Does Toyota need to bring back the Corolla wagon?
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada
What you’re looking at, above, is the new Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid, a gas-electric hybrid version of the formerly gas-only Auris wagon we first saw at last year’s Paris auto show. And if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, then yes, it should be sold in Canada as a Corolla Wagon when that model gets redesigned later this year.
To recap, the Auris is essentially Toyota’s European
Corolla. I've already argued that the four-door hatchback Auris would make a great replacement for the Matrix. But now, if you haven’t noticed, Toyota's Euro compact's styling is very similar to the Toyota
Corolla Furia concept from this year’s Detroit auto show (seen left), a show
car that’s supposed to get us ready for what the next North American Corolla sedan
(due by the end of this year) will look like. But is offering only a four-door Corolla enough to keep compact rivals at bay?
Between you and me, Toyota needs to buff-up its image in the ultra-competitive Canadian compact class. Sure, the Corolla is still one of the best selling cars in Canada. But the sedan-only bodystyle is an image killer. If the next Corolla adopts some of the looks of the Furia/Auris, we think that’s a good start. But one of the reasons why compact rivals like the Ford Focus, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Forte sell so well is they offer a variety of body styles, including practical hatchback versions.
So here’s where a new Corolla Wagon, not seen since 1998, could steal some thunder. First off, there’s been speculation that the current Corolla-based hatch, the Matrix won’t make it to the next model changeover. And with the marketing success Toyota has had by expanding its Prius brand with more bodystyles, expanding the Corolla — which use to have hatches, coupes and wagons — seems like no-brainer. And beyond the pricey Prius V, no Matrix leaves the woeful Scion xD and xB as the sole hatches for Canadian Toyota dealers to sell — not good.
What do you think? Is Toyota missing an opportunity if it doesn’t introduce a hatchback and/or wagon for its next Corolla? Or are the only customers that buy these vehicles automotive journalists and car geeks?
Justin Couture
Mark Atkinson
John LeBlanc
Posted by: Ed | 2013-02-26 9:45:27 AM
Stick a diesel in it..watch out VW
Posted by: Tim D | 2013-03-01 11:43:19 AM
The Matrix has always been essentially a Corolla wagon, just under a different name. Both are on the same platform, and share the same engines. The only difference is the interior, and outside styling.
The Matrix offers what the older 80's corolla wagons offered, four wheel drive although a better refined version.
The 09 and up matrix offer a more powerful engine with the 4WD, essentially the 2AZ-FE motor found in the camry. This is one of the smoothest refined engines toyota has ever made of a 4 cylinder. It sounds and runs like my old 91 Corolla's 4A-FE, which was an excellent motor.
Another thing to mention is the Pontiac Vibe is built on the matrix. The only difference is the exterior styling. The interiors and drivetrain are from the Matrix. In my opinion, I always thought the Vibe was more stylish than the matrix. I was apalled when GM axed it, they could have done well, sales wise..
Posted by: canuckgryphon | 2013-03-02 11:56:01 PM
Wagons, Wagons, Wagons.... not only should Toyota bring their wagon version of the Corolla to our shores, other manufacturers of sensible, stylish and efficient wagons should too... Mazda 6 wagon, Volvo S60 wagon, M-B C-class wagon, Hyundai i40 etc etc. Not all of us want to buy a space-limiting, gas guzzling, high-riding SUV/CUV. All of the wagons above out-class their SUV/CUV bretheren, and, if made available to us in their diesel variants, are considerably more fuel efficient than their SUV gas counterparts... Give me a wagon any day. "They" keep telling us that wagons don't sell, yet in my cohort, (family with young children, active and travel-minded) we are all lamenting the fact we are forced to choose from a bloated, inefficient crop of mandated SUV's or CUV''s when our European brothers and sisters have a choice of so many gorgeous and stylish vehicles. We keep hearing how "European" the Canadian market is and increasingly so the US...Well, let's see it backed up with some choice! I think manufacturers will be surprised at the uptake....Mazda 6 2.2 Skyactiv D (what a winning combo!)... Hyundai i40, M-B C-class estate 1.8 TD... bring 'em on...
Posted by: Troy | 2013-03-05 5:17:52 PM
No they won't. For every person that says, "We'd buy one in a heartbeat!", there's an additional fifty that won't. And even THAT person will have a choice to make when they actually go to buy one. North Americans, the Americans, in particular, still have a strong aversion to wagons as 'uncool'. My wife, for example. Although we bought a Pontiac Vibe in '04, she STILL refuses to acknowledge that it's a station wagon. Sport-crossover-utility-anythingelse, but it's NOT a wagon! ;)