Toyota Corolla Commercial van review (2023)

• Smooth and quiet
• One choice of hybrid engine
• Automatic gearbox as standard

Would it shock you to learn that the Toyota Corolla Commercial handles largely like a car? This is great in many ways, as the conversion hasn’t negatively impacted what it is like to drive in any form.

The result is a vehicle that is relaxing to drive first and foremost. There is only the one engine – the 1.8-litre version of Toyota’s hybrid. This was upgraded in 2023 to bring about a notable boost in power - it rose from the 122hp of the early cars to reach 138hp. The changes only impact the power, though, and it retains the same 142Nm of torque. Should such a thing matter in a van, then the 0-62mph time has been improved by a whopping 1.7 seconds, bringing it down to 9.4 seconds. We'd understand if you aren't tempted to test that, but it is handy to have in reserve and it makes for a more relaxing experience.

The increase in power makes up for the fact that you can't get the larger 2.0-litre hybrid that is available in the passenger car. You wouldn't want that anyway, as it comes with a larger battery that robs valuable luggage capacity and would further reduce that modest payload. Previously the 1.8’s lesser power was a trade-off worth having but the compromise is lessened.

These changes come about as a result of Toyota having tweaked the various major components of the powertrain - the battery is more powerful and there have been notable weight savings, which aids the economy. The weight savings aren't sufficient to improve the payload, though. More of that on our dedicated Toyota Corolla Commercial dimensions page.

The electric-only range is still only good for a few miles at a time, so the engine will kick in on a regular basis but the interaction between the two is seamless. The standard-fit automatic gearbox is smooth, to the extent that there won’t be any jerking away from a standstill, helping keep any valuable loads stable in the back. In the pre-update vans, the engine revs had a tendency to build notably at times when you are at faster speeds, particularly when you were heading up hills or wanting a burst of pace. This is less the case following the engine tweaks, and the whole experience is much quieter on the motorway. Overall, it makes for a much more sophisticated and relaxed drive.

Four modes to choose from

There are four driving modes – Eco, Normal, Power and an EV mode that lets you run on the battery alone where there is sufficient charge. There is no drastic step change between the three main modes, with marginally more throttle response as you head through them, but not really enough to warrant tweaking them on a regular basis. Stick with Normal or Eco and make the most of the efficiency they bring. The extra engine braking you get by moving the gear lever backwards into ‘B’ gives a handy bit of extra regeneration while going downhill, but there’s no benefit in leaving it on all the time as the engine will have to fight against it which might use more fuel.

The steering is a light and relatively numb affair compared to many vans, which makes it easy to get around town but it does feel slightly less solid and workmanlike as a result.

The only point at which you will be aware that you are not in the passenger car is when you head over speed bumps with a little too much enthusiasm – there is a slight increase in noise from the loading floor in the back, but this shouldn’t be the case when you are carrying anything to weigh it down.

• Low down driving position
• Visibility not great
• Storage good but payload quite low

It is easier for Toyota to send the Corolla Commercial down the main car production line and keep the changes to a minimum, which is a real bonus for van drivers. The conversion is also done on site and at the very end of the process, which means that you get a well-equipped and comfortable cabin without the utilitarian feeling that often comes with a commercial vehicle. There isn’t much in the way of contrast coloured decoration, but other than that it feels like a smart and well-made cockpit.

The downside of this is that a conventional van will have more storage spaces for the sort of stuff that accumulates over a working day.

What is the Toyota Corolla Commercial like inside?

There are hard-wearing coverings on the flooring rather than soft carpets, which should make it easier to clean the cabin out, but the seats are standard cloth affairs. The materials differ from the car version in a few areas, most notably on the parts that you touch most often. Where the car gets a leather trimmed steering wheel and gear lever, the van gets a much more utilitarian feel to both, with no decoration on either. This should hold up better in the face of the daily grime from working hands, though, being much more wipe-clean than the passenger car's equivalent.

Storage is quite minimal, with a pair of cupholders in between the two seats and a small cubby in front of the gear lever that doesn’t feel quite big enough for a modern smartphone. The door bins will take a small bottle, but there isn’t room for much more. A lidded central storage bin is the final piece – if you need to carry loads of folders and work-related items then a standard van will treat you better on this front.

The seats are comfortable and offer a good range of adjustment – despite the fitment of a bulkhead it still slides far enough back that tall drivers will be able to fit in easily. The blacked-out windows mean that visibility isn’t great as you can’t glance over your shoulder at junctions and have to rely on the door mirrors, which are car-sized so not huge. The rear window isn’t blanked off, though, so you can still use the rear-view mirror, which will help those unfamiliar with van life.

