01 Oct
Blog

Apple iPhone 13 Review: The iPhone for the Masses

iPhone 13 held in hand.

Apple iPhone 13

RRP $ 799.00

"The iPhone 13 remains Apple's flagship model, offering most of the value of the Pro at a lower price."

advantages

  • Fast and responsive performance

  • Excellent camera and video functions

  • Long battery life

  • Supports most of the premium features

disadvantage

  • Still no USB-C

  • No higher refresh rate or telephoto lens

the iPhone 13 is the new iPhone Apple expects most people to buy, and it's easy to see why. It has most of what makes the Premium 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max great, including the lightning-fast A15 Bionic processor, an ultrawide camera, and a battery that can easily be used for a full day before you need to charge it.

If you're a real power user, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will beat the iPhone 13 with their 120Hz ProMotion screens, extra telephoto lens, and generally superior low-light performance. But you also pay a premium over the base iPhone 13, and let's face it: the average person won't split hair above 60Hz and adaptive 120Hz. The iPhone 13, along with its little brother, the iPhone 13 Mini, does the job and does it well.

iPhone 13 from behind.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

draft

The iPhone 13 does not deviate dramatically from the design of the iPhone 12. The model I tested was a darker blue than the iPhone 13 Pro and the Sierra blue of the Pro Max, which is more of a sky blue. I like both options and I am not surprised that they turn out to be popular choices. You still get the square edges on the sides bounded by aluminum rather than stainless steel on the Pro, a Lightning port, downward facing speakers, volume buttons on the left below the ring / silent switch, and a side button on the right that activates Siri and can turn the screen on and off.

As with other iPhone models, the iPhone 13 is IP68 dust and water resistant and withstood a thorough flush in the sink after I accidentally dropped it into the dirt in the park while juggling four phones in my hands. Both the front and back are protected by Ceramic Shield, which is made by Corning, just like the latest Gorilla Glass Victus that you can find on newer Android flagships.

The front looks largely the same when compared to the iPhone 12, although Apple says the notch that houses the TrueDepth camera is 20% smaller. That's technically correct because it's narrower, but it's also a little deeper now, so the compromise is a bit of a wash in my eyes. Face ID works the same as before, but its usability with a face mask, and especially a face mask and sunglasses, has been a hit-and-miss at best. You can do an alternate scan to improve performance with face masks, but it also compromises safety so I preferred to leave it out.

iPhone 13 face recognitionDan Baker / Digital Trends

The more notable difference can be seen if you look at the back. There's still a vaguely square camera body, but the camera array is positioned differently, with the two sensors not being vertical, but facing each other. This way you can mainly distinguish the older and newer models.

Other differences are a little harder to spot. The iPhone 13 measures 5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 inches and weighs 6.14 ounces, which makes it just a tiny bit heavier than the 5.78 ounce iPhone 12, which can likely accommodate the larger battery. That's a worthy compromise, and in terms of overall footprint and pocket size, I think the iPhone 13 is a one-handed device, even though the iPhone 13 Mini is Apple's “official” compact phone.

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The 6.1-inch Super Retina OLED screen is big enough that text, apps, and the keyboard never feel cramped, which was a problem for me with the Mini. The 2532 x 1170 Super Retina OLED screen is razor sharp, certified to work with HDR10 and Dolby Vision for a higher dynamic range, and operates at 460 pixels per inch. The downward facing speakers were also surprisingly loud and didn't suffer from much distortion except at the highest volumes, so they're more than capable of serving as audio output if you're too lazy to pair with headphones.

The screen is 60 Hz, but if you've never used a higher refresh rate, it won't bother you. It's still a little disappointing not to see the ProMotion filter across the line, especially when you're paying for a $ 800 phone. You won't find an Android phone in this price range that doesn't have a higher refresh rate, and even cheaper mid-range options support this.

Viewing angles are great, colors are rich and accurate, and outdoor visibility is excellent thanks to a peak brightness of 800 nits. When viewing HDR photos and videos, the phone can even increase the brightness to 1,200 nits. I had no problems viewing text, navigating Google Maps, or viewing the camera viewfinder, even in direct sunlight.

Performance, battery life and connectivity

Performance is one thing you will never find on an iPhone, and the iPhone 13 is no exception. It's powered by an A15 Bionic processor, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with a variety of higher storage options including 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, though you won't get the highest storage option in particular at 1TB – that's exclusive for the Pro models.

