The Corolla's formidable reputation for quality and reliability has made it the best-selling car in several markets across the globe. Toyota is aiming to repeat this performance when the Corolla Altis goes on sale in India in February 2003.

First some statistics. Thirty million units sold worldwide since 1966 in 140 countries. In its ninth generation now, it continues to be the best-selling car in the world with annual worldwide sales of over a million units. Meet the Toyota Corolla, the car that embodies the Japanese auto giant’s amazingly simple but shatteringly effective approach to conquering car markets. Give a product unbeatable quality and reliability and you’ve hooked a large number of buyers. It’s the same philosophy with which the Qualis has dominated the Indian UV segment.

The Corolla is coming to India and Toyota is deadly serious about it. A senior Toyota official let slip that he was confident of selling 1000 units a month, a big number when you consider that the Corolla is larger than a premium mid-size car, which not many can afford. For starters, the Corolla is, well a Toyota and that in India that gives it an advantage even before it leaves the showroom. The Toyota brand has come to be recognised as a stamp of quality endorsed over the years by imports like the Corolla, Corona and LandCruiser and, of course, lately the Qualis.

Like Corollas of every generation, there are different styling packages to suit various markets. India will get the built-for-Asia Corolla Altis that is slightly larger than the compact-looking European model. The Altis has been styled keeping Asian tastes in mind and that means spicing up its looks. The Altis’ front with large wing-shaped headlights look quite striking and the rear gets a swoopy light cluster as well.

Both the front and rear end styling do a good job of overshadowing the rest of the car which is quite plain Jane, especially in side profile. The overall effect is pretty sleek and has a look Indian customers will take to. Dimensionally, the Altis is bigger than both the City and Lancer but similar in size to the Skoda Octavia. But though it has a longer wheelbase and is marginally longer, it looks optically smaller than its robust-looking Czech rival and that could be a disadvantage. Also, the Corolla is a touch smaller than the Honda Civic, which is also expected in 2003.