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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Okay, I kind of lied.
Kitted with the White Pearl paint, the 1.6 V tested costs P 1,014,000. But removing the special paint, the Corolla Altis is still a looker. I’ve seen my fair share of new model Corollas going around, but the design doesn’t get tiring. The Corolla Altis, sans the wrap-around aero kit (standard on the 2.0 V), balances elegance with sportiness. Squint hard and you’ll see bits of Camry, RAV4, and 86 thrown in (which is a good thing). Like the rest of Toyota’s models of late, there’s much angularity to the design with a front-end that does a Storm Trooper proud and a rear that’ll get the thumbs up from Donald Trump. The side profile reveals the additional girth put on by the newest model which has been disguised well otherwise. The 1.6 V rides on smaller 205/55R16 tires which, surprisingly, still look fine; though the same can’t be said with the large wheel well gaps.
Inside, the Corolla Altis 1.6 V takes a completely different approach to its range-topping sibling. Instead of going sporty, it does luxury. From a monotone black interior, the 1.6 V swaps it for a two-tone black-and-beige number. The upper and lower portions of the dash are still black (along with the Cybercarbon inserts), but the middle portion gets beige inserts. This simple color palette swap does wonders in creating a much airier feel and makes the 1.6 V feels homey and welcoming. It also visually enlarges the already cavernous cabin making it look even bigger. More than once, passengers were left with the impression that they rode a Camry instead of a Corolla Altis. Among all other compact cars, if you plan to fit five adults regularly, this is the best choice, bar none. However, ff there’s one gripe about the beige portions is that they’re tough to keep clean. This is evidenced by the “mysterious” stains on the seats as well as the scuff marks on the dash panels.
The entirety of the Corolla Altis 1.6 V driving experience is best summed in two words: Camry Light. While the 2.0 V, with its sporty body kit and 17-inch alloy wheels, may create expectations of a four-door 86, the 1.6 V doesn’t have to deal with such pretense. On paper, it gives up 23 horsepower and 33 Nm of torque against the 2.0 V (122 horsepower, 154 Nm), but in reality, it doesn’t feel all that underpowered, well at least initially. Despite losing 13-percent horsepower per metric ton to the 2.0-liter (96.44 vs 111.5), the 1.6 V feels just as responsive from the get-go. A bulk of the credit goes to Toyota’s unique CVT transmission that integrates a torque converter that keeps the engine at optimal revs during take-off. There’s absolutely none of the rubber band-like sensation commonly associated with CVT transmissions. Once you pass the confines of the city though, you’ll start wishing for the additional 400-cc of displacement. Though the 1.6-liter engine and CVT transmission combo has little problem cruising on NLEX at a steady pace, overtaking requires more careful planning as top-end power just isn’t there. But for as long as you’re driving relaxed rather than attacking corners, the power is more than enough. As for fuel economy, the 1.6 V does 10.75 km/L in city traffic, figures which are, oddly enough, equal to the 2.0 V (10.66 km/L).
The rest of the Corolla Altis package falls among similar lines: it’s a relaxed, smooth, and quiet cruiser. The steering is precise but vague; the brakes bite well but require some pedal force; and there’s pronounced body roll through corners. On the flipside, it manages to soak any sort of road undulation, big or small, low speed or high speed. Comparing the 1.6 V to the 2.0 V, the 1.6 V’s suspension feels better tuned with less over the overdamped feel of the 2.0, due perhaps to the taller tires. In short, the Corolla Altis 1.6 V behaves squarely in line with the traditional sense of what makes for a great ride; certainly a no-brainer if you have picky travel companions.
Priced at P 202,000 less than the 2.0 V, the 1.6 V is certainly budget-friendly for both personal or corporate purchase. And yet, it’s backed up with all sorts of goodies you won’t come to expect in a car of this price: push button engine start/stop; automatic climate control; USB audio with Bluetooth hands-free; rear sunshade; back-up sensors—clearly, Toyota’s pricing and spec-ing of this car is a guaranteed hook more so than any other Corolla Altis. Though I’d personally still shell out the additional cash for the 2.0 V, those who’re penny-pinching should look no further than the 1.6 V. This is one car that drives reasonably well, founded on solid values and now backed up with great features at a very competitive price point.
