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Meanwhile In Japan, Toyota Reveals Corolla Wagon

by Derek Kreindler
(IC: employee)
March 30th, 2015 10:11 AM
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Far away from the hubub of the New York Auto Show, Toyota has released a facelift for its station wagon version of the new Corolla. Of course, it’s not for us.
The Toyota Corolla Fielder is a wagon variant of the JDM Corolla, which features different dimensions (namely, less width to make it easier to maneuver and less length to comply with Japanese tax regulations) and a different powertrain. A hybrid system is available as well. North America will soon get the Toyota Auris, a larger hatch that will be badged as the Scion iM. This Corolla though, might actually be more desirable.
Published March 30th, 2015 10:11 AM
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Fellow lovers of compact wagons and hatches, how sad is it that we feel a pang of desire for a Corolla, when in the early 2000s we had a whole fleet of affordably-priced screaming-yellow sporty miniwagons to choose from: Mazda Protege5, Ford Focus ZXW 2.3, Mitsubishi Sportback Ralliart. But wait... What if the answer is just 100 miles away at your nearest Mitsubishi dealer? Behold the Outlander Sport. The electric-teal paint, stubby length, rear-pinched window, and wipe-clean hard plastic interior recall a Pearl-Jam-era Honda Civic, only ugly. The optional 2.4 liter engine recalls the Ralliart. And if you drop your Outback Sport on a set of lowering springs like my neighbor did, you've got a proper wagon. I'd rather overextend myself buying or maintaining a compact VW turbowagon. But still.
It is literally designed for old people (said so in PR). They also announced Corolla Axio, which is sedan version.
You had me at, 'of course, it's not for us'. Hallelujah!
I like a sw without the rood racks. Looks much sleeker, like the long hatch it is. The previous Fielder did quite well here in Brazil, then they discontinued it because the next car didn't have a sw variant. With this, there is hope we will get a new Fielder, and sw lovers like my dad could be tempted.