Toyota Corolla Altis 1.4 Diesel - The Sensible, no-Nonsense Car.

[mclaren1885]

The Pre-Test Drive Experience:

I booked a TD for the Altis Diesel the very next day the car was launched (20th July) through their website. It took them nearly a month to get back.

Just as I had given up hopes on the Corolla, I got a call from Ravindu Toyotas Sales Representative Mr. Suresh last Friday. When I told him how disappointed I was that I had to wait for this long, he sounded extremely apologetic and was very courteous. That surely is a good start. He promised to bring the car the same evening, but since I was a little held up over the weekend, I asked him to get the car on Monday.

Monday morning, I promptly got a call and we fixed up an appointment to meet up at my place at 1pm. I called shyam: & bigmoose: over to give me some company. I wanted to check the performance of the car with atleast 4 people on board.

The TD car arrived on time. Once again Mr. Suresh was very warm and welcoming and again apologized for the delay. Apparently, there was some mis-communication between the marketing department and the section that looks into the online queries. They got my request on Thursday evening and Friday morning I got a call. I say that is impressive given that the Corolla is selling like hot cakes, with customers lined up up at the showrooms to put in their booking personally. I have seen a few big companies, just sit back and relax and not bother about customers like me who don't have enough enthusiasm to go over to the showroom personally.

Toyota has built a *premium* image for itself in Bangalore. The customers come running to the showrooms each time a vehicle is launched. And it showed in the number of calls the SR kept getting to find out the status of the car. Ravindu Toyota has just 2 TD Altis diesels with them. A clear case of demand exceeds supply.

I made it very clear to Mr. Suresh that I would love to TD the car on the highway and that would mean taking it on BIAL Road. It was the perfect place to test all aspects of the car. Bad roads in RT.Nagar, bumper to bumper traffic in city, moderate cruising traffic on BIAL Road and the relatively free highway thereafter.

He didn't object and nodded in agreement that it was best I had a thorough TD of the car. I was pleasantly surprised. Usually I have heard some dealers say, they won't allow long TDs, just the usual roundabout lasting less than 5mins or 2kms (whichever is earlier). I usually send such nincompoops home without even TD the car.

The experience so far was good, infact a lot better than I had expected. Fingers crossed that the car wouldn't be a total disappointment, we drove off towards airport road.

A small peek of what is in store ahead...

[mclaren1885]

The TD car I drove was a "Silver Mica Metallic" one and also the top end version. First look at the car and it whispers (scream would be so inappropriate here) *simplicity*. If you look at a Chevrolet Cruze on the road, it will make you go *wow*.

The Altis on the other hand, doesn't make you feel weak in the knees or make you skip a heartbeat, quite far from it actually. Its design is simple and understated. And for years now, Toyota have realized that simple, clean looks sell, not just in India but worldwide. So I am not surprised with their mantra "why mess with it when nothings broken"?

The front end of the car is highlighted by that huge Toyota emblem that surely is something you will not miss to notice. From a distance you could easily mistake it to its elder sibling, the Camry and IMO this was intentional to give it that subtle yet familiar upmarket look. Toyota decided to keep the bling grill from the Camry out and instead opted for a simple looking grill on the Altis.



The headlamp design however looks modern and is surely eye catching. The headlamps run on HIDs and the top end variant also comes equipped with "auto headlamp leveling". Yes, based on the load, the headlamp beam will automatically adjust itself without any driver intervention (top end variant only). Turn indicators in ORVMs is standard across all models.



The simple looking and familiar rear stance of the car. Front and rear fog lamps only on the top end variant.



LED tail lamps add a nice touch to an otherwise bland looking rear.


I personally loved the profile look of the car. Looks proportional.


195/65/15 inch Bridgestone Turanza ER300 tubeless tyres standard on the car. Only the base variant has steel rims, the other two variants get alloys.


Exterior Dimensions:

Overall Length x Width x Height : 4540 mm x 1760 mm x 1480 mm
Wheelbase : 2600 mm
Min. Ground Clearance : 175 mm
Max. Kerb Weight/Gross Vehicle Weight : 1245 kg - 1270 kg / 1665 kg - 1670 kg

[mclaren1885]

The minute you open the door, this is the sight that greats you.


Ingress and egress is pretty good. It was easy getting in and out of the car. And I tried that several times. A welcome move for the slightly aged lot.

