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Auto India » Corolla Altis
Corolla Altis India
SOME ARE BORN TO FIGHT, AND THE Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic have been traditional rivals ever since their birth. And what we are now witnessing in India is the new Corolla Altis trying to take back the segment leader title it held, until the Civic entered the ring two years back and dethroned it.
At that time the Civic was all new and with its overall superiority in almost every department, it simply knocked over the ageing Corolla that had debuted in India in 2003. Though Toyota introduced the Corolla Altis in several other markets much earlier, in our country it’s taken them a full two years to respond. In this period the Civic has raced to the top in the prestigious and fast growing D-segment and established its superior¬ity. So can the new Toyota Corolla Altis take the fight to the Honda Civic?
Even after two years, the Civic continues to look special. Its low and wide stance, sleek and slippery shape, sharply sculpted lines, and very balanced proportions all contribute towards giving it a stunning presence. Its narrow grille and slender headlamps that angle upwards as they curve around the fenders, the sharply raked wind¬screens and the shortish but substantial looking rear end with large tail lamps that are said to be inspired by afterburn¬ers, look extremely distinctive and attractive even today. And even though Toyota have done a fair amount of work on the Corolla Altis’s styling, it falls to match the Civic in the looks department.
The path-breaking and futuristic interior of the Civic also continues to look funky. Especially the digital speedometer and displays for engine temperature and fuel level placed in a separate binnacle just inside the windscreen. The instruments are superbly backlit in blue with white numerals and are amazingly easy to read. It all lights up intriguingly at night and the illumination intensity can be controlled. The three-spoke steering has a big angular, somewhat triangular centre hub, with perforated spokes. The wheel is covered with perforated and plain leather and feels great to hold and use. Everything is more sporty, lively and better to look at and use and feel than in the Altis. In fact the Interior of the Altis pales in comparion.
Storage space inside the Civic is also very good. Big cup holders, a wide glove box, huge map pockets, and a box behind the gear shifter with a pair of cup holders that pop out at the push of a button. Behind this is another storage bin covered by a padded armrest, which slides forward nicely. To accommodate these, the handbrake, that is an innovative Z-shaped design, has been moved alongside the shifter. Another example of exploration driven design, something you do not see too much of in the Altis. The driving position in the Civic is also very comfortable and the steering wheel adjusts for tilt and also telescopic reach just like in the Altis. But unlike it, the Civic does not have an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. The interiors are done in an attractive beige and black two tone combination and all materials look and feel high grade. The rear seat armrest has a beverage holder and fixed controls for the audio system. In the Altis you get a remote. The Civic also has single lever that releases both fuel cover and boot. Push on it to open the fuel lid and pull to release the boot. Very nice.
A 16 – valve engine that has a variable length intake manifold and i- VTEC variable valve timing for a broader spread of power drives the Cvic. This also helps improve fuel efficiency as it reduces pumping losses inlow load situations and provides more power higher up. It’s mated with both an automatic with paddle shifts and a manual transmission, which we have tested here. Push the wire-driven throttle and the horses charge out. The throws on the slick shifting five-speed box are short, making fast shifts easy. The 1.8 engine responds quickly as it races to meet its rev limiter, which is set much higher than in the Altis. It’s also not as eager to curb rpm as the one in the Altis. The Civic crosses the 100kph mark in 9.88 seconds, which is much faster than the Altis. The Civic’s engine is super smooth and surprisingly quiet until almost 600Orpm, when all the valves kick in making things just a little raucous up to the red line. It’s also quite fuel-efficient, especially when driven gently.
The Civic rides on 15” alloys with the McPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the back delivering sharp handling and impressive road holding. It’s eager to change direction and its hydraulic power steering is precise and offers far better feedback and weightage than the electric one in the Altis. All this makes the Civic the more confident one around corners. The ride is compliant and irons out most irregularities, but the slightly firm setup that aids handling also lets you know of all that it is passing over by transmitting the sounds and thuds into the passenger compart¬ment. The Civic’s not just a great runner, but also a fairly good stopper and comes to a halt in a most civic fashion.
The new Corolla Altis has obviously been to the Toyota family’s plastic surgeon. Its front end now bears a clear resemblance to the Camry, while the sides and rear continue to look like that of its predecessor, albeit with some minor changes in angles, surface treatment, etc. It’s really a mystery to us why Toyota have chosen to be so conservative with the design of the new Corolla. It certainly is a step up, but by no stretch of the imagination a step forward. And it’s not like the earlier Corolla’s styling or design was a masterpiece that needed to be pre¬served. In not exploring the limits of design, Toyota has once again created a Corolla that will get lost in a crowd and not call any attention to itself. Could that be the intention? To create a car that is discreet and non-offensive, and universally acceptable. Whatever the philosophy behind the design, the fact is that the Altis is no match for the Civic in styling. The Altis is longer, wider and also has a wider track than the earlier Corolla, but the wheelbase remains the same. Inside there is more space than before and also a multitude of new features. The Altis GL (variant tested) comes with an auto-dipping rear-view mirror (a first in this section), 8-way electrically adjustable drivers seat, automatic xenon headlamps with retractable washers, rear sunshade, audio controls on steering wheel, twin vanity mirrors with lights, dual sunglass holder, lockable rear seat to prevent access to boot, courtesy lamps on both front doors, and passenger seatbelt indicator. Toyota have been extremely generous with equipment on the Altis and it easily scores over the Civic in this area, which does not have any of the above. Interior space is on par with the Civic as is the storage space. The Altis also has dual gloveboxes, which are quite useful, but the interior ambience and even the quality of some of the switches and components do not match up to those of the Civic.
