Toyota Motor PH silently introduces the more affordable Corolla Altis 1.8 E and G HEV

Last March, we reported that it looks like Toyota Motor Philippines will eventually be electrifying the entire Corolla Altis lineup in a similar vein to how it would for the rest of its lineup, and it looks like the automaker has just quietly done so.

READ: It looks like Toyota Motor PH might electrify the entire Corolla Altis lineup soon

A visit to the Japanese automaker’s website shows two new variants added, just as we reported before: the 1.8 G HEV CVT priced at Php 1,602,000, and the 1.8 E HEV CVT, which is priced at Php 1,489,000, with an additional Php 15,000 charge for Platinum White. Also noticeable is the disappearance of the 1.8 G GR-S CVT.

The changes come in the exterior, with both of them sporting the standard body kit with chrome accents, first seen on the GR-S, and halogen headlights with LED DRLs. The 1.8 E HEV CVT has 16-inch alloy wheels, while the 1.8 G HEV CVT gets upgraded with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, a rear spoiler, and smoked LED taillights.

The E HEV comes with keyless entry, push-start ignition, speed sensing locks, manually adjustable leather seats, single-zone climate control, alongside a nine-inch infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four speakers, and the older seven-inch digital instrument cluster. Stepping up to the G HEV grants you six speakers and an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support.

Both come with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver assistance systems, complete with features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and pre-collision systems, and other basic safety features, like seven airbags, and a reversing camera with two rear sensors.

Both variants utilize the same gasoline-and-electric motor combo found in the GR-S hybrid— a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine (2ZR-FXE) and an electric motor, plus a 0.83kWh lithium-ion battery, output is 98 horsepower and 142Nm of torque, with a total combined system output of 122 horsepower.

With these two having relatively affordable pricing tiers, do you think this move is right for Toyota Motor Philippines to entice buyers into buying these hybrid sedans over Chinese competitors?

^{Photos from Toyota Motor Thailand}