The Toyota Prius might have all the fame, but there’s another affordable hybrid from Toyota that you should consider – the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE sedan. This Corolla is not only a little bit more affordable, but it’s (arguably) more attractive than the Prius.
To that effect, the Corolla Hybrid LE’s exterior is unassuming for a sedan but nevertheless still very attractive. Its design is actually totally new for 2020 and based on the redesigned Corolla sedan. Its guts, however, are essentially the same as the Prius.
Unlike the interior of the Prius which is very futuristic, the Corolla Hybrid LE has an interior that is much more conservative but it doesn’t look budget at all. For example, the LE model offers a large 8-inch touchscreen which we weren’t expecting considering its low $23k price tag.
The seating inside of the Corolla is spacious and comfortable, just not all luxurious. Its trunk is spacious too – it offers the same 13.1 cubic-foot sized trunk as the standard Corolla LE. We were able to pack several suitcases into it for a couple of days away.
When it comes to driving, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE offers a super smooth drive with very good acceleration. We found it to be especially ideal for city driving given how nimble and responsive it is.
Unsurprisingly, the Corolla Hybrid LE offers an excellent fuel economy. Specifically, it offers 19 more miles per gallon than a standard model Corolla. In total it offers 52 mpg in combined driving which is comparable to what the Prius offers.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE lacks many of the bells and whistles that you’ll find in other more expensive hybrids, but it still manages to offer a great drive and an overall great value. Specifically, the $22,950 LE model that we took for a test drive offers a lot of value and features for its relatively low price tag. That includes LED exterior lighting, automatic climate control, heated side mirrors, two quick-charge USB ports, premium fabric seat upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Siri Eyes Free, it’s Amazon Alexa-compatible, it comes with the Safety Connect service with a free 3-year trial period, as well as Wi-Fi Connect service with a free 6-month trial period and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems.
Bottom line
The Hybrid market has certainly come a long way – after all, it wasn’t too long ago that such an affordable hybrid didn’t exist. In any case, if you’ve been waiting for a truly affordable hybrid sedan, then you’re going to love the new Corolla Hybrid LE. That is because ultimately, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE focuses on what matters most to budget car buyers; a great drive, comfort, and affordability.