2014 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6V
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| Ownership | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6V |
| Year Introduced | 2014 |
| Vehicle Classification | Compact |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | 4-door sedan |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.6 |
| Aspiration | NA |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 122 @ 6,000 |
| Nm @ rpm | 154 @ 5,200 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / 91~ |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Cruise Control | No |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,620 |
| Width (mm) | 1,776 |
| Height (mm) | 1,460 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,700 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,265 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam Axle |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc |
| Tires | 205/55R16 |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 2 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes |
| Traction / Stability Control | No |
| Parking Sensors | Yes |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | Halogen |
| Fog Lamps | Yes |
| Auto Lights | Yes |
| Auto Wipers | Yes |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjustment | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment | Manual |
| Seating Surface | Fabric |
| Folding Rear Seat | Yes, 60/40 |
| On-Board Computer | Yes |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes |
| Climate Control | Yes |
| Audio System | Stereo CD MP3 Aux USB Bluetooth |
| No. of Speakers | 6 |
| Steering Wheel Controls | Yes |
Any word on its fuel economy for highway driving?
ReplyDeletemine is 1.6v. and he's always thirsty. consumes 6.2 - 6.5km/l city driving.. very disappointing for a 1.6 engine.
Deletei get 8.8 km/L on the fuel economy meter but it's still new so it'll still go up.
DeleteI got 9.1 km/l with in paranaque area, 3 mo. old 1.6v.
DeleteI got 10.5 Km/L. Paranaque to Manila.
DeleteMine's a 1.6G A/T. Consumes 7.4 to 7.5km/l
DeleteMine's a 1.6G A/T. Consumes 7.4 to 7.5km/l
Deletemine's 1.6G/AT. Consumes 6.4 to 6.5km/l and is only 2 weeks old. Is there any chance that this figures can go up? appreciate any advise please.
Deletemine's a week old G manual. I'm doing 6.5 to 6.7 per liter to/from the office. Traffic is really a misery, it takes me at least 45min to cover 9km during rush hour. Nonetheless, I can't wait to test the 6th gear in NLEX
DeleteYou really think it's better and has more value than the Mazda 3?
ReplyDeleteAlso, though they're in different categories: For everyday, mostly city-driving, which one would you get - this or the new Honda City?
I'll get the altis V, but if we're talking about an altis G vs honda city vx, I'll pick the honda city no doubt.
DeleteStill Torsion Beam Axle in the rear suspension just like on most Sub-compact and cheaper Compact cars.
ReplyDeleteSir Uly Ang, what's your definition of soon? 6-12 months?
Hopefully your next review will be the new MZ3.
This or mazda 3? What are the prons and cons of this two? Maganda sana gawin gawa ng face off with the 1.6G of altis. More power!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it obvious. The answer is on the first sentence of this review.
Deletei totally disagree with the non existent of the CVT rubber band effect. Try to floor the gas and you'll see the RPM shoots up without any pull from the wheels. All engine noise you hear...In low speed there's none, but flooring the throttle, the CVT rears its ugly head.
Deletelet me rephrase hahahaha ano na lang prons and cons with this with the mazda 3
DeleteMazda 3 - more powerful and high tech. Daming features. Mas bagay siguro sa mga single. Hahaha.
DeleteAltis - huge interior space, cheaper maintenance and comfortable ride. Pang pamilya.
sir do you have a review of toyota vios 1.3 e m/t, vios 1.5 G m/t, yaris 1.3 e m/t, corolla altis 1.6G m/t?
ReplyDeletemine's 1.6g mt just purchase this may, 2015... 700 pa lang odo nya.. ung highway fc nya 14.4 km/ltr full tank method way above sa lumalabas sa fuel meter nya na 12.7km/ltr... max speed is 120kph but most of the time 80-100kph..
