape/design reminds me a bit too much of the fugly little iA. I would HAVE to buy black (or dark gray) to blend it out with car. At least there is a body-colored piece bringing up the bottom of the front grill, to help minimize the 'gaping maw' effect if you opt for another color besides black.
- The molded, fake 'dual-exhaust' chrome trim pieces on lower rear bumper are a bit cheesy/tacky and overdone. The real exhaust is single outlet and hidden underneath the bumper (like on the current Civic or ILX, for example).
- The tablet touchscreen standing up on the dashboard looks stupid.
- More 'Safety Sense' tech nonsense for distracted, drunk and dementia drivers.
- The oversized rear spoiler on XSE, poking up at a bizarre 45 degree angle. Not so bad from the straight back view, but stupid-looking from the side angles. A bit too juvenile really, overall.
- 18" wheels (XSE) are a bit oversized really for car this size, while the 16" wheels (SE) are not quite large enough. Toyota should have stuck with the 'sweet spot' 17" wheels on both. I bet that the ultra-low profile tires (40 series?) on the 18" wheels are a jarring nightmare to drive on most crappy, poorly-maintained U.S. roads.
- Blue color featured in pics below looks horrible and gaudy. Something for 'look at me!' high-school drivers & teenagers?