Toyota Motor Philippines has added some much-requested connectivity features for its compact sedan offering, the Corolla Altis. The updates blew by almost unnoticed (including by us), until we had to check out the model’s full spec sheet.
To recall, Toyota Motor Philippines launched its latest-generation Corolla Altis in 2019. It became the compact car segment’s first-ever hybrid offering and brought on features such as Toyota Safety Sense on top of a more dynamic platform called TNGA.
Now, the updates for 2021 have nothing to do with any of those systems. In fact, the single new feature addresses the biggest complaint the Corolla Altis had during the launch: the infotainment system. The antiquated system has now bided goodbye, at least in the 1.8 HEV and 1.6 V, in favor of a new 8-inch system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The same system also acts as a monitor for the rear backup camera.
Sadly, the 1.6 G and 1.6 E models keep their previous 6.8-inch Display Audio system that uses T-Link for smartphone connectivity. The smaller screen though has its advantages: it does offer both CD and DVD playback capability—something you can’t find in the 1.6 V and 1.8 HEV models which has foregone disc-based music sources.
These changes are certainly very minor, but it’s good that Toyota Motor Philippines is finally addressing the issues surrounding their lackluster infotainment system. Best news of all is that new the infotainment system hasn’t affected the Corolla Altis’s price. It comes with the following SRPs which are slightly up from their launch prices in 2019:
- Corolla Altis 1.6 E MT – P 1,014,000
- Corolla Altis 1.6 G CVT – P 1,130,000
- Corolla Altis 1.6 V CVT – P 1,215,000
- Corolla Altis 1.8 HEV CVT – P 1,595,000
Finally a decent head unit for the upper trims.
ReplyDeleteZOMG, finally TMPI has joined us in the 21st century and replaced that ugly, thick, triple black bezels on the center infotainment unit! Aloha Snackbar!
ReplyDeleteYahoooooo!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut the Corolla Altis G Manual is now discontinued for 2021.
ReplyDeleteSmart move. Compact cars with a MT are slow sellers. Even in the B-segment, sales of the City MT aren't moving as well as the CVT variants.
DeleteToyota, please add reverse camera, backup sensors, and a better touchscreen for the 1.6G in the future. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteToyota, please add a decent head unit, backup camera, and parking sensors to the 1.6G. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteToyota, please add a decent head unit, backup camera, and parking sensors to the 1.6G. Thank you!
ReplyDelete