What is it?
Well it may look like a car but it’s actually a van. Toyota has a heritage of innovation and its this spirit that has inspired the new Corolla Commercial, the UK and Europe’s first van to use self-charging hybrid electric power.
Developed and built in the UK and the latest model in the Toyota Professional range of light commercial vehicles, Corolla Commercial offers customers a solution for meeting the need to reduce carbon emissions without compromising the flexibility and reliability businesses – in particular SMEs and sole traders – require.
The van is a development of the Corolla Touring Sports passenger car, so it has a more generous load capacity than vehicles based on hatchback models: the cargo area has a maximum capacity of 1,326 litres (1.3m3) with easy access through the wide tailgate aperture.
The concept of a Corolla-derived hybrid electric van has been a UK initiative from the outset. Having gained a positive response from established customers to the idea of Toyota applying its hybrid technology to a commercial vehicle, a prototype was produced and revealed for the first time at the 2021 Commercial Vehicle Show.
With no negative feedback Toyota launched production in May 2022. It’s manufactured at the Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) car plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire and is derived from the Corolla Touring Sports, which is produced on
the same TMUK assembly line as the Corolla Hatchback; vehicles that are assigned for conversion go through the same process as the passenger models, but with no fitment of rear seats or rear seatbelts.
Conversion work is carried out in TMUK’s Business Revenue Centre at Burnaston. Here the vehicles are fitted with a flat-floor load space, tough rubber lining, a steel bulkhead and opaque film to cover the rear windows. These measures ensure the Toyota meets N1 type approval as a goods vehicle.
As the first UK van to use a full hybrid electric powertrain, Corolla Commercial is equipped with the 1.8-litre system that is well-established in the Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports models. It features a 1,798cc DOHC Atkinson cycle petrol engine, a compact and powerful electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion high-voltage battery to give a total output of 120bhp/90kW. Maximum engine torque is 142Nm while the 53kW/600V motor produces 163Nm from zero
rpm.
In being installed in a light commercial vehicle, it sacrifices none of the qualities that customers value in a Toyota self-charging hybrid, with quiet, intuitive operation, low cost of ownership, low CO2 emissions and an all-electric driving capability that covers typical short urban journeys. Official WLTP combined cycle figures for the Corolla Commercial show 105 to 115g/km and 55.6 to 61.4mpg.
What do we think?
Is it really a van though? From the outside it looks just like a Toyota Corolla hatchback with privacy rear windows, however, open the tailgate and you reveal a tough rubber lining and full-height steel bulkhead separating the front seats. There’s an interior light and a 12V power outlet. Maximum payload is 425kg and braked trailers with up to 750kg can be towed. Rear doors are still there but the windows are properly covered – all there is still a chink of light to be seen round the edges.
The very fact that it meets N1 type approval means that it qualifies as a van and the benefits that go with it – namely no VAT. It is also the perfect Q car at the local tip with the ability to load up, drive in and unload hopefully without the operators on duty spotting that you are not really a family hatchback – not that we advocate such behaviour.
Toyota’s fourth generation hybrid system gives a generous all-electric driving capability that’s ideal for urban
deliveries, while the hybrid system ensures there’s always the freedom to make longer trips whenever required, with no need to schedule down-time for recharging.
Powertrain and chassis are unchanged from those used by the Corolla Touring Sports passenger car, so it retains the smooth, refined and efficient performance of the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid electric system and the ride, handling and safety benefits of Toyota’s TNGA-C platform.
Suspension features front MacPherson struts and a compact multilink arrangement at the rear, working with shock absorbers with new valve technology – introduced with the 12th generation Corolla. The front system is tuned for linear steering response when cornering and enhanced steering feel; the rear system is focused on handling stability and ride comfort. Significantly reduced friction helps deliver a smoother and more comfortable ride.
Corolla Commercial has a top speed of 112mph and can accelerate from 0-62
mph in 11.1 and we achieved a return of 53.2 miles to the gallon during our time with the car.
The commercial model also adopts the passenger model’s Toyota Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance features,
provided as standard. These advanced technologies are designed to identify accident risks and help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of common driving scenarios.
There’s Pre-Collision System can detect vehicles ahead and alert the driver of a collision risk with audible and visual warnings. At the same time, it primes the brakes to deliver maximum stopping power the moment the driver presses the pedal. If the driver fails to react and an impact becomes inevitable, the system automatically applies the brakes, slowing the vehicle and potentially bringing it to a halt. It can also detect pedestrians during day and night-time driving, and bicycle riders during daylight hours.
Adaptive Cruise Control helps the driver maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Acceleration and deceleration are smooth and comfortable and can be controlled using switchgear on the steering wheel. It provides low-speed following and a stop-start capability when travelling at speeds from standstill to around 19mph. In congested traffic, the van will be brought to stop when the vehicle ahead stops, maintaining an appropriate distance; to restart and reactivate the ACC, simply press the accelerator pedal or the switch on the steering wheel.
Other safety measures include Lane Departure Alert with steering control, Vehicle Sway Warning detects the kind of deviations that happen when a driver starts to lose concentration or becomes tired, Lane Trace Assist, Automatic High Beam and Road Sign Assist
In common with every new Toyota, the Corolla Commercial is eligible for the brand’s warranty protection for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). This comprises an initial three-year manufacturer warranty, followed by up to a further seven years of service-activated warranty.
For the first three years of the car’s life, owners can have it serviced at a place of their choice. When the new car warranty period expires, they can then benefit from an additional 12 months (or 10,000 miles) warranty when they have their vehicle serviced at an authorised Toyota workshop, in line with its service schedule. The warranty is provided at no extra cost,
As part of the Toyota Professional range of LCVs, it also comes with five years’ roadside assistance and the guarantee of a service appointment within seven days. If the service target is not met, the customer qualifies for a 50% reduction in servicing labour costs
The Corolla Commercial is an interesting concept, but who will buy it? Early adopter was specialist rail and infrastructure services provider Readypower Group has replaced its fleet of diesel vehicles with 45 hybrid electric Corolla vans which are used by the company’s engineers to support clients across the country.
Readypower Group is an asset hire business with a specialist civil engineering division. Operating out of six principal hubs and additional satellite facilities across the UK, it supports customers in a wide range of sectors, including rail, power, highways and regulated infrastructure.
Tony Buckland, Transport Manager from Readypower Group said: “We have been running diesel vans and were keen to address the issue of our vehicle emissions. We looked at diesel models available on the market, but by choosing Corolla Commercial hybrids we have been able to reduce our average fleet CO2 emissions. There is a further positive as we are supporting British industry with the vans being built here in the UK.”
TOYOTA COROLLA COMMERCIAL
Corolla Commercial – Car Derived Van Hybrid
P11D Value – £29,335.00 – ex VAT £24,503.33
Engine: Petrol 1.8 VVT-i Auto
Max. torque (Nm @ rpm) 142 @ 3,600
Max Speed (mph) 112
0-62mph acceleration (sec) 11.1
Fuel consumption – on test: 53.2 mpg
CO2 emissions: 105g/km
Insurance group 27E
Load length (mm) 1,558
Load width – between wheel arches (mm) 952
Load width – max. (mm) 1,430
Load height (mm) 682
Load capacity (l) 1,326
Kerb weight (kg) 1,410
Gross vehicle weight (kg) 1,835
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