The new Toyota Corolla Commercial is the first full hybrid electric van in its class. Developed and built in the UK, this new car-derived van was designed to offer business customers the advantage of high fuel efficiency and low emissions. Its fourth-generation hybrid system gives a generous all-electric driving capability that’s ideal for urban deliveries, while allowing the freedom to make longer trips whenever required, with no need to schedule down-time for recharging.
The van is based on the Corolla Touring Sports estate, so it has a more generous load capacity than vehicles based on a hatchback body. The cargo area has a maximum capacity of 1,326 litres, with easy access through the wide tailgate aperture. The flat load floor has a tough rubber lining and there is a full-height steel bulkhead, interior light and a 12V power outlet. Maximum payload is 425kg and braked trailers weighing up to 750kg can be towed.
Corolla Commercial production
The Corolla Commercial is built at the Toyota Manufacturing UK plant at Burnaston, Derbyshire, and produced on the same assembly line as the Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports passenger cars. However, the conversion work is carried out in a dedicated area within the plant complex, where the van-specific elements are installed by experienced Toyota technicians in order for the model to meet N1 type approval as a goods vehicle.
Powertrain and chassis
The Corolla Commercial is based on the Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 Hybrid model. This means it features a 1,798cc DOHC Atkinson cycle petrol engine, a compact and powerful electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion high-voltage battery to give a total system output of 120bhp. Quiet and intuitive in operation, this powertrain offers WLTP combined cycle economy figures of 55.6 to 61.4mpg allied to 105 to 115g/km of CO2 emissions. But if you put your foot down, the van can accelerate to 62mph in 11.1 seconds and top-out at 112mph.
The dynamic qualities of the passenger Corolla’s TNGA-C platform are also evident in the Corolla Commercial. Its rigid body structure offers superior protection and impact absorption, while simultaneously enhancing steering feedback and chassis responsiveness. The van also shares the same MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension arrangement.
Safety features
The transition from Touring Sports to Commercial includes the wholesale adoption of the passenger model’s Toyota Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance features. The advanced technologies listed below are designed to identify accident risks and help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of common driving scenarios.
- Pre-Collision System
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Alert with steering control
- Vehicle Sway Warning
- Lane Trace Assist
- Automatic High Beam
- Road Sign Assist
Corolla Commercial has an equally strong array of passive safety features. In addition to its highly rigid body, there are seven cabin air bags, and vehicle control systems including ABS with brake force distribution, stability control, traction control and hill start assist – all provided as standard. The van is also equipped with the eCall system for automatic SOS alerts to the emergency services in the event of a serious collision.
Corolla Commercial: equipment and pricing
The Corolla Commercial is produced in a single model grade with a high specification that reflects its passenger car roots. Standard features include:
- Full-height metal bulkhead behind the front seats
- Eight-inch multimedia display
- Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Reversing camera
- Automatic headlights
- Heated and power adjustable door mirrors
- Dual-zone air conditioning
- Heated and height-adjustable seats with power lumbar adjustment for the driver
The commercial vehicle on-the-road price is £22,149 excluding VAT (£26,510 with VAT). Business customers can take advantage of the following Kinto contract hire agreements:
- £257 plus VAT per month, plus an initial rental of £1,542 plus VAT
- £261 plus VAT per month, plus an initial rental of £1,566 plus VAT (maintenance included)
The standard finish is Pure White, with Eclipse Black and Silver metallic paint options also available. Customers can specify various bundled packs to enhance the vehicle’s appearance and functionality, while individual extras include parking sensors and a towing system.
Warranty cover for up to ten years
In common with all Toyota vehicles, the Corolla Commercial has a three-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty. After three years, it qualifies for the free Toyota Warranty programme, which provides an additional 12 months/10,000 miles of cover each time the vehicle has a scheduled annual service at an authorised Toyota centre. This is available until the vehicle reaches ten years old or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
As part of the Toyota Professional range of light commercial vehicles, it also comes with five years of roadside assistance and the guarantee of a service appointment within seven days. If the service target is not met, the customer qualifies for a 50% reduction in servicing labour costs.
Learn more: What was the first car-derived van Toyota produced for the UK?
What are the “window” panels in the rear doors & tailgate made of & more importantly are they intrusion-proof? Otherwise theft from these will be much easier than something with steel panels.
Hi there,
The Corolla Commercial has blacked out glass windows so that there is no visibility through the rear door windows.
They are made from the same standard glass as the other models.
Thanks.
Would like available with rear seats as a option
Thank you for your feedback David.
