When you talk about hybrid cars, you rarely think about a country like the Philippines. But mass-market hybrid cars are no longer just a dream for our country – it’s now a reality, thanks to Toyota and their new 2021 Corolla Altis Hybrid. And about time too – since many developed countries are looking to phase out petrol-powered vehicles in the next ten years.
However, the shift to electric cars isn’t as simple as it sounds. There are many factors to consider such as charging stations, registration procedures, viability, and many more. Here in the Philippines, such change is not possible within a decade or two. The truth is, we can’t even get rid of our low-tech and extremely pollutant Jeepneys.
Fortunately, shifting towards a greener alternative doesn’t have to be as drastic as getting rid of all internal combustion vehicles, at least for the Philippines. Hybrid Electric Vehicles or HEVs, are a great middle-ground in the shift to greener vehicles. It’s very similar to cars plying the roads today in that there is no need for additional technical know-how, as it’s simply an internal combustion vehicle that has an additional electric motor to help the engine run in the most fuel-efficient way possible. And like a regular car, there’s no need to plug it in or scramble for a charging station. There is no extra maintenance cost and the batteries are made to last as long as the car.
Despite being very similar to a normal car, a Hybrid Electric Vehicle is nonetheless a product for the future. HEVs have a management system that works like a brain, enabling them to be 50% more efficient compared to a normal car. Simply put, the two motors can alternate as you drive to save on fuel, they can also work together for more power when needed, and both can stop to save on energy especially in traffic. This kind of technology gives you everything you would want in a car: on-demand power, fuel savings, efficiency, and reduced emissions.
This HEV technology has been available in the Toyota Corolla Altis since 2011, but our market is apparently not ready for hybrid cars even until now. Luckily, Toyota Motor Philippines did not stop pushing for hybrid cars, which eventually led to this year’s hybrid variant of the new Toyota Corolla Altis.
In addition to the already exciting HEV features, the new Corolla Altis has improved visibility, stability, and agility. Drivers will enjoy better visibility of the road and surroundings due to the new body design. The chassis is now more stable during tight turns. And the car is more agile with the addition of streamlined features. These improvements are made possible using the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.
As expected, the new Altis is not lacking in safety features. It comes with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) which utilizes the latest active safety technology. Toyota said it will keep you and your passenger safe and sound, and away from harm. TSS includes Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA).
All in all, the new Toyota Corolla Altis is the best car to start your Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (xEV) journey. Not only because it comes feature-packed, but also because Toyota is no stranger to Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. It’s no surprise, as they’re the makers of the Prius, the world’s most recognizable hybrid car. They know this technology very well. And even without the advanced hybrid technology, the new Toyota Corolla Altis is a very impressive and good-looking car on its own. Combine that with its bulletproof reliability, and you know you can’t go wrong with the new Altis.
