UPDATE 2/11/19: The Corolla hybrid's EPA ratings are out, sitting at 52 mpg combined, 53 mpg city, and 52 mpg highway. We have updated our story accordingly.

For the first time ever, Toyota will offer the Corolla sedan with a hybrid powertrain in the United States. The hybrid is based on the all-new 2020 Corolla sedan, which is making its debut at the Los Angeles auto show alongside the hybrid. It's frankly surprising that it has taken this long for a Corolla hybrid to appear in the States—the Corolla is the world's top-selling nameplate, and hybrid Corollas have been offered in other markets for years.

The Corolla hybrid uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive system as the current Prius; that means a power-split transaxle incorporating two motor/generators, coupled to an Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter inline-four and paired electronically with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Like the Prius, the Corolla has a combined output of 121 horsepower, and like the Prius, the Corolla is front-wheel drive. Toyota doesn't give any performance figures, apart from saying that the Corolla hybrid's acceleration "may take some by surprise." We hope that's true, since the Prius took a laggardly 10.5 seconds to hit 60 mph in our testing. The Corolla hybrid has Normal, Eco, and Sport driving modes, with each affecting the response of the powertrain. There is also an EV mode that allows electric operation over short distances. Also part of the package is what Toyota calls an electronically controlled brake system, which manages the handoff between the regenerative braking and the conventional friction brakes, maximizing fuel economy and smoothing operation.

As with any hybrid, the biggest selling point of this Corolla is fuel economy. The EPA estimates that the Corolla hybrid gets 52 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient cars on sale. The Corolla's biggest competitor, the Civic-based Honda Insight, matches that EPA estimate in its lower trims, as do the higher-end Prius models (the Prius Eco gets 58 mpg combined). The standard 2020 Corolla sedan gets EPA estimates of between 32 and 34 mpg combined.

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To distinguish itself from regular Corollas, the hybrid sedan gets its own 15-inch aluminum wheels and special badging, but aside from that, it looks the same as the standard model. Another hybrid exclusive is a 7.0-inch display in the instrument cluster that shows battery charge, hybrid-system graphics, and "eco accelerator guidance," which coaches the driver on the best pedal operation to maximize efficiency. Every Corolla hybrid has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Amazon Alexa integration. Also standard on every Corolla hybrid is Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 package, which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed functionality, a lane-centering system, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beams.

The 2020 Corolla hybrid goes on sale in the spring alongside the standard sedan models. No pricing has been announced yet, but we expect a premium of a few thousand dollars over the regular Corolla. In Europe and other markets, Toyota offers the hybrid powertrain on the hatchback model, as well as a more powerful hybrid setup that uses a new 2.0-liter engine; we wouldn't be surprised to see either eventually make its way to the States.

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