The review unit I tested came with ample 512GB of storage, which was more than enough for my needs – even when I take a lot of photos and 4K videos. My guess is that for most people, 256GB is the best balance between price and capacity.

My guess is that for most people, 256GB is the best balance between price and capacity.

My average daily iPhone usage required a fair amount of time on Twitter, Reddit, and Microsoft Teams, some browsing, lots of photos, and playing Genshin Impact. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 13 processed everything I threw at it with no lag or slowdown. Benchmark tests confirm the strong performance with 827,398 on AnTuTu, which measures the overall performance, and 55.1 frames per second in the demanding Wild Life graphics benchmark from 3DMark.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Apple's marketing materials made bold claims that the iPhone 13 can achieve 2.5 hours of battery life than the iPhone 12. That's the kind of claim I always take with a grain of salt, especially as a power user who does a lot does more on my phone than the average person. So I was pleasantly surprised when these claims not only proved correct, but were blown out of the water, with the iPhone 13 comfortably holding out for a day and a half before it needed to be charged.

One reason for this is that the 3,240 mAh cell is larger than the 2,815 mAh battery that the iPhone 12 came with. This is a considerable leap that pays off over a longer period. But what also happens is that with the A15 Bionic, Apple has improved battery optimization and management so you can get more juice out of the cell.

I could leave it unplugged and still have plenty of juice the next day.

While the previous iPhone may need to be charged while it was sleeping, the iPhone 13's standby time was good enough to leave it unplugged and have plenty of juice the next day. It's great to see and arguably the killer feature for the iPhone 13, especially for those using older models.

But that brings me to the disadvantage. While the iPhone 13 is fully MagSafe compatible and supports 20 watt wired charging, 15 watt MagSafe charging, and 7.5 watt Qi wireless charging, it still uses a Lightning connector. As I discovered in my first hands-on, it's getting harder and harder to incorporate non-USB-C devices into my life.

iPhone 13 below.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Most of my batteries, chargers, and even my PC now support USB-C, as do my MacBook Air and the new iPad Mini. The iPhone 13 series, along with the new iPad 10.2, are the only devices that still stick to the old charging port. This made the iPhone 13 a bigger inconvenience than it needed to be when traveling, although in general it is a relatively minor issue that can be fixed with an additional adapter. Still, it gives me hope that we don't have to deal with that for next year's model.

Connectivity is pretty standard. The iPhone 13 supports 5G, Ultra Wideband, Sub-6GHz, mmWave, and basically all the bands you would expect from a flagship phone. I tested on T-Mobile in the greater NYC area and the connectivity was good enough, but I never got the 5G speeds that were promised. This is more of a network congestion and rollout problem than an iPhone 13 problem. In many places, even New York, 5G exists more on paper than in practice. Apart from that, you also get dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0

Cameras and videos

Cameras are where a lot of magic happens for iPhones. You get a dual rear camera array with a 12 megapixel wide angle camera and a 12 MP ultra wide angle camera at 120 degrees. Unlike the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, there is no third telephoto camera, so you can't take pictures with optical zoom and you don't benefit from macro photography.

iPhone 13 rear cameras.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 viewfinder close-up.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 portrait photo.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 in landscape mode.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Regardless of this, the photo quality – to put it simply – is excellent. When it starts up, the camera app asks you for the filter you want to apply to your photos. Your selection is Standard, the iPhone 13's default setting; vivid, enhancing colors and saturation; and separate options for cooler and warmer filters. I've only shot in standard mode for testing and personal preference, which I think is the setting most people will use as it's most lifelike.

As you can see in the many sample shots, the iPhone 13 does a great job in outdoor settings. The colors are punchy even in standard mode, and the auto exposure handles the contrast between shadows and areas of direct, blinding sunlight well without washing out, as is the case with many smaller phones. The bright blue sky, the puffy white cloud, the green grass of the park, the waves and reflections of the pond, everything looks great in my eyes.

Details are abundant; When zooming in, individual branches and leaves can be seen, but on closer inspection, edge distortions are found. Both ultra-wide and standard shots look great, with a slight fisheye effect to the ultra-wide. If you were satisfied with the camera performance of the iPhone 12, you will be completely satisfied with the sensors of the iPhone 13 overall.