The new model is scheduled to go on sale in summer 2022, with the UK being its first market. Initially, a single version will be offered, with specifications to be announced nearer the time of order books opening, expected to be later this year.
Thanks.
Hello Toyota UK.
I too am concerned about the blanking of rear windows. The side windows, yes, as that is a legal obligation for CDV. Please tell me the rear tailgate is not blanked out as that is not obvious from the limited photos. Also, do we know the GVW (<2000Kg for CDV).
Hi Alec,
We do not have this information just yet.
More information will be available closer to the release date later this year.
Thanks.
Thank you for such a prompt reply. A true strength of Toyota. I have a local distributor who seems to be very helpful too, but even they did not have the GVW which is extremely important in the UK for National Speed Limits. We have converted the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer to run as CDVs when the AstraVan was dropped. At one time we had lots of choice for this type of van. Now, it seems only Toyota is picking up that baton. More power to you as I am a 100% prospective customer for a small fleet of these.
Hi Alec,
No problem at all.
Please keep an eye on our blog and social media channels for the latest information.
There is also more on our website here – https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/corolla-commercial
Thanks.
I run an auto electrical business, and I’m very interested in this, but can you introduce I higher spec? It looks like some of the interior has been budgeted down, (black interior door handles) cheaper instrument cluster etc, I cover a lot of miles and don’t see why van drivers should get the cheap end of everything!
Hi there,
Thank you for your feedback.
We are always looking for ways to improve our product offering, so we will pass this feedback onto our wider product team.
Thanks.
I agree with Dorset Wurzle, for the sake of another £1000 or £2000 why bring something to market we don’t want to be in. We want a nice place to be, commercial drivers probably do more miles than private yet we get the crap interior. We want the best sound system and nicest interior. You need to do your market research and think things though. Toyota, do better!!! And the steel wheels! Unbelievable
Hi Robert,
We are always looking to improve our product offering, so thanks for your feedback.
Thanks
I’m ordering one anyway and hope by the time you bring it out you add some option packs.
I’m particularly buying one for the “Lane Trace Assist”. I’m used to a similar system and wouldn’t buy a car without it now, so much better than basic Lane Keep Assist.
Please tell me you have not dropped it from the commercial?!
Hi Robert,
Our product team have advised that Lane Trace Assist is available on Corolla Commercial.
Thanks.
We are in the process of buying ten Corollas for our machine operators and the feed back I’m getting from our line managers is they would also like to go into a Corolla if only you made a high specification version for them.
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your feedback. Have they considered the passenger version? It has more equipment and rear seats, but they can be folded down to provide more space: https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/corolla-touring-sports
Thanks
That’s brilliant thank you!
Sorry, one more question. Do you know if they will be making a RAV4 commercial? I would prefer that and would wait. Probably a better choice for a commercial than the Corolla. Thanks
Hi Robert,
Sorry, we have no information on that. We do have a Land Cruiser commercial though: https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/land-cruiser/commercial
Thanks
I’ve got a 70 reg touring sport and use the lane trace assist all the time and would hate to be without it now
Is there any additional sound deadening added to the vehicle to reduce interior noise at motorway speed?
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment.
All of our vehicle range come with noise reduction in the cabin.
We hope this helps.
Thanks.
I received an email yesterday saying the GR86 was available to buy online or at dealers. I’ve tried to place an order but the website only allows a configuration to be created and the dealer cannot order one or give any information about availability. Is it actually available and if so, how can I place an order?
Hi Martin,
Due to unprecedented demand, the GR86 is now sold out.
You can join the waiting list here – https://forms.toyota.co.uk/sign-up-gr86-waiting-list.
Thanks.
I’d be interested if it was a high spec interior,loads of sound deadening so you haven’t got an echo chamber behind you and if you could delete the bulkhead,or have an access panel so you can load long lengths into the passenger footwell.
Hi Andy,
Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback.
We will make sure it is passed onto our wider product team.
Thanks.
Ditto
In fact, is there a nicer model coming? Should I cancel my order and wait??
Hi,
What is the BIK on the Corolla Commercial
Hi John,
The BIK is £3,500.
Thanks.
They have announced the 2023 Corolla. Can you find out when the Commercial will adopt the new 2023 updates? It would be better for me to maybe cancel my current Commercial order and wait for the new model, but not if the commercial version will be 2024 or something
Hi Robert, thanks for your comment.
We have no information on any changes to the Corolla Commercial at the moment.
Thanks,
Toyota UK