Deletesir at 100kph cruising speed at 6th gear ano rpm niya?
Deletesir will you be reviewing the nissan sylphy?
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't believe Uly has gone soft & pedestrian. At least you're still honest enough to admit that the current Altis still has lifeless electric power steering, nonlinear braking feel, and that the subcompact-class non-independent torsion rear suspension still results in a soft, wobbly ride. Externally, it looks good only from the front and rear; the flat, detail-less slab side still gives it a tallboy look like the previous 2 generations. Also, the CVT, like in other brands that use the same type of tranny, is noisy even at idle and they had to resort to an inefficient torque converter to smoothen out the shifting in stop&go traffic; defeating the purpose of using those belt-driven pulleys in the first place.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I'd still put the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus at the top of the compact sedan category, with the Honda Civic at the bottom. This Altis would be in the middle, same as the Elantra and Lancer EX.
Looks great compared to the previous generations, not if compared to its competitors today.
DeleteHave you tried test driving the new altis? It has the Dual VVT-i engine technology, the result is a QUIETER, more powerful, more fuel-efficient unit, which creates fewer emissions
DeleteI'd still wish Toyota Phil released the Altis with Valvematic engine
DeleteIt's nonsense only if you have poor reading comprehension. It's evident in all pictures of the side profile. But then again, if your mind's made up, no amount of evidence would convince you otherwise. Enjoy your econobox, pray that you don't get hailed at night by people thinking your ride's a taxicab. :P
ReplyDeletewag po tayo mag away. kotse lang po ito...beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder ika nga.
Delete(pero ang pangit talaga..!) peace.
at least the latest altis has more changes than the previous one.
DeleteUnlike the new civic which is a just boxy edition of the previous one and looks like an upsized version of 2012 city
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that the side panels are not great looking. I was turned off by it and decided to get another brand. Its instrumentation panel also has no impact, it looks flat and something that was made a decade ago. No match for the cockpit design of either elantra or Mazda 3. Lastly, I hate that they've incorporate a beige color in its interior. Its gives me a dirty old man vibes!
ReplyDeleteBMW's have simplistic instrument gauges yet no one complains...
ReplyDeleteAlso the Civic, Impreza and even the Lancer EX have flat side panels which is quite common in modern cars. I don't get why people whine about it. I guess they're just nitpicking.
So, in short, you're perfectly fine with boring cockpits and non-unified designs. Good for you.
DeleteActually yes. If I want an attention grabbing car with a crazy design, I'd buy a sports car, not a fucking compact sedan. Set your expectations straight.
DeleteLOL. Non-sequitur logic. No wonder you're a Toyota fan-ghey.
DeleteGuys, tama na muna ang away. Let's just understand and accept the fact that we all have different tastes and preferences when it comes to cars - and pretty much everything in life. To each his own and let's leave it at that :)
DeleteSi 7:19PM commenter ay mukhang baguhan lang dito sa site, kaya akala niya lahat ng may valid critique sa favorite brand niya ay fanboy nung kabilang brand, haha. Boy, walang may gusto ng Honda at ng Civic dito dahil may mga mata kami dito.
DeleteI was just assuming he has a honda. Douchebags usually own a honda. Mazda fanboys are also equally annoying.
DeleteWell, since the Toyota fan-gay above was the one who started using cuss words like some little kid losing an argument, we can all conclude who's the douchebag around here. The little kid prolly has experience only with a single brand that's why he's fanatical about it.
DeleteLet me get this out of the way, I've always thought that the Altis when pitted side by side against its contemporaries has always been the whipping boy and the ugly duckling. Before the release of the current model, I've decided that the Elantra was the most beautiful and refined looking of the lot, but now!? This isnt just a Camry Light to my senses, but a mini Lexus. :-D
ReplyDeleteWho are you kidding? Im pretty sure you never rode in a Lexus in your life. Go test drive a Nissan Sylphy if you want thru definition of lightness. Albeit its better bang for the buck than the Altis.