That’s kitchen sink stuff, though. Nowadays, almost every flagship phone and even many mid-range smartphones can take great photos in good lighting. The real standouts are the ones that do well in low light, and that's what makes the iPhone 13 special. The camera app will automatically switch to night mode and adjust the exposure to capture more light for a clearer, brighter picture in darker settings. In a completely dark setting, this can take up to 30 seconds, although most dimmer settings will extend the exposure to five to seven seconds.

The result is a picture with more sharpness, color accuracy and clarity than you would normally get in low light. However, it is worth noting that there is some ambiguity in the details too, especially when compared to the iPhone 13 Pro.

You can record 4K at 60 frames per second, 30 fps, and 24 fps for video. It also supports 1080p at 60/30 fps, but I didn't feel the need to record at a lower resolution as I had 512GB of storage. I was blown away by how stable the video recording was, especially when tracking moving objects.

Stabilization is usually a significant problem with any type of handheld video recording, but the iPhone 13 made it so handy that I felt like I was recording with a gimbal. Panning around also didn't result in dropped images or auto exposure issues.

iPhone 13 selfie.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 13 test image example

Like the other iPhone models, the iPhone 13 supports Cinematic Mode, which adds a blurring effect to the background of people and objects, similar to a movie camera. It works best with faces, and you can tell that the blur is clearly an artificial effect, but it's a nice feature when it works. It doesn't work that well with objects, especially moving ones, but on the plus side, it works with the dual 12 MP selfie cameras, which is a pleasant surprise.

Among other things, you have the portrait mode on the rear and front sensors, which gives the images blur and depth. The photos were beautiful and I had a lot of fun playing around with the different background options.

Software and functions

The iPhone 13 can be updated to iOS 15 the moment you turn it on, which I did right away. The latest operating system is packed with features like an improved notification summary, text scanning in the camera app, tabs for Safari, and support for saving vaccination logs, COVID vaccines, and even your driver's license.

A comparison of iOS 15 with Android is not really worth it in my opinion. At this point you know the differences between them and you know which one you prefer. I will say that this version of iOS 15 seems to have more compatibility issues than previous versions. For example, unlocking the Apple Watch with the Apple Watch Series 6 just didn't work for me. Undoubtedly, many of these issues can and will be fixed, so none of them are deal breakers.

iPhone 13 apps on the home screen.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Price and availability

The iPhone 13 is currently available on sale starting at $ 799 in pink, blue, midnight, starlight, and product red color options. It also has 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage size options and works with all major US carriers.

Our opinion

The iPhone 13 strikes a great balance between size, performance, and price. It's smaller than the gigantic iPhone 13 Pro Max, but offers more screen space than the cramped iPhone 13 Mini. The battery life is the really standout feature that gives you a full day of running time and hassle-free charging. Added to this is the great camera performance despite the lack of a telephoto lens. If you're not ready or able to take advantage of the premium features of the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 13 won't let you down, and I recommend it as a good compact phone alternative to the Mini.

Is there a better alternative?

As is so often the case, Apple's toughest competitor is usually himself. The iPhone 13 is challenged most directly by the iPhone 13 Pro, which is the same size but better across the board in almost every way. The 13 Pro and Pro Max both offer you a 120 Hz ProMotion display, a telephoto lens for 3x optical zoom, an even longer-lasting battery and outstanding low-light camera performance.

In contrast, the iPhone 13 Mini is identical in hardware and features, but it's much smaller and designed for those who really love compact phones and don't mind the cramped screen. However, the battery life won't last quite as long. If you have an iPhone 12, the difference between the two devices isn't that big, and the iPhone 13 probably isn't worth the upgrade.

Outside of the Apple universe, many capable Android phones can give you great camera and battery life, including the Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 Pro, and the upcoming Google Pixel 6. But if you already exist in the Apple ecosystem, you can become them probably not viewing these as options, although they are equally worthwhile if you are ready to make the switch.

How long it will take?

The standard warranty is one year, but Apple Care + can be extended for 24 to 36 months and it covers two accidental damages for every 12 month interval. In terms of durability, the phone is IP68 so it can withstand full immersion. I played with it roughly and it still survived falls without noticeable scratches on the ceramic glass. In combination with the regular software and security updates, you should be able to easily keep the iPhone 13 for at least three years, if not longer.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you like the price, the size, and the extra battery life, the iPhone 13 offers a lot of value, even if it isn't the highest quality option in the lineup.

