The order books have opened for the 2016 Toyota Corolla Altis facelift, with UMW Toyota also releasing a summary of the confirmed on-the-road pricing (inclusive of GST and insurance) for the new line-up.
No changes to the existing model range, with the refreshed Altis continuing to be available in three variant forms – a baseline 1.8E (RM120,900), a 1.8G (RM123,900) and a range-topping 2.0V (RM138,900). The pricing is identical to that presently for the current 11th-gen car, which was introduced here in 2014.
The Corolla Altis facelift features a mildly reworked exterior, which now follows the brand’s “Keen Look” and “Under Priority” design language. This introduces a softer, more contemporary front fascia, with a new, slimmer headlamp design that is underlined by a strip of LED daytime running lights.
The car also gets a redesigned front bumper, with a wider radiator grille and vertical slits on the edges for a bolder, more aggressive look. At the rear, there is now a thinner chrome trim piece that links the LED tail lamps featuring new graphics.
The facelift brings about a few, minor changes to the interior – the centre stack has been redesigned, and there’s new switchgear for the air-conditioning system, followed by a revised centre console and some tweaks to the instrument cluster.
Equipment levels for the MY-spec car haven’t been revealed, but notably, there’s a brief mention that additional safety features are now made standard across the range, with seven airbags and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) being available on all variants.
Currently, the 2.0V is the only Altis model equipped with VSC, and all three variants come as standard with two airbags. An optional “Additional Safety Package” bumps the airbag count to seven, but that’s only available for the 2.0V.
There shouldn’t be any changes with the running gear. In Malaysia, the Corolla Altis is currently offered with a 2ZR-FE 1.8 litre engine with 139 PS and 173 Nm of torque, and a 3ZR-FE 2.0 litre unit with 145 PS and 187 Nm. Both mills are paired with a CVT transmission with seven virtual ratios.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express mixed feelings about the 2016 Toyota Corolla Altis facelift, with many criticizing its high pricing, especially compared to competitors like Civic and Mazda3, citing better features, tech, and value. Some highlight the car's aging design and perceived lack of innovation, while others defend Toyota’s quality and reliability, emphasizing longevity and problem-free ownership. Several commenters compare specifications, with many favoring the Civic for its advanced tech, safety features, and driveability, and lament UMW’s perceived greed and price hikes. There’s skepticism about the car’s value at RM139k, and some suggest opting for alternatives like Mazda3 or Honda Civic. Overall, sentiments lean toward disappointment with UMW’s pricing strategy, favoring more modern, better-equipped models from competitors.