The Toyota Corolla Hybrid was formerly only sold in a single LE trim, but for 2023, it’s joined by the SE and XLE grades. All are equipped with the same combination of a 1.8-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors that combine to make 134 hp. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is now offered for all grades but the XLE. Fuel economy estimates as determined by the EPA state that the FWD LE and XLE achieve an exceptional 53 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway. With AWD, the LE returns 51 city/44 highway. The FWD SE achieves 50 city/43 highway, but that changes to 47 city/41 highway with AWD.
The LE is a well-appointed base trim with both basic and upscale features, with the mix including LED headlights and taillights, 16-inch wheels, remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, fabric upholstery, illuminated vanity mirrors, and a 60/40-split rear seat with a folding center armrest and cup holders. The more athletic SE adds a mesh grille, a sport-tuned suspension, gray metallic side rocker panels, a rear spoiler, 18-inch graphite-colored wheels, a single exhaust with dual chrome tips, a Sport drive mode, and sport seats with fabric inserts. It also comes with LED daytime running lights, heated side mirrors, proximity entry (Smart Key), push-button start, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The SE Infrared Edition, which is available in Toyota’s intriguingly named paint colors Ice Cap, Midnight Black Metallic, and Underground, jazzes up the regular SE with bright-red interior and exterior accents. The XLE is a more luxurious version of the LE, as it gets heated exterior mirrors with blind-spot indicators, a moonroof, Smart Key, SofTex synthetic-leather seats (heated in the front row), a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 7-inch digital gauge cluster.
The Corolla Hybrid now comes with the upgraded Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite, whose technologies consist of a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, proactive driving assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, road sign assist, and full-speed dynamic radar cruise control. The XLE adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (that feature is available for the LE and SE).
Toyota’s revamped 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system comes standard in the ’23 Corolla. Its components are wireless smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), SiriusXM satellite radio, a six-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming. The SE and XLE can be glitzed up with the available 9-speaker JBL audio system, which includes an amplifier and a subwoofer. Along with all that, each trim receives a 12V power outlet and four USB-C ports (two in each row).
To enjoy some finer features without upgrading to a higher trim, Corolla Hybrid buyers have a few upgrade packages to choose from. The LE qualifies for two: the Convenience Package (Smart Key, push-button start, heated side mirrors with blind-spot warning indicators, and rear cross-traffic alert) and the Premium Package, which adds a moonroof to the contents of the Convenience Package. The SE is eligible for its own Premium Package, which has rear cross-traffic alert, the moonroof, and heated side mirrors with blind-spot indicators. A swanky 9-speaker JBL audio system is available a la carte for the SE and XLE, but only the XLE can be ordered with wireless phone charging.