Toyota Corolla Altis: For more than a decade, the Toyota Corolla Altis has been a bastion of comfort, refinement, and reliability and is testament to its unwavering popularity amongst the competitive premium sedan segment.
Through the years, the Altis has become known as a no- nonsense car that puts value before flash.
Its great styling, ride, and legendary durability make the Corolla Altis one of the few cars in its segment worthy of long-term consideration; choosing satisfaction over fads.
In spite of being out of production in India, the Altis does command a good demand in the pre-owned car space — a summing up of the quality it offers and the maintainable value.
The Sleek,Yet Elegant Design
The Corolla Altis is no shouty-eyed attention seeker; its tidy, grown-up design makes a statement.
The sharp front facia – which features slim projector headlamps, large chrome grille and sculpted bonnet – is the result of Toyota’s focus on timeless design.
It’s not overbearing, but the car has an air of class that suits executives and families.
Seen from the side, its stretched-out body and alloys lend it a more balanced, well-proportioned appearance.
The LED tail lamps and tasteful use of chrome at the rear finish a package that skews toward elegance over excitement — which is fine by me.
Sumptuous, Practical Interiors
Climb into the Altis and you’re met with a sprawling, neatly put together cabin. The dashboard is clean with soft-felling materials and wood or silver trim highlights all organized around a user-friendly interface.
The leather-wrapped steering, powered driver seat (only in higher trims), and dual-zone climate control provides a touch of luxury, but it is just enough and not over the top.
It’s strong on rear seat comfort. The Altis has plenty of room for passengers with long legs and a laid-back seating angle because of its long wheel base.
The large windows and light trim inside also contribute to the bright, comfortable feeling.
On the feature front, the Altis gets a touchscreen infotainment system (with Bluetooth and navigation), cruise control, push-button start and automatic headlamps.
Not a feature monster by contemporary standards, the design emphasis is definitely on reliability and intuitive use.
Powertrain Options and Performance
The Toyota Corolla Altis was made available with petrol as well as diesel engine options.
An absolute highlight is the 1.8L petrol motor which proved to have a smooth and refined performance, especially when coupled with the CVT automatic.
It’s not the quickest in its class but feels particularly easy to live with, with power delivery that builds predictably and a cabin that’s damped well against the outside world.
For the fuel conscious, the 1.4L Diesel is a hardy soldier. It’s not necessarily a performer, but it’s effective and makes it perfect for long commutes or highway miles.
Ride is another one of those strong points. Pothead and undulation dampening is similarly superb, and the seat is plush and composed.
The steering is light, conducive to easy city maneuvering, but with enough feedback for the highway.
Safety and Dependability
Safety Toyota has always been a stickler for safety and the Corolla Altis is no exception.
It gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat mounts, to name a few.
Higher trims get up to seven airbags, hill-start assist and vehicle stability control.
But more than anything else, it is the reliability of the Altis that makes it the clear winner.
Many owners experience virtually no maintenance issues even after years of ownership.
Ownership peace of mind comes from Toyota’s strong after-sales network and pocket-friendly parts as well.
Pros:
Excellent reliability and low service cost
The interiors are large and feel great even for people sitting in the rear bench.
Petrol engine and CVT team up well for city driving
Timeless design that grows old gracefully the long past Prime, doug3714.
Good used resale value.
Cons:
Doesn’t have the latest bells and whistles of some competitors
Diesel is not punchy like some rivals
No longer available for sale in India, restricting the new sale options
Outdated infotainment system by today’s standards
Toyota Corolla Altis: Conclusion
The Toyota Corolla Altis may not be the most shining star on the block, but it’s certainly a stable and comfortable option in its class.
For those who put a premium on the long-term ownership value, driving pleasure, and peace of mind, the Altis continues to have its following – and not just among those who prefer to make subtsance instead of showing off.
Whether secondhand purchase or nurtured family car, it demonstrates class doesn’t have to raise its voice to be heard.