2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback: The Normcore Corolla

In a sea of crossovers, SUVs and big-budget luxury cars, the lowly, economically friendly hatchback has started to fall out of favor. Though, Toyota is still throwing its Corolla into the fray, and brought the 12th-gen Corolla into the world in 2018. For ’23, Toyota gave the Corolla a light styling refresh, a new standard eight-inch media screen and an upgraded radio. Powering the ’23 Corolla is a 2.0-liter I4 that feeds 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque through a CVT. From there, power hits the front wheels. Of course, this isn’t as radical as the absurd GR Corolla, but this basic Toyota hatchback handles the daily grind without breaking your bank account. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Corolla and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you around the ’23 Corolla and shows off some of its most interesting features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Patrick Carone to give more context about the ’23 Corolla, compare it to its more powerful GR counterpart and discuss how it stacks up with its major rival: the Honda Civic. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Corolla Hatchback special.