The interiors are a combo of a shade of grey that is not irritating to the eyes and Indias favourite interior colour, beige

Altis Scuff plate.


The doors also follow a similar colour combo and the door pad design has lots of curves and angles. Wood inserts (another Indian favourite) finds its way into the door panel. Notice the funky looking door handle. Must have been inspired from the tip of a marker pen while the designer was sketching the interiors.



Rear doors too follow a similar pattern.


Weird bit is, when I tried to lock the front passenger door with the lock on the door handle, central locking didn't work. It works only on using the button supplied along with the power window mechanism.

The dashboard instantly reminded me of the Polo. Its not flashy, but the USP is simplicity, form and functionality.



A closer look at the centre console reveals a 6 CD-changer, ACC (automatic climate control) & a passenger seat belt warning lamp indicator. Also notice the small cubby hole on the side of the centre console where we managed to stack up some CD cases.



Usually, I don't like the gear lever sitting at an angle, but on the Altis its just perfect. The gear level just falls into your palms without you having to reach out much. A feature that along with the movable arm rest (more on that later), just won me over completely.



Once I was all settled in, I started looking out for the tiny cubby holes to place knick knacks and stuff. One such feature is shown in the 1st pic of this post, above the ORVM operating mechanism. One can use this tiny storage area to keep change for tolls, toll recepits, parking tickets etc.

Thanks to the sloping centre console, the front cup holders find its place next to the handbrake lever. The centre arm rest has two cabins, the second one being deep enough to store quite a lot of stuff.



A twin glove compartment comes in very handy and can store huge amounts of stuff. Intelligent use of dashboard space I must admit.


A feature that will be very popular with the women folks. A vanity mirror, opening which will trigger the light to turn on automatically.





The top end variant comes with an automatic day & night IRVM. Yes, you no longer have to switch between day & night prismatic mirror, the light sensors on the mirror do that for you automatically. Also the IRVM has an anti glare coating to prevent the glare from the headlamp of the vehicle behind from causing eye irritation.



A well integrated roof mounted sun glass holder can easily hold two pairs. No longer will you have to search for that pencil box to store your shades in.


Thanks to all the issues Toyota seems to be having with the floor mats getting stuck under the pedals, Toyota has now come up with hooks to keep them in place.



If only they could have used the hooks that weren't black in colour, but the ones that look like they have wax coated on them and in a colour similar to the mat, it would have really looked cool. The black hooks look a little out of place on the cream flooring scheme.



What the Altis is missing is the rear AC vents which IMO should be standard on a 16L car. And electric driver seat adjustment (on the petrol) makes way for a manual adjustment in the diesel variant. Only two gripes I had with the cars interiors.

The interiors have a nice touch to them. The plastics don't feel like the Altis' European counterparts. But that would be expecting too much out of a Japanese best seller. All in all the build quality is very good. And what more can we Indians ask for? There is beige, then there is wood inserts.. Lots and lots of storage space..

Overall, its a nice cabin to be in.

[mclaren1885]

Seating: I did mention about the easy ingress and egress in one of my previous posts right? But where the Altis scores really high in my books is the seating and leg room.

The front seats are just fabulous. Adequate under thigh support and fantastic lumbar support. Height adjustable drivers seat and you have the perfect driving position you desired for.



The rear seats are a real treat to be in. It shows that this car was meant to be chauffeured around in. And how! The leather cushioning is just soft enough to make you want to squeeze into the rear sit and read that magazine or newspaper or just plug into some music and relax.



An almost flat tunnel means the passenger in the middle doesn't have to face too much discomfort.



Legroom: This is one department the Altis comes across having a distinct advantage over its competition and quite literally decimating it.

The space for the front passengers is luxurious, but what astonishes me is the amount of leg room Toyota have managed to find at the rear of the Altis. When we started the TD, shyam: (who is 6ft?) was sitting in the front and the SR (who is also around 5ft 11") had ample leg room.

With the front seat fully back, Shyam legs just touch the seats. And the front seat does have a lot of travel.


Shyam said he was quite comfy sitting like that.

Front seat fully moved forward. And you have nearly an acre of space to stretch your leg.


This is the strongest point of the Altis, the massive leg room. And this is what makes it a brilliant chauffeur driven car.