Editor's recommendations



09 Nov
Blog

OnePlus Nord 10 5G Review: Bringing 5G to the Masses

oneplus nord 10 5g rating 4

  • Solid display

  • Simple software

  • Good battery life

  • Headphone jack

  • 128 GB storage

  • Performance can feel sluggish

  • Camera is a weak point

  • Start on Android 10

OnePlus has long been the bastion of value for money in the Android world, but as the prices of its flagship phones rise, more room has been made for lower-cost devices that still have some great features. The original OnePlus Nord is an example of this, with a solid design and good battery life. OnePlus is now expanding the series – with the new OnePlus Nord N10 5G.

The new device is currently only available in Europe and the UK. However, OnePlus announces that it will soon be brought to North America along with the also new OnePlus Nord N100. At £ 329, it's still not a cheap phone, but it's definitely budget conscious. Should you buy it? We tested the OnePlus Nord N10 5G to find out.

Editor's note: Since the Nord N10 5G is first available in Europe, we have received a European model to test. When tested in the United States, the phone had technical limitations related to 5G bands and other network technologies. The North American model should not encounter any of these problems.

Design and display

Midrange phones have gotten a lot better, and many of the best midrange devices now feature a modern design with an edge-to-edge display. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is no exception to this rule. The display has nicely rounded corners, there is a (relatively large) hole cutout on the top left of the display for the front-facing camera, etc. The only thing that breaks the illusion is a big chin at the bottom of the display, but it certainly isn't Deal breaker.

The back of the phone looks a lot like other modern OnePlus devices. At the top left of the back of the phone is a circular camera module that houses the quad lens camera. The only difference, at least in looks, is the back-mounted fingerprint sensor, which generally worked fine.

Of course, the look and feel are a little different. The back of the phone looks nice but is made of plastic and you can feel it. It's common on phones in this price range, but I would still love to see mid-range phones made from higher quality materials.

The phone looks great, but it looks and feels different – you know it's made of plastic.

You get all the usual features around the edges: a USB-C port, a volume rocker, and a power button. There's also a strange hole at the bottom. After reading the instructions, I discovered that it was a "headphone jack". Strange.

The Nord N10 5G offers a 6.49-inch display with a resolution of 1080p and looks great. No, it's not a high-end 1440p display, but at least it's a 90Hz, high refresh rate display. It gets bright enough to be used in direct sunlight, has relatively vivid colors, and is more than good enough for most.

Power and battery

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 processor as well as 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It's not a bad set of specs, and in fact, it's really nice that the base model has 128GB of storage. But there are other phones that feel faster in the price range. A perfect example of this is the Google Pixel 4a, which is roughly the same price and has a Snapdragon 730G – and the high-end Pixel 4a 5G, which is admittedly a bit more expensive, has a Snapdragon 765G. While the standard Pixel 4a does not outperform the OnePlus Nord 10 5G in benchmarks, Google's phones react very quickly in real use and are more up-to-date with the software.

The phone performance limitations are sometimes felt. Sometimes the keyboard takes a second or two to load, and sometimes it can skip a beat while typing to actually show the character on the display. Basic operations are relatively smooth most of the time, but there are times when you are not reminded that you have a budget device.

Benchmark results confirm this. The Nord N10 got 5G 281,214 in AnTuTu and 606 single-core, 1,804 multi-core in GeekBench 5. Playing on the phone is a decent experience. Games take a while to load, but the actual gameplay worked well in our testing with games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9.

The phone's battery has a capacity of 4,300 mAh and could easily be used for a full day. Even so, I recommend turning off the phone's constantly on display. The OnePlus Nord 10 5G has an LCD panel. When the display function is activated, the backlight remains on even if the display is switched off. This can take some serious drain on the battery, and with the feature turned on, I found that the battery was so degraded that I had to charge the phone before the end of a day of moderate use.

All-day battery pack isn't an issue, and Warp Charge 30T fast charging is a differentiator at this price point.

Fortunately, the phone supports OnePlus' Warp Charge 30T and comes with a charger. Since the European model of the device was shipped to me, I have not tested the charger here in the US. However, having tested OnePlus' fast charging in the past, chances are the phone can get a majority of its charge back in around 30 minutes. That is a differentiator at this price point.

