The C-segment compact car segment is witnessing a new and interesting duel between the Toyota Corolla, the sales leader, and a very, very serious competitor: the new Peugeot 308.
The Toyota Corolla has started the year 2022 as the great sales leader in Spain, not only in the segment to which it belongs (the C of the compact ) but also in the global calculation of the market. With 1,613 units sold during January, Corolla has risen to the top of the registration ranking in our country. Now, will it continue to be the leader or will one of the many SUV-type vehicles take away the lead in the coming months?
Meanwhile, what does seem clear is that the C-segment of compact cars has a solid sales leader in the Toyota Corolla. The Japanese model has just released an interesting update to continue offering reasons and arguments against its wide and varied competition. Among its rivals from the general brands, the most avant-garde and with the most advanced technology of all is, for the moment, the new generation of the Peugeot 308. Will the French vehicle be able to stand up to the Japanese? The market will dictate its sentence, but in the meantime, it is convenient to analyze the main keys of each one of them.
Toyota Corolla 2022: a Solid Value That Is Renewed
With more than 50 million units sold worldwide throughout its history, the new Toyota Corolla 2022 mainly debuts new equipment and connectivity. The variety in its range continues to be one of the arguments in its favor (available in 5-door bodies, family Touring Sports, and four-door sedan ), the Spanish and world best-seller now incorporates the new Toyota Smart Connect and Toyota Smart Connect multimedia systems PRO.
Regarding the new Corolla Smart Connect multimedia system, Toyota ensures that it will offer a faster response and improve the user experience. It consists of an 8-inch high-definition touch screen, with cloud-based navigation, its data card, and with always-on traffic information. How could it be otherwise, the vehicle continues to have connectivity functions for smartphones compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technologies.
Another novelty in the 2022 Corolla range is the presence of the new Virtual Assistant, a voice recognition device that allows you to order functions of the multimedia system and some other functions of the vehicle, such as opening or closing windows.
About the most advanced Toyota Smart Connect PRO multimedia system, it has a 50 percent faster processor and premium navigation with integrated maps, as well as fixed speed camera warnings or inclement weather alerts.
In the aesthetic chapter, the Japanese compact range debuts two new body colors, Pearl Iceberg White and Agate Grey, and can be equipped with alloy wheels in Style design on all body versions. On the other hand, the equipment level focused on fleet customers is now called Business instead of Business Plus, and new Style Plus and GR Sport Plus variants arrive, with more equipment than the Style and GR Sport: both have a roof panoramic solar in the Corolla Touring Sports.
Among the safety and driving assistance systems of the Japanese compact, the automatic emergency braking stands out (it detects vehicles and pedestrians day and night; it also recognizes cyclists, but only during the day), the active speed programmer, the alert for change lane warning (which can intervene on the steering to correct the trajectory), the alert for the presence of vehicles in the blind spot of the mirrors and the traffic sign recognition system.
Finally, at a mechanical level, the Japanese compact range continues to be offered with the 125H and 180H self-recharging hybrid versions, with 122 and 184 horsepower, respectively. The entire Corolla range receives the ECO environmental label from the DGT.
Peugeot 308: Third Generation of the Most Modern and Avant-garde
In 2021, Peugeot presented the third generation of the 308 in style. According to colleagues from Autopista magazine who have been able to test it, it is a vehicle that takes a huge step forward in all terrains and, from the driving point of view, offers maximum balance, in which its great finesse and refinement stand out. at the controls more typical of a superior vehicle segment.
The 308 III is developed on a new and more flexible technology platform that has allowed it to lengthen the bodywork and offer a very varied mechanical range with different propulsion systems and technologies. Specifically, the French brand’s compact engine offering is currently made up of PureTech gasoline engines at power levels of 110 and 131 hp and the 131 hp 1.5 BlueHDi diesel. These two motorizations with combustion engines are joined as a great novelty by two plug-in hybrid variants (DGT ZERO label) of 179 and 220 CV, with an approved one hundred percent electric autonomy of 60 and 59 kilometers, respectively.
On the outside, the change in the style of the 308 III compared to the 308 II is more than evident, while the interior once again takes a step forward in terms of modernity. In this passenger compartment, the i-Cockpit configuration concept continues to be the protagonist, which consists of the use of a steering wheel with a smaller size than usual and flattened at the top and bottom, in addition to the placement of the instrument panel above the steering wheel and closer to the windshield.
The safety and driving assistance systems that the third-generation 308 can equip are almost endless. Among the most relevant, it is worth mentioning the vehicle detection system in the blind spot, the cross-traffic alert system when driving in reverse, the city emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, the traffic signs, and the driver’s tiredness and fatigue system, among others. On the other hand, some versions can also be equipped with the “Drive Assist 2.0 pack” semi-autonomous driving system., a technology that allows the automatic guidance of the vehicle through the combination of the active cruise control with the lane-keeping system and that also allows autonomous overtaking.
The 308 2022 is available in seven different colors: Olivine Green, Vertigo Blue, Elixir Red, Pearly White, Banquise White, Artense Gray, and Perla Nera Black. The available wheels have different designs and their size can range between 16 and 18 inches.
