The venerable Toyota Corolla has a long and storied history, even here in South Africa, but the times have changed, and the humble 'Rolla is no longer as desirable as one would think. The market has shifted and consumers prefer high-riding crossovers to low-slung sedans. It's a pity, really, as we still love the drive offered by a three-box sedan and wish we saw more of them on our roads.
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The Toyota Corolla, in sedan and hatch configuration, is not as popular as it once was. It has been overshadowed by its crossover counterpart, the Corolla Cross - and it seems that Toyota can't keep up with the demand. Based on the most recent sales figures, the Corolla sedan only sold in small numbers, 11 in total for the month of June, with the hatchback versions not faring any better, only selling 9 units.
The competition
The buying public's appetite for crossovers and SUVs has seen the mid-range sedan market dwindle. Traditionally littered with options from all sides, now only a few key manufacturers remain true to the cause. Toyota is one of them, and they see challenges from the likes of Volkswagen in the form of the Polo and Polo Sedan, the Honda Ballade, and, in hatch-only format, the Mazda Mazda3.
Volkswagen moved 391 Polo sedans in the month of June, and 902 hatches, while Honda managed to shift 48 Ballades. Mazda sold 23 Mazda3 hatches, meaning that the Corolla is not as popular as it once was. In it's defence, this is only a snapshot, a singular month's sales figures, but the trend seems to track, with the Toyota Corolla selling in smaller numbers than these opponents.
Corolla Quest
The Corolla Quest is a continuation model, carrying on from the 11th-generation E170 Corolla, and offering a more affordable alternative to the current, 12th generation Corolla. Available only in sedan format, this model has become increasingly popular with e-hailing operators and taxi services. The rental industry loves them too.
These have sold a little better, shifting over 300 units per month on a regular basis.