Steering: The steering once again sees wood inserts. Seems like Toyota knows to the T that we are obsessed with fake wood everywhere in the cabin.

The steering comes equipped with audio controls and are quite easy to operate. However I found the position of the MID (multi-information display) button a bit out of place. Would have preferred it to be at a similar position to the stereo volume button but on the opposite (right) side of the Toyota emblem.

Another gripe I had with the steering was the distance from the grip to the horn. Plenty of times I had to take one hand off my usual 9-15 grip to press the horn. And that IMO is a pain.

The EPS steering is brilliant in city and traffic conditions, but as you reach higher speeds it just doesn't give the feedback or feeling of the HPS. Again a no brainer actually, given that the USP of the Altis is not a drivers car that can corner hard. Its all well thought out and put together to please the aam junta who can afford a 16L car who don't care for 0-100, massive push into the seats when the turbo kicks in, max G-forces etc.

The steering however has tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment. A real boon IMO and its very easy to get the perfect seating position.


Another very handy feature is the sliding front arm rest. Yes, its a brilliant feature, something that totally left me grinning from ear to ear. I usually have the habit of driving with one hand on the highways and resting my left arm was so much more easier on this well thought out arm rest.

Arm rest at standard position.


Arm rest retracted fully forward.



Boot Space:

The 475ltrs boot is spacious.


And the rear seats have a 60:40 split.


The Altis is by the minute seeming like a sensible, practical and a no-nonsense car for those who love to be chauffeur driven or for those who consider a car as just a mode to travel from A-B.

[mclaren1885]

Engine: While we all expected Toyota to bring in the 2L D-4D motor, they did a complete U-turn and shocked everyone by bringing in the 1.4L motor.

Engine Specs:
Type : D-4D Diesel engine with Variable Nozzle Turbo and Intercooler, 4 Cylinders Inline
Valve Train: 8 Valve, SOHC, D-4D
Displacement: 1364 cm3 (cc)
Fuel Supply System: Common Rail
Max. Output: 65 kW @ 3800 rpm/88.4 PS @ 3800 rpm
Max.Torque: 205 Nm @ 1800-2800 rpm/20.9 kg-m @ 1800-2800 rpm.

On paper, the specs look very un-impressive. And it was a lot tougher decision to make in real life conditions once I drove the car. And to figure out how bad (I expected no good) the performance could be, I had 4 people in the car.

A look under the bonnet will immediately show how small the engine is for this rather large Sedan. Turn the engine on and you will notice how refined the engine is. I have heard almost all Common Rail diesel engines under 20L, but I am yet to hear a diesel motor relatively as silent as this.



Brilliant sound insulation material means very little engine noise actually enters the cabin. Infact, the sound deadening is so brilliant that the horn (same one that sounds LOUD in the Innova) sounds like piddly diddly that badly needs an upgrade in the Altis. Do not be fooled, stand outside the car and use the horn and you will be left scratching your head.



Bosch ECU located in the engine bay.


As you go up the revs, its all the more astonishing that the engine noise doesn't reach inside the cabin. The insulation material Toyota has used on the Altis does a fantastic job at isolating the engine noise and other external noises (except for tyre noise) from entering the cabin. Again, its evident that it was built to revolve around the customers who love to be chauffeur driven. The last thing you would want to hear is "diesel clatter".

Even the bonnet is lined with a rubber beading to prevent rattles and engine noise filtering to the outside.


In city, the car is OK to drive as long as you are in the right gear. The 1.4L motor means frequent gear changes. But to be honest, this is one of the least annoying bits (will explain why a little later).

Turbo lag is existant. But thats expected from a turbo diesel. Those who crib about turbo lag either don't know how to drive a turbo diesel or are better off with a petrol motor.

The engine is tuned keeping in mind *linear power delivery*. And it shows throughout the rev range. Though the turbo kicks in full boost at ~2000 rpm you don't get pushed back into the seat ala Swift. All you can feel is the needle climbing faster, speed increasing at a steady rate.

The meaty part of the rev range is from 2000-3400 rpm. Beyond 3400 rpm the power seems to taper off from 3rd gear onwards. This engine was never tuned for outright acceleration and certainly not for those quick starts from a red light.

What this engine was designed for was *cruising*. Get onto the highway, get into 6th gear @ ~100kmph and that is when you will really appreciate the beauty of the engine. It cruises effortlessly in 6th gear and unlike 1.3MJD engines the engine doesn't feel out of breadth at speeds past 140kmph.