DeleteXenon vs Halogen
Leather seats vs Fabric
17" rims vs 16" rims
1.8 engine vs 1.6
Probably much roomier than Altis for the lesser price
So Uly, do you still think the Altis is the better buy?
I think the new Mazda 3 is the most beautiful, sexiest, gorgeous in this compact segment alone
DeleteRe the argument for Sylphy VS Altis (for models at the same price level), it makes sense. I don't mind the resale value but when it comes to maintenance costs, reliability, and availability of spare parts, does Nissan trump Toyota? Esp since the PH-based Nissan company/ies has/have been shaky these past years and it's only now that they're consolidating their efforts.
DeleteHappy to hear your thoughts!
the sylphy looks ugly IMHO.
DeleteIf I were to rank the current model of sedans w/o considering their resale value, first would be the Mazda 3 followed by elantra, civic and altis.
ReplyDeleteConsider the key values:
DeleteUnit price
Fuel efficient
Maintenance cost/parts availability
Driving performance
Safety
Now, re-rank again
The only bright spot for the altis is its front look which the new Mazda 3 stole from them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, Mazda 3's design is based on Mazda 6.
DeleteMazda 6 was also released earlier than the new Altis.
And the Mazda 3 and Altis does not look similar.
Who said that they look similar? Obviously they're not! What I mean is, the Mazda 3 is better in terms of its front view compared to the new altis.
DeleteI'm not Anon 10:03 but you implied that they look similar. If M3 stole the Altis' front look, then they (or at least their front looks) should look similar, right? But as you said, obviously they're not.
DeleteI agree with Sir Uly and with some of the comments here.
ReplyDeleteAesthetically, the Altis rival only the Mazda3. You could also make a case for the Impreza (the Sylphy and Focus look average, while the Lancer and Civic are too ricey save for their respective base models). This is just a matter of personal opinion though.
The Altis is a contradiction. Yes, it has that waku-doki vibe going for it; but all that heart-thumping feeling ends when you're behind the wheel. It drives so mundane to the point of being lifeless due to its vague steering. It goes up to speed well, but as Sir Uly pointed out, overtaking takes planning. Floor the gas pedal a little too hard and the engine growls in protest. It just doesn't have smooth acceleration at overtaking speeds. The Altis also has one of the worst entertainment systems in its class. While some of its contemporaries have LCD/touchscreen displays, its system looks like it's from the previous decade. Not to mention, the it refuses to interface with anything Android and the like.
Qualms aside, I like its interiors; spacious and elegant. All around visibility is adequate though the side mirrors should have been a few sq. mm larger. NVH mitigation is excellent. FC is similar to the review, high 9s to low 11s (km/L) in mixed driving conditions that lean more on city driving. Lastly, as an owner of several Toyota vehicles, I'm pinning my hopes on Toyota's reputation for reliability with this car.
In hindsight, part of me wanted to wait for the new Mazda 3 with all of its fancy technology (SkyActiv etc.), but owning this fine-looking, elegant and quiet cruiser isn't a bad thing either.
Are the interiors of the 1.6g and 1.6v interiors the same?
ReplyDeleteI wanted to buy the Altis last month, but then the New Mazda 3 showed up, and it looks damn fine! (especially the soul infusion red)
ReplyDeleteI was able to drive both vehicles, Altis 1.6 and Mazda3 1.5 & 2.0, the Altis is okay, if you're a family guy, it's the right choice. The Mazda 3 1.5 is okay but the 2.0 is better in terms of power and acceleration BUT... came the Honda City, I drove the City 1.5 just 2 weeks ago, and it has a great engine response, the acceleration feel is just way better than the Mazda 3 1.5... so if I'm gonna choose the Mazda 3, I'd definitely go for the 2.0, if not I'd go for the Honda City... but I've been hearing rumors of the new Honda Jazz, and I wanna go check it out first. Yup, it sounds crazy comparing compacts with sub compacts etc. etc. but i'd have to be honest here, City 1.5 is better than Mazda 3 1.5... if you don't believe me, test drive both of them. So there goes my 2 cents.