The familiar 1.8 VVT-i engine from Ov earlier Corolla powers the Altis, but the ECU has been remapped and the engine tuned to deliver more power. This has obviously been done to compensate for the extra 65kg the Altis has gained. Despite the increase in power and torque, which is now almost similiar to that of the Civic. the Civic remains the quicker one though the drivability of the Altis is better. The Aitis comes with both a manual (tested Here) and a 4-speed auto and the lower gear ratios ensure that the in-gear acceleration is far superior to that of the Civic. But the gear shifter is not as light or precise and the throws are also slightly longer than that on the Civic. We also detected a disturbing amount of transmission whine, but we are not too sure if this was just a problem with our test car.
The Altis is lower than its predecessor, but still higher than the Civic. This means ithas better ground clearance. But due to its taller stance and softer suspension setup, it displays more body roll. The low speed ride of the Altis is superior to that of the Civic and it copes with our pockmarked roads in a far better manner. But as speeds climb, the Civic’s better body control ensures that it is more stable. unlike the Altis, it is not upset by undulations encountered while cornering and it also sticks to its chosen path in a much better manner. The electrically assisted power steering of the Altis that is such a boon while parking or driving in crowed urban conditions is also a bit of a let-down on open roads. It feels too light and over assisted; neither does it communicate as well the Civic. As a result of all this, the Altis struggles to keep up with the Civic on twist roads. The superior driving dynamics of the Civic infuse the person behind the wheel with more confidence and also reward him for his efforts.
The engine of the Altis, while most eager and willing, is also not as refined as the Civic’s. it may pack a good deal of muscle and throw a fairly mean punch, nit it’s far more audible and also runs out of revs or breath, far earlier. And the overenthusiastic policing by the rev limiter, only makes matters worse. This time around, Toyata has made ABS and EBD a standard feature on the Altis and it stops in a shorter distance than the Civic. Pedal feel is also fairly good, but we did detect some brake fade and sponginess in the pedal after several testing emergency stops. The fuel efficiency of the Altis is marginally better than that of the Civic.
At that time the Civic was all new and with its overall superiority in almost every department, it simply knocked over the ageing Corolla that had debuted in India in 2003. Though Toyota introduced the Corolla Altis in several other markets much earlier, in our country it’s taken them a full two years to respond. In this period the Civic has raced to the top in the prestigious and fast growing D-segment and established its superior¬ity. So can the new Toyota Corolla Altis take the fight to the Honda Civic?
Even after two years, the Civic continues to look special. Its low and wide stance, sleek and slippery shape, sharply sculpted lines, and very balanced proportions all contribute towards giving it a stunning presence. Its narrow grille and slender headlamps that angle upwards as they curve around the fenders, the sharply raked wind¬screens and the shortish but substantial looking rear end with large tail lamps that are said to be inspired by afterburn¬ers, look extremely distinctive and attractive even today. And even though Toyota have done a fair amount of work on the Corolla Altis’s styling, it falls to match the Civic in the looks department.
The path-breaking and futuristic interior of the Civic also continues to look funky. Especially the digital speedometer and displays for engine temperature and fuel level placed in a separate binnacle just inside the windscreen. The instruments are superbly backlit in blue with white numerals and are amazingly easy to read. It all lights up intriguingly at night and the illumination intensity can be controlled. The three-spoke steering has a big angular, somewhat triangular centre hub, with perforated spokes. The wheel is covered with perforated and plain leather and feels great to hold and use. Everything is more sporty, lively and better to look at and use and feel than in the Altis. In fact the Interior of the Altis pales in comparion.
Storage space inside the Civic is also very good. Big cup holders, a wide glove box, huge map pockets, and a box behind the gear shifter with a pair of cup holders that pop out at the push of a button. Behind this is another storage bin covered by a padded armrest, which slides forward nicely. To accommodate these, the handbrake, that is an innovative Z-shaped design, has been moved alongside the shifter. Another example of exploration driven design, something you do not see too much of in the Altis. The driving position in the Civic is also very comfortable and the steering wheel adjusts for tilt and also telescopic reach just like in the Altis. But unlike it, the Civic does not have an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. The interiors are done in an attractive beige and black two tone combination and all materials look and feel high grade. The rear seat armrest has a beverage holder and fixed controls for the audio system. In the Altis you get a remote. The Civic also has single lever that releases both fuel cover and boot. Push on it to open the fuel lid and pull to release the boot. Very nice.
