Toyota Corolla Altis (2011) D-4D GL - Performance Review

As I mentioned earlier, the new Corolla Altis is more than just a facelift. The most significant changes are under the hood. The new petrol engine that we have here gets variable valve on not just intake, but the exhaust valves as well. Toyota has also bumped up the power and torque figures for this 1.8-litre motor. The manual variant gets a six-speed transmission, replacing the five-speed tray on the earlier model. The test car we have here came with a seven-speed CVT transmission. This new gearbox replaces the old, sluggish four-speed automatic transmission and makes the new Corolla a better car to drive. On a sunny day, our test car managed to sprint from a naught to 100 kmph in 11.4 seconds - which is decent by any standard. The roll-ons acceleration is impressive too, with the Altis taking a little under four seconds to move from 30 kmph to 60 kmph in fourth gear. This translates to better drivability in the city conditions and the inclusion of automatic transmission only makes driving in traffic easier.

In the handling department, the new Altis did surprise me. Though there was no official word from Toyota, if the suspension had been retuned for the new setup, it did feel much better than the earlier Corolla Altis. The body roll on the new car has reduced significantly and the Bridgestones offer good grip even when pushed hard. The improved handling doesn't give up on the ride quality though. The Altis still manages to take on the famous Indian roads with complete ease without making the occupants feel the pain.   

Frankly though, the package isn't even anywhere close to being sporty, but it still exceeds the expectations of the buyer of this segment by being linear and economical. Add to it the comfortable seats and ride quality and you have yet another Corolla that takes forward the legacy of being one of the best chauffeur-driven cars in business. 

Conclusion

The Corolla Altis is the car to buy if you are looking for the simple, no-nonsense, mid-size luxury sedan. It may not announce to the world that you are climbing the ladder of success, but it will give you complete peace of mind with its bullet-proof reliability, Toyota quality and service and a low-key, dignified stance that few others in its league can maintain.