Better? I don't think so. Probably on the acceleration part only. The 1.5 Mazda3 is a bit sluggish in 20-30km/h but the quick acceleration and power feels will kick in after you've passed 30-40km/h.
Delete0-60mph between the two are only separated by more than a half-second
Mazda 3 - 11.8 seconds
Honda City 11.2 seconds
Overall the 1.5 Mazda 3 is still the better buy over the City
Better looking (exterior looks may be subjective)
Bigger car on the road against the City (compact vs sub-compact)
Better suspension, brakes and handling (less body roll on the Mazda)
Better interior design (less plastic than the Honda)
Better engineered. (Mazda 3 CBU Japan vs Honda City is made from Santa Rosa Laguna)
I disagree with the City 1.5. That 1.5L engine is exactly the same as the old one, meaning its peaky and practically torqueless at low-to-mid RPM, where you would spend most of your driving. The new CVT has a better virtual spread of gear ratios than the old conventional 5-speed AT of course, but you get all the downsides of the CVT as well. Standard features on the TOTL model are better than on the Civic as well. That would have never happened with the previous generations, which just goes to show that Honda has indeed given up on the current Civic generation.
DeleteAnd oh, VTEC has just kicked in now! LOL
LOL! torqueless at low to mid rpm? You surely haven't test driven the new city
DeleteI dont get it. In all forums that ive visited, everyone says mazda 3 with skyactiv is the best, but when it comes to sales, altis tops the mazda 3.
DeleteI did my rounds testing the Altis 1.6 G M/T, Yaris G A/T, TOTL City VX, Ecosport Trend A/T, Elantra 1.6 M/T Last month looking for a replacement for our FD. [All priced below 900K]
ReplyDeleteHere’s how I will rank each from the driver’s seat.
1. Ecosport
2. Elantra
3. Altis
4. City
5. Yaris
I always thought our 5 yr.old FD is old but after each drive I always return to the Civic feeling like it’s still the better car to drive.
I owned variety cars before, a Owner type Jeep, ‘77 Corona 2.0 Coupe, Daihatsu Van, Suzuki Vitara JLX, Sentra B14. So I’m not a brand loyal petrol head.
Somehow every car has its own character and its own Pros and Cons. On paper some may be outright winners but it’s how it feels in our own hands in our own route that’s more important. So it makes sense to test drive each of the cars you plan to buy.
Well obviously your FD would be better because it belongs in a higher market segment than the models you're looking at as replacement. The Altis & Elantra are base models as well. Don't you want to stay at the compact sedan level? The other models you're looking at are cheaper subcompacts and entry-level urban SUVs.
DeleteIt’s my wife’s company car, they replace it every 5 years so there’s a budget of less than 900K. Our FD is actually a base model 1.8V. The point I want to convey is that Brands and Models have their own character that others may find great and others may find repulsive. I just want the comment thread to remain objective and refrain from bashing one brand from another.
DeleteHurrah for the 2009 Honda Civic 1.8S. Except for its FC, I simply like it. I won't be selling it even if my Mazda 3 1.5 arrives. I sold my 2004 1.6E Altis without hesitation when I got my Civic back then.
DeleteIs there a negative effect on your decision to buy a Mazda Skyactiv with its proprietary Battery? ... it can not be replaced by any battery...
ReplyDeleteGood thing someone mentioned the Mazda proprietary battery. Indeed, all Mazda models equipped with the idle start/stop require a quick charge/discharge battery. By switching to a brand like Motolite, it may not be able to take the charging/draining effect it will have for that long.
DeleteWhat if you turn off the idle start/stop, will you be able to switch to a generic battery? Heard that it costs around 16K, or 3x the price of a motolight.
DeleteAnonymous (2:21 PM and 3:48 PM) is that you Neil2peart in disguise in Tsikot? Hahaha! Pati ba naman dito sinasabotage mo yung Mazda Skyactiv. Tsk tsk tsk! What a loser!