A 16 – valve engine that has a variable length intake manifold and i- VTEC variable valve timing for a broader spread of power drives the Cvic. This also helps improve fuel efficiency as it reduces pumping losses inlow load situations and provides more power higher up. It’s mated with both an automatic with paddle shifts and a manual transmission, which we have tested here. Push the wire-driven throttle and the horses charge out. The throws on the slick shifting five-speed box are short, making fast shifts easy. The 1.8 engine responds quickly as it races to meet its rev limiter, which is set much higher than in the Altis. It’s also not as eager to curb rpm as the one in the Altis. The Civic crosses the 100kph mark in 9.88 seconds, which is much faster than the Altis. The Civic’s engine is super smooth and surprisingly quiet until almost 600Orpm, when all the valves kick in making things just a little raucous up to the red line. It’s also quite fuel-efficient, especially when driven gently.
The Civic rides on 15” alloys with the McPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the back delivering sharp handling and impressive road holding. It’s eager to change direction and its hydraulic power steering is precise and offers far better feedback and weightage than the electric one in the Altis. All this makes the Civic the more confident one around corners. The ride is compliant and irons out most irregularities, but the slightly firm setup that aids handling also lets you know of all that it is passing over by transmitting the sounds and thuds into the passenger compart¬ment. The Civic’s not just a great runner, but also a fairly good stopper and comes to a halt in a most civic fashion.
The new Corolla Altis has obviously been to the Toyota family’s plastic surgeon. Its front end now bears a clear resemblance to the Camry, while the sides and rear continue to look like that of its predecessor, albeit with some minor changes in angles, surface treatment, etc. It’s really a mystery to us why Toyota have chosen to be so conservative with the design of the new Corolla. It certainly is a step up, but by no stretch of the imagination a step forward. And it’s not like the earlier Corolla’s styling or design was a masterpiece that needed to be pre¬served. In not exploring the limits of design, Toyota has once again created a Corolla that will get lost in a crowd and not call any attention to itself. Could that be the intention? To create a car that is discreet and non-offensive, and universally acceptable. Whatever the philosophy behind the design, the fact is that the Altis is no match for the Civic in styling. The Altis is longer, wider and also has a wider track than the earlier Corolla, but the wheelbase remains the same. Inside there is more space than before and also a multitude of new features. The Altis GL (variant tested) comes with an auto-dipping rear-view mirror (a first in this section), 8-way electrically adjustable drivers seat, automatic xenon headlamps with retractable washers, rear sunshade, audio controls on steering wheel, twin vanity mirrors with lights, dual sunglass holder, lockable rear seat to prevent access to boot, courtesy lamps on both front doors, and passenger seatbelt indicator. Toyota have been extremely generous with equipment on the Altis and it easily scores over the Civic in this area, which does not have any of the above. Interior space is on par with the Civic as is the storage space. The Altis also has dual gloveboxes, which are quite useful, but the interior ambience and even the quality of some of the switches and components do not match up to those of the Civic.
The familiar 1.8 VVT-i engine from Ov earlier Corolla powers the Altis, but the ECU has been remapped and the engine tuned to deliver more power. This has obviously been done to compensate for the extra 65kg the Altis has gained. Despite the increase in power and torque, which is now almost similiar to that of the Civic. the Civic remains the quicker one though the drivability of the Altis is better. The Aitis comes with both a manual (tested Here) and a 4-speed auto and the lower gear ratios ensure that the in-gear acceleration is far superior to that of the Civic. But the gear shifter is not as light or precise and the throws are also slightly longer than that on the Civic. We also detected a disturbing amount of transmission whine, but we are not too sure if this was just a problem with our test car.
The Altis is lower than its predecessor, but still higher than the Civic. This means ithas better ground clearance. But due to its taller stance and softer suspension setup, it displays more body roll. The low speed ride of the Altis is superior to that of the Civic and it copes with our pockmarked roads in a far better manner. But as speeds climb, the Civic’s better body control ensures that it is more stable. unlike the Altis, it is not upset by undulations encountered while cornering and it also sticks to its chosen path in a much better manner. The electrically assisted power steering of the Altis that is such a boon while parking or driving in crowed urban conditions is also a bit of a let-down on open roads. It feels too light and over assisted; neither does it communicate as well the Civic. As a result of all this, the Altis struggles to keep up with the Civic on twist roads. The superior driving dynamics of the Civic infuse the person behind the wheel with more confidence and also reward him for his efforts.
The engine of the Altis, while most eager and willing, is also not as refined as the Civic’s. it may pack a good deal of muscle and throw a fairly mean punch, nit it’s far more audible and also runs out of revs or breath, far earlier. And the overenthusiastic policing by the rev limiter, only makes matters worse. This time around, Toyata has made ABS and EBD a standard feature on the Altis and it stops in a shorter distance than the Civic. Pedal feel is also fairly good, but we did detect some brake fade and sponginess in the pedal after several testing emergency stops. The fuel efficiency of the Altis is marginally better than that of the Civic.