Jacinta just bought a Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Now that her two children are grown, and one of them is out of the house, it was time to make a change. She drives a lot, and as a budget-conscious person, she recognised this as the perfect time to replace their older run-around for a small, modern car. Here’s her take on why she chose this car and the benefits. 

Why did you choose a Corolla?

"The primary reason for choosing a Corolla Hybrid was the fuel economy. There was another brand on my shortlist, but it could only run 50km on the battery before requiring a charge. That just wasn't sufficient for me, not with the number of kilometres I drive.  

The Corolla Hybrid will switch between petrol and electric as needed. It caught our interest because of Tony's ride-share business. It's great for fuel economy which means it's great for his expenses. I need a reliable car that is affordable to run, and that's what I got with the Corolla Hybrid!" 

How does the Corolla Hybrid suit your lifestyle?

"The biggest wins are fuel economy, comfort, and space! It's great for long drives because it has Bluetooth, which is great for streaming our favourite playlists. There's also an armrest in the backseat with built-in cup holders, which is a win when we're taking a long drive as a family.  

It also has a screen for maps and apps, so I don't have to worry about veering off-track while listening to my podcasts. When I filled the tank for the first time, it told me I had over 1,000km before I'd reach empty, and I still haven't finished the tank yet!" 

You mentioned Bluetooth. What other multimedia features does the Corolla Hybrid offer?

"There are six speakers. It has voice recognition, and I can connect my phone directly to the system. There's a button on my steering wheel to answer the phone if I need to. It's so easy to just hop in, connect, and have all of my favourite podcasts teed up and ready to go!" 

You seem to take long drives quite often, how do you think the Corolla Hybrid will help?

"With my old car, I could drive 600km max on one tank of petrol. So, that fuel economy alone makes a massive difference. It's almost double what I'm used to! The mod cons are also great, especially when I compare it to my previous car which was 10 years old. I love that it reads the speed limit and then displays it on the dash.  

If my speed is over the limit, the circle turns red to warn me I'm driving too fast, and it stays white as long as you're following the speed limit! It's so easy to turn onto a new road and miss a change in the speed limit. Or, if I'm in new territory and don't know the roads and miss the sign." 

Is the Corolla Hybrid comfortable?

"It's incredibly comfortable. Since I take long drives often, comfort was of major importance to me. It isn't just the seats. It's the pollen and clean air filter, the adjustable seat, the armrest, and noise reduction windscreen coating. They've thought of everything to make the overall driving experience pleasant." 

Is the Corolla Hybrid safe?

"There's a lot to love about the safety features. The follow-me-home headlights are one of my favourite features. The lights stay on briefly after the engine is off, so I can still see where I'm going! It also has intelligent parking assist as well as both front and rear parking sensors. It immediately alerts me if I veer out of my lane. It will even brake automatically if the sensors detect a cyclist or pedestrian too close to the car. It's great for my peace of mind.”