Is 2023 Corolla AWD?

Jun 01, 2022 at 9:00am ET

The Toyota GR Corolla is undoubtedly the hottest new addition to the Corolla’s lineup for the 2023 model year but the automaker has interesting upgrades for the more humble versions of the model. Leading the novelties is a more powerful hybrid system and there’s also an available all-wheel drive, plus a new combustion engine.

Starting with the latter, the most popular trim level of the Corolla, the LE, now gets a 2.0-liter gas engine with 169 horsepower replacing the previous 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 139 hp. The new mill is not only more powerful but also more efficient by nearly two miles per gallon on average compared to the 1.8-liter unit. All 2023 Corolla models with a gas engine come with a CVT, which gets paddle shifters to engage 10 pre-set gear ratios in the SE and XSE grades.

The biggest news, however, has to be the new hybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain. It has a rear-mounted electric motor that power the rear wheels. Toyota doesn’t reveal output numbers but says the system engages the rear electric motor not only as a response to slippage at the front but also to enhance cornering and reduce understeer.

All 2023 Corolla Hybrid models have a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine, while a newly-developed motor has been added to the hybrid system with a redesigned magnet and electromagnetic steel plate configuration. The lithium-ion battery has also been upgraded and is now located under the rear seat for a lower center of gravity. For the 2023 model year, the previously available Corolla Hybrid LE FWD trim is joined by four new hybrid models –  LE AWD, SE, SE AWD, and XLE.

Standard on all 2023 Corolla grades is Toyota’s 8.0-inch infotainment system with over-the-air updates, a voice-activated assistant, and a cloud-based navigation system. Optionally available on the Corolla SE, XSE, and XLE is a JBL premium audio system with nine speakers and an 800-watt amplifier. Leather upholstery, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging pad, and other cool features are also part of the optional equipment.

On the safety side, Toyota introduces version 3.0 of its Toyota Safety Sense family of safety technologies. It now includes enhanced versions of lane departure warning with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, road sign assist, automatic high beam, pre-collision alert with pedestrian detection, and lane tracing assist. The 2023 Corolla is also available with front and rear parking sensors and a parking camera.

Source: Toyota

2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared Edition

Toyota hasn’t yet released figures for the 2023 Prius, but the Prius Eco achieves 56 mpg combined and the rest of the front-wheel-drive Prius lineup gets 52 mpg combined. In AWD guise, the Prius gets 49 mpg combined.

The Prius AWD-e was added for 2019, and a very small-and-light approach in adding a rear motor for the rear wheels helped preserve most of its efficiency. The same strategy applies to AWD versions of the Corolla. Toyota says the rear motor provides additional drive force for the system—revised spec not yet released—plus valuable additional traction. Toyota says that the addition also aids handling. 

Toyota has given the base 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE grade a $1,250 price reduction—to $23,895—while the rest of the lineup gets significant price increases of, in some cases, more than $2,000. 

2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared Edition

2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared Edition

2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared Edition

The Hybrid is also now offered in more versions: LE, LE AWD, SE, SE AWD, and “premium focused” XLE. SE versions get sportier drive tuning, red accents instead of blue, and a Smart Key system. Alloy wheel designs are new this year, the palette of colors has been revamped, and all Corolla Hybrids get a new LED headlight design. 

The refresh includes an active-safety upgrade, too, with Toyota’s latest Safety Sense 3.0 suite of features and available dynamic radar cruise control. There’s also updated 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility plus two new rear-seat USB-C ports, for a total of four. XLE models add wireless device charging and JBL audio.

2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared Edition

Toyota says that the lithium-ion battery in Corolla Hybrids is placed under the rear seat, lowering the center of mass and leaving room for the 60/40-split seatbacks to fold forward. The hybrid battery is covered by warranty for 10 years or 150,000 miles and is transferrable. 

Later in the year a new Hybrid SE Infrared Edition will also join the broadened 2023 Corolla Hybrid family, adding the non-hybrid SE model’s sport suspension, firmer steering feel, red accents, and Graphite-color alloy wheels. 

2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared Edition

Toyota has also introduced a Corolla Cross Hybrid, although the Corolla Cross is a significantly taller, heavier vehicle that achieves 37 mpg. 

At 2,850 lb, the Hybrid weighs far less than typical EVs, as well as most other compact sedans—and, now, less than the Prius. With all these changes, it’s likely that the Corolla Hybrid has become the more efficient and better-driving car. Now, what kind of tech will that leave the Prius?

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