The Toyota Corolla may be Toyota’s best-selling model in history, but it’s had its share of ups and downs throughout the course of its history. For one, the Corolla has rarely been described as a trendy fashion model, and we have years of evidence backing that up. I say all of that because the 2019 Corolla Hatchback appears to be an outlier. Not only does it look aggressive, but it also comes with a manual transmission. It’s too early to tell if that’s going to translate to some delicious driving, but the mere fact that we’re here mentioning it points to a rather exciting future for the new Corolla hatch.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I was shell-shocked at what I saw when I first caught a glance of the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. I did pause for a second to wonder if the model was actually a Corolla. It was. Then I was shell-shocked. The 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback looks stunning. How often do you get to say that about any model, let alone a Corolla?

But, it’s true. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it for some time, specifically the front section of the hatch, which embodies what I mean when I say that it’s aggressive. Check out those Nightwing-esque headlights. Notice how it cuts on opposite ends like an ax as parts of the upper bumper fills in the spaces of its shape? It’s a great look. Notice also how the design extends into the Toyota badge in the middle, creating an illusion that the whole thing runs the entire width of the front section. Squint your eyes, and it looks like a bird’s eye view of the Bat Jet. As someone who has owned his fair share of Corollas, that’s a description I never thought I’d get to use to describe Toyota’s go-to compact car. The massive radiator grille could’ve been designed a little tighter, but it still doesn’t take away from the overall look of the hatch. Likewise, I’m not really a fan of the smiling lip spoiler, but Toyota did well in not making it too big that it steals attention away from the other design elements of the hatch.

The side profile of the Corolla Hatchback is its own thing of beauty. The character and body lines are noticeable without going too overboard. The building rear bumper gives it a nice posterior and the nose on the front section is clearly seen, thanks in part to Toyota’s masterful job at creating layers on the bumper. There’s even a nice spoiler and fake exhaust tips at the back to help round out the Corolla design. Those pseudo exhaust tips might be cheating, but hey, it still works well with the car’s overall appearance.

From all angles, the hatchback’s design is top-shelf. It’s aggressive and exciting without being tacky. When was the last time you ever used those words to describe a Toyota Corolla? I’m willing to bet that you’ve rarely done it, but this one deserves to be an exception to that.

This is the Toyota Corolla that looks better than our own expectations of a Corolla. Fantastic job, Toyota. Here’s to hoping it’s driving experience lives up to its incredible appearance.

Reaferences

Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback.

Read more Toyota news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.