Toyota Levin 1.2T – China Corolla gets new 1.2L turbo

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The Toyota Levin has been updated in China, gaining a brand new 1.2 litre turbocharged engine and LED daytime running lights. In case you’re wondering, the Levin is the GAC-Toyota (Guangqi-Toyota) joint-venture’s version of the Corolla for its home market. FAW-Toyota sells a different Corolla that looks like our Altis model.

Replacing the old base 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated engine, the new 9NR-FTS 1.2 litre, direct injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine puts out 116 hp and 185 Nm of torque – similar to the unit already in use in the European-market Auris hatchback. Both a six-speed manual and a CVT are available for the Levin 1.2T, badged D-4T.

A new Toyota Smart Stop system is now standard to improve fuel consumption, and CVT models also get a Sport mode. In China, the Toyota Levin 1.2T is priced between 109,800 to 133,800 yuan (RM68k to RM83k), below the Levin 1.8 that goes from 141,800 to 150,800 yuan (RM88k to RM93k).

This down-sized petrol engine may or may not be be available in other markets. After all, the Levin HEV with a 1.5 litre hybrid drivetrain is still limited to China. Still, would you be interested in a Toyota Corolla Altis 1.2T here in Malaysia?


GALLERY: GAC-Toyota Levin HEV

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • If this comes here. More people will buy Civic Turbo lo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 7
    • Ruben on Nov 02, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      Proton Prevé CFE better handling

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 19
    • Same L0rr on Nov 03, 2016 at 7:57 am

      Sure can sale like hot cake here. 1.2L turbo very easy to beat 1.2 TSi Vento. Toyota engine more reliable. Preve CFE Turbo CamPro based? That CFE turbo always hose bocor la..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
  • kanazai2001 on Nov 02, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    this look is WAY COOLer than lokal version of aLtix…

    1.2L turbo dual vvt-ie 185Nm… ;-)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 3
  • PlainBS on Nov 02, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    waiting for Trueno

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
  • Call this POS of car Levin/Sprinter/Trueno here in MY and u will see the accident and deathrates shoot up.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 12
    • kanazai2001 on Nov 02, 2016 at 3:21 pm

      shoot up coz it has lesser hp than civic?
      coz it comes with TRC VSC ABS EBD as standard?
      coz it is cvt?!
      @@

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
      • Cuz only topkek spec has VSC while pipu buy lowest spec, the fast n furiouso

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
      • Freedom on Nov 02, 2016 at 5:43 pm

        To be honest it wont be standard when it pass by UMW hand. Toyota Malaysia buyer sure no need it all. Say by UMW Malaysia. If all got, sure price will over Rm120k fot the 1.2 turbo. Than why no go for civic turbo for only Rm130k

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
      • DonkeyKong on Nov 02, 2016 at 6:10 pm

        No, cause it’ll be driven by jackasses who think it’s a supercar.. just like the Vios drivers right now.

        Passive and active features won’t save you from any accident while you’re zipping dangerously through traffic at over 150km/h. You’ll still be dead.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
        • Very true, bro. Thanks to vios drift PV, I see more kelis end up inside ditches and longkangs.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Look so generic, plain and boring.. Vw do the same generic and plain design, but they manage to make it look much cooler

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
  • Ben Yap on Nov 02, 2016 at 4:10 pm

    Looks like Vios only….

    better buy Honda Civic 1.5T. anytime can smoke this Levin.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 9
  • Malaysian Driver on Nov 02, 2016 at 4:51 pm

    Toyota offer this downsized engine in China because China implement an extremely discriminatory tax structure that penalize NA cars with large displacement.

    VW branding exercise is extremely successfully in China (VW is the best selling foreign brand in China, both CKD and CBU) and is outselling Toyota five to one. The TSI + DSG combo basically kills Toyota in China (also helped by anti-Japanese sentiment in China). Yes, Communist China LOVES VW!

    Hence, Toyota has to counter VW with this downsize offering. It’s more like a market strategy rather than Toyota is embracing this downsize turbocharged route as did by the european counterpart.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 1
    • Ex VGM staff on Nov 02, 2016 at 7:27 pm

      The Chinese ppl somehow still have some hatred feelings towards the japanes , because of world war II. That’s the issue the Japanese car makers are facing for the past years. The westerners are just luckier. Not because their cars are better.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
  • orangkampungmoden on Nov 02, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    I want VSC, TRC, 6 airbags across the range. And no more lousy infotainment please.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
    • DonkeyKong on Nov 02, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      And UMW wants RM200k for that. If you can’t pony up the cash, no deal. Settle for another car instead of daydreaming for UMW to give you a decent price for a good car.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 4
    • I have just the car for u. Its called Preve.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
    • camtakpro on Nov 03, 2016 at 8:39 am

      HU that couldn’t play MP3, OGG, AAC and FLAC are shits.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Bring in the 1.2 turbo so the engine could be used in The Toyota models here. Save fuel, save on tax as a EEV(maybe). Maybe see it as an entry level Altis to go head on with other cars such as Mazda 3, Kia cerato, civic, dan lain-lain… make sure price it well or it will just be a waste of time n effort for buyers.

    Torque is impressive on black and white, I guess we need the “Malaysians” in Malaysian roads to
    Conclude if it’s good for us Malaysians drivers. CVT for some have the problem of
    The response and the power delivery

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • 4G63T DSM on Nov 03, 2016 at 11:10 am

      Yes get EEV.

      But then again, don’t expect to pay less for the car. Since UMW is probably just going to pocket the EEV themselves.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Redidiot on Nov 03, 2016 at 3:02 am

    Direct injection can cause excessive carbon build up on intake valves.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
    • ex-VGM staff on Nov 03, 2016 at 10:12 am

      even bigger problem when injectors clogged by carbon deposits. where it came from? our petrol high content of sulphur (euro 2M).

      this happened to VW cars sold in malaysia.

      but not to Toyota cars when UMW saw what happened to imported recond Toyotas from Japan using direct injection (with D4 badge) like Toyota Nadia, Toyota Camry and Toyota Wish. many suffered from poor engine performance and required injector servicing.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • hamas on Nov 03, 2016 at 9:27 am

    apa ni.. macam vios… takda idea ka… same looo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • LOK CHYI YEU on Nov 03, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    Honestly… Turbo is not really good… Better stick back to 1.6 NA or 2.0NA. As Europe there have alreasy proof that this small turbo engine don’t really have better FC and greener for the planet.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Barok on Oct 23, 2023 at 10:32 pm

    can any one tell me the difference between D4-T 2022 model and Cotolla Levin 2022 Model ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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