ReplyDeletewould you know guys how much it cost to install "Leather" on seat cover?
ReplyDeletei would suggest as well as a new owner of Altis 2015 1.6 G A/T, it really goes bump! i really enjoyed driving it compared to Honda City 1.5 2014 model. Huge interior space and elegant exterior style but poor in terms of audio system. But in total, Excellent!
-Respect :)
If you wanna waste your money, buy mazda.
ReplyDeleteUrur ka. Buy the Altis then and pray you won't get hailed as a taxicab at night. Low tech, boring design, primitive audio system.
DeleteSo kapag red yun altis e mapagkakamalang taxi? Retarded pala tong tao nato. Also, who cares, sa ibang bansa nga ginagawang taxi ang lambo.
Delete"If you wanna waste your money, buy mazda." I agree. I am a Mazda fan and I have a dislike for Toyota Altis since 2005, because basically because I do not find that it corners as well as Mazda 3. However, given the maintenance costs of Mazda 3 (as it gets older - at nine years, I already replaced A/T assembly, radiator fan, bearings, CD changer repairs), and the poor resale values of Mazda cars here compared with Toyota - I am sorely tempted to get a new Altis and order a TRD suspension for my issues with its handling. We think that Toyotas are more expensive during purchase compared to Mazda because mainly Toyota earns money when they sell cars (very reliable/older tech), and Mazda earns money because of the shorter lifespan of its parts (compared to Toyota). At the end of the day, it still comes down to what you need vs. what you want. Sad, but true for me.
DeletePuro ka satsat wala ka naman pambili ikaw ang urur!
ReplyDeleteTaxicab atleast taxi eh ikaw nagcocomute ka lang urur!
ReplyDeletewere planning to buy a compact sedan a couple of years ago but the available sedan at that time doesnt suit my taste eg. altis elantra civic cruze etc. i want a striking and fierce looking yet elegant. we also considered the elantra because of its striking design but i heard hyundai isnt good as many negative feedbacks from owners arise. so i told them we should wait for the all new altis from toyota. so we waited for the new altis and we dont regret it. we chose the 1.6g m/t variant cause i dont like a/t. i never liked a/t cause for me its childs play. so far so good, we have it for a month now. the ave 7.5km/L isnt quite good in city drive but its fair enough. if i have to rate it 1-10, its 8.5
ReplyDeleteThis is the car I'm using right now, it's really good & practical to use. I like the push button start/stop. Exciting to drive.
ReplyDeletemga paps query lang baka mapa away din ako.... fit kaya rims/mags nito sa altis 2008 model? tenkxxxx
ReplyDeleteThis car or the 2012 Honda City E? Because I don't like the latest Civic and City.
ReplyDeleteAltis is much-much better than Honda City....
ReplyDeleteWrong argument bro! Altis is better than Civic but Vios is better than City.
DeleteBy the way new 2015 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 G A/T ginamit kong car papakyat ng Blue Pavillion, Infanta, Quezon. Tried it on the road they called it "bitukang manok" and very nice ABS with EBD.
ReplyDeleteNatest ko din when I was going uphill, mejo mahaba ung paakyat at nakasabay ko ung 2 civic 1.8S and 1 CRV and 1 avanza. I was on the last and I tried to overtake, guess what nauanahan ko sila. I'm not making stories and this is true. Sinubukan ko lang kc 7-speed daw ung altis so tested nga against 5-speed or 6-speed cars. Dun mismo sa way on Infanta, Quezon. I think nasa bitukang manok na daan paring kami when I experienced that on my 2015 Altis 1.6 G A/T.
ReplyDeletehow about ung, vios 1.5g M/T ayus din po buhh?
ReplyDeleteMy Altis 1.6G 2014 model consumes 6.3 Km/L of gas, based on city driving in Cebu, very disappointing...
ReplyDeleteThis review helped me decide to choose our Kuya "A"..he is more than a year old now.
ReplyDelete