For the regular Bangaloreans, I was doing 160kmph right opposite to Jakkur Air Show flying club. It wasn't until Shyam pointed out at the speedo did I realize I was actually doing 160kmph. The engine seemed effortless even at those speeds.



Many will be wondering, how long did it take to reach 160kmph. The only car I can relate to would be the Linea (similar weight and power). And IMO its surely faster than the Linea.

I read somewhere a 0-100 figure of 14.8 secs for the Corolla compared to the 15.36 for the Linea. The Corolla weighs about 30 kgs heavier as well.

Another USP of the Corolla Diesel is its fantastic FE. An ARAI claimed figure of 21kmpl makes it light on your pocket too each time you visit the fuel station. And thus this engine makes more sense to the aam janta who's first question always is "Mileage kitna hai"?


Transmission: Another thing about the Altis I am totally in love with. The gearshifts are effortless, literally. They just slot in perfectly with the minimum of effort. I tried shifting from 1st to 6th using just my index finger and I had no issues. The ratios are well spaced out, 5th & 6th being overdrive.

Earlier, I stated changing gears in city is not such a annoying thing and the reason being, the gear lever slots into any gear like a knife cuts through butter, SMOOTH.

The clutch is soft and does need some getting used to. Both Shyam and myself managed to stall the car once in traffic .

I usually don't like centre consoles with gear lever placed at an angle, but thanks to the movable arm rest, the gear lever just falls perfectly into your palm.

The engine is rev happy to about 4200 rpm in 1st and 2nd. But from 3rd-6th gear it runs out of breadth at around 3400 rpm. A Petes box will surely sort this issue out and be able to use the rev happiness of the engine to a good extent.

Suspension: Its a no brainer really. The suspension is tuned for comfort, period. And ride quality is just amazing. It soaks up the bumps, potholes with great finesse. And once again is probably the best in that segment when it comes to ride quality.

Handling was never meant to be Altis forte. The car seems predictable upto 160kmph. I did take a swooping curve at 160kmph and it felt OK, body roll evident. Couldn't get a chance to drive the car on tight sections to see how it handles. But I am sure its exactly how I imagine it to be.

Brakes: The car comes with ABS with EBD standard on all models. All 4-wheel discs. Braking is sure footed.

Summit it up: Yes, I would have preferred the meaty 2L motor as well. But Toyota seems to have consciously put in the 1.4L motor to cater to a select market:

1. Taxis for 3/5 star hotels.
2. For the 40+ executives who love to be chauffeur driven.

If you are looking for a powerful car that can take corners, look elsewhere. The Corolla wont cut it. What it does is go on mile after mile cruising effortlessly.

The best way I can describe the Corolla is to compare it to a mule. Hard working and dependable in demanding conditions.

It meets the basic requirements for a select group of people and Toyota surely seems to he happy just targeting this segment.

[mclaren1885]

Safety: The Altis Diesel comes equipped with ABS+EBD standard on all models. That IMO should be standard across all cars these days, more so in the above 10L category.

Apart from the base version (DJ) the other two versions come equipped with Driver+Passenger side SRS airbags.

The DG and DGL variants are equipped with Keyless Entry+Immobilizer+Alarm+Auto lock (once the speedo touches 20kmph).

The Corolla is one of the safest cars in the C segment.

Euro N-cap test. Indian version does not have curtain airbags.



Misc Bits:

1. Instrument Cluster is high tech with what Toyota call Optitron 3D. The illumination on the meters is very easy on the eyes (unlike the bright & blinding backlight in the previous generations) and are quite clear. The instrument cluster has an in built light sensor that decides the illumination on the meters by itself. So don't be surprised if you can't turn the cluster lights off manually.



2. Multi Information Display (MID) displays range, average fuel consumption, current fuel consumption, average speed, elapsed time & you can select the units from km/l to L/100km. However, the positioning of the MID button on the steering wheel feels out of place.

For those who want to see DFCO (deceleration fuel cut off) working, watch the current fuel consumption mode. Once you are in the higher gears and let go off the throttle the reading changes from say 18.12 to 99.99. This is where DFCO is working and there is no injection of fuel from the injectors thus helping in saving fuel.