Blanking off the rear windows also has a notable impact on the levels of light in the Corolla's cabin. Combine this with the low swooping roofline that helps the car look so smart and the result is a cabin that feels quite dark, almost claustrophobic at times. The dull colours don't help the matter, either. It's smart, but dark.

On-board tech in the Toyota Corolla Commercial

The eight-inch touchscreen is a highlight of the Corolla Commercial’s cabin, and it comes with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all as standard.

There’s an aux socket and a USB slot, but the latter is only the older format, not the more modern USB C. It's handily located down near a spot big enough to take your phone, so there is no need for trailing wires across the cabin. A selection of manual shortcut buttons below and alongside the screen is welcome, making on-the-move adjustments easier. Those buttons aren’t huge, though, so you’ll have to take big gloves off come winter.

These, however, were removed as part of the 2023 update, moving to a simple touchscreen affair. It doesn't change the character of the system, though, and it is still simple to use so the change is not one to make a drastic difference to how the Corolla Commercial is to live with.

There is another treat tucked away down by the space for your phone - a pair of heated seat buttons. Another example of the little touches of luxury that come thanks to the Corolla being a largely unmodified car.

• Hybrid only powertrain
• Only one well-equipped trim
• Maintenance included

The Toyota Corolla Commercial’s lack of direct rivals mean there is no benchmark for it, so it could look like excellent value or a little punchy depending on what you compare it to. It’s certainly much more than the Fiesta Van and the diesel Toyota Proace City, but it’s much cheaper than the Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial PHEV was.

You do get a much more sophisticated driving experience and cabin than a conventional van though.

Because it isn’t a fully electric van, though, you don’t get any of the financial incentives of an EV. All the cost savings will have to come from fuel economy.

Toyota Corolla Commercial standard equipment

The Toyota Corolla Commercial gets the following as standard (in January 2023):

• A full-height metal bulkhead with a grille upper
• Eight-inch multimedia display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Reversing camera
• Automatic headlights
• Heated and power adjustable door mirrors
• Dual-zone air conditioning
• Heated, height-adjustable seats with power lumbar adjustment

There aren’t many options beyond metallic paint and a style pack, with contrast trim on the bumpers and lower doors for those who can be sure their van will never do the sort of work that will result in damage.

It also gets Toyota’s Safety Sense system as standard, more on that below.

Toyota Corolla Commercial mpg

The Toyota Corolla Commercial’s fuel economy took a step up following the 2023 upgrades. Where it previously offered a best of 61.4mpg, this has now been improved by 3mpg, to sit at 64.4mpg.

Our various experiences with this engine, in van and passenger car format, suggest that this is no pie-in-the-sky target either, and you should be able to get above 60mpg even with a load in the back.

Toyota Corolla Commercial servicing

Toyota reckons that many buyers will go for its monthly payment package that comes with maintenance included, which will keep costs lower. It’s only for business users, but represents an extra £4 a month over a 36-month contract, meaning that the first three years of upkeep should cost only £144. That does limit you to 8,000 miles a year though.

Toyota also offers the guarantee of a service appointment within seven days. If it can’t make the seven days then you get 50% off your service labour costs.

Toyota Corolla Commercial warranty

Toyota’s warranty is one of the best you can get, with an initial three-year/60,000-mile policy. However, after three years, this can then be extended for another 12 months and 10,000 miles every year that you get it serviced at an authorised Toyota centre up until the vehicle is 10 years old or has done 100,000 miles. Nothing else comes close.

Toyota has a very strong reputation for reliability that has been earned over many years. As an added backup, though, you get five years roadside assistance included.

• Loads of safety kit
• All included as standard
• Driving aids included too

The Corolla Commercial hasn’t been crash tested as a standalone model but the passenger car version achieved a five-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was assessed in 2019.

Toyota hasn’t bothered deleting any of the safety kit so you get loads as standard as part of the Toyota Safety Sense pack, including the following:

• Pre-collision System
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Automatic High Beam
• Lane Departure Alert
• Lane Trace Assist
• Sway Warning
• Road Sign Assist
• Overtake prevention support

There are also seven airbags, hill start assist, brake assist, seatbelt reminders and an eCall system that will alert the emergency services in the case of a collision.

These were upgraded in 2023, to the extent that the software can now be updated over the air, reducing the need to head into a dealer to get them done manually.

2023-on vans also get an upgraded front camera that has a wider field of vision, while the radar can detect objects closer to the front than before. Amongst other things, this helps make the pre-collision system more effective. The adaptive cruise has also been made more responsive, while the road sign detection system has been improved - it allows you to match the speed limiter with the local restrictions.