3. Headlamps are equipped with Retractable Washers and is a very nice feature. A must have specially for the rainy seasons.

4. Windshield Washer Nozzles are concealed and IMO gives the bonnet a clean look.

5. The ICE is just average. So music lovers are bound to be disappointed. Also no steering controls for the rear seat ala Civic. Another oversight by Toyota given that most people who buy this will be sitting at the rear.

6. Air Conditioning is just AWESOME. ACC is easy to operate and the cabin is cooled down instantly. Toyota should have provided rear AC vents on the Altis, but this in no way takes away any credit from the powerful AC.

7. 4 Air Spats, one on each wheel. They help in aerodynamic efficiency and to increase fuel economy. Hhhhmm, Toyota has given it a serious thought indeed.

8. Ground Clearance @ 175mm is adequate for Indian Roads. I did take the car through some craters and speed brakers designed by nincompoops, the car did not bottom out anywhere.

9. Electric Retractable ORVMs is a very handy feature. And the one touch button operation is very smooth.

Trim Levels: There are three trim levels, DJ (base), DG (mid-variant) & DGL (top end). Here are the specs for each..

Engine.


Safety.


Exterior.


Interior.


Comfort & Convenience.


We drove the top end version, the DGL which comes fully loaded.

[mclaren1885]

Pricing: All prices On-Road Bangalore.

DJ: 11,02,300 (Ex showroom) + 28,115 (insurance) + 2,12,131 (Road Tax) + 6,000 (Smile Package) = 13,48,546.

DG: 12,81,100 + 32,420 + 2,45,567 + 6000 = 15,65,087.

DGL: 13,83,400 + 34,884 + 2,64,697 + 6000 = 16,88,981.

*Smile Package: A package for INR 6,000 (optional). Opting for this will take care of all consumables upto 2yrs/20,000kms (whichever is earlier).

Pricey? Definitely. But you don't have to worry about bad ASS like a Skoda.

Conclusion: I have stated this repeatedly, but let me say it again. The Altis diesel is NOT for those who want a car that can give them a rush of blood or for those who want to corner hard. Its a point A-B car and does that work quite flawlessly too. Its for our parents (the sedate ones) to be taken around the city/country. Its for those business executives who love to read their Economic Times in the back seat.

Postives:

1. Excellent ASS when compared to Chevrolet & Skoda in Bangalore.
2. Brilliant AC.
3. Suspension tuned for comfort, ride quality best in the segment.
4. Brilliant and comfortable seats, both front and back. Again a segment benchmark.
5. Segment leading Leg Room.
6. Simplistic and understated design.
7. Brilliant 6 speed gearbox.
8. EPS makes driving in city a breeze. Light clutch makes it all the more a less painful city driving experience.
9. ABS+EBD standard on all models.
10. Brilliant sound insulation to prevent engine noise from filtering into the cabin.
11. Easy ingress and egress.
12. SR says service costs are around 3k mark.
13. ARAI claimed FE of 21kmpl.

Negatives:

1. Engine tuned for cruising rather than acceleration.
2. Electric Height Adjustment for drivers seat missing on a 16L car.
3. Rear AC vents missing.
4. Average ICE.
5. A car not meant for the enthusiastic driver.
6. Autobox missing.
7. No extended warranty beyond 3yrs/1,00,000kms (whichever is earlier).
8. Tyres are noisy.

For what its worth, the Altis Diesel is truly a very sensible and a no nonsense car.

PS: Must add, Mr.Suresh was one of the nicest Sales Advisers I have come across till date. For all those who are interested in buying a Toyota, you can get in touch with him on +919900204326.

[Godfather]

Very Well Written.

2 questions I have to ask here

1. In the second Pic Of Shyam, why is he sitting like he is Pregnant?
2. After all this great review, you go and compare the car to a Donkey.. bravo. a lot of Japanese people will be pretty ****ed with you. lol

[tadukuttan]

Hm, it kind of has everything but out right power. Probably the Indian car buyers are going to love this one.

And for the guys who want more power, anybody aware of tuning boxes/remaps for this one, and how much improvement in power do they provide?

[autonut]

Nicely compiled report Rahul You said exactly what i thot about this car.

How its gonna handle after a tyre upgrade? Juz for the sake of academic interest!

@Tadu, therez a pete box for this that will kick the figure to 110