The Nord 10 5G, as the name suggests, also supports 5G thanks to the new Snapdragon 690 chipset and the Snapdragon X51 modem from Qualcomm. The result is you get Sub-6 5G connectivity, but not the super-fast mmWave that carriers like Verizon have touted. For most, however, this shouldn't be a big deal – mmWave is barely available, and you really shouldn't buy or avoid a phone that relies on mmWave support.

camera

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G offers a four-lens camera system, but it's not necessarily as versatile as you might think. While you might think that there is a telephoto lens among these four lenses, sadly there isn't. Instead, you get a 64-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. I really wish OnePlus would get rid of the macro lens – it's useless.

The cameras are fine, but not groundbreaking. This is where the Pixel 4a stands out.

Photos are fine, but not groundbreaking. If you want the best photos on a phone in this price range, you'd better go for the Pixel 4a, which has flagship-level image processing.

In general, the phone didn't provide as much detail as I would have liked to see. The colors were also a bit muted and not as vivid as I would normally expect from a 2020 phone. This is especially true for trick shooting situations, for example with a light background and darker foreground. Making sure HDR is enabled will help in these situations, but it won't completely solve the problem.

software

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G comes with the OnePlus OxygenOS 10.5, and it's a little frustrating to see that it doesn't come with the latest OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. This newer software is already widespread and only frustrates the Nord N10 5G when it comes to longer-term software support. That said, the overall experience with any modern OnePlus phone is still good, and customizing OxygenOS Android is still simple and easy to navigate.

You also get some additional features. For example, the phone has OnePlus Zen mode which allows you to restrict your own access to your phone for a limited time. Other functions are the App Locker, with which you can hide apps behind the fingerprint sensor or a PIN code. Basic theme options make it easy to customize the look of the phone, and OnePlus is especially good at keeping duplicate apps and bloat to a minimum.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G is available in Europe and the UK for 329 pounds sterling, which equates to about $ 430 right away – although I would assume the US price will be under $ 400. At some point the device will be released in the USA, but we don't have a date for it yet.

The device comes with the 12-month standard warranty from OnePlus, which practically only covers manufacturer defects.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G is a nice phone. It looks and works fine despite the plastic construction, except for a few cases where performance is a little poor. However, the main selling point for the Nord 10 5G compared to the competition seems to be its 5G support. And if you've read anything we've written over the past few years, you know you shouldn't buy a phone as it supports 5G.

If you are a OnePlus fan who wants a phone in this lower price range, this is a great option as it is the same value for money, solid display, simple software, and good battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're ready to ditch 5G support (and that's really not a huge loss), it's worth getting the Google Pixel 4a instead of the OnePlus Nord 10 5G. The Pixel 4a offers a better camera and an even simpler software experience, even though it's at a slightly higher £ 350.

If you really want 5G support and can afford to spend a little more, the Pixel 4a 5G is the way to go, though it may be a full price range higher at £ 499. If you're feeling really adventurous, consider the iPhone SE, which offers better performance than any phone we've mentioned and a solid camera, although the design is a little dated.

If you live in the UK or the OnePlus Nord is available elsewhere, this should be considered before the N10. It's £ 379 in the UK, and it's a much more tech-savvy phone for just a little more.

How long it will take?

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G should last a solid two years, but should really slow down at this point. However, the phone does not have an official water resistance rating. To bring it to two years you have to be careful with it.

Should you buy one?

No. You should spend a little more money on the Google Pixel 4a instead.

Editor's recommendations




29 Feb
Blog

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Review: Affordable Hybrid For The Masses

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid review ry 4th

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Review: Affordable hybrid for the masses

"The Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2020 is an excellent choice for frugal buyers."

  • Affordable prices

  • A lot of drive safety technology

  • Dynamic cruise control works well

  • Attractive styling

  • Modest trunk

  • Entune infotainment needs work

If you've been waiting for the hybrid version of Toyota's most popular and cheapest sedan to come to US dealers, this is your year. The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan is here and it's about $ 23,000 to launch.

Corolla is not a new kid on the block. It made its debut in the late 1960s with more than 46 million copies sold worldwide. Many other Toyotas received hybrid treatment before the Corolla, including the RAV4, Highlander and even the Camry, Corolla's bigger sibling.

The Corolla Hybrid is affordable, but not the cheapest hybrid. The 2020 Honda Insight and 2020 Hyundai Ioniq are a few hundred dollars cheaper.

I tested the Corolla Hybrid in rainy January weather in the Pacific Northwest. It is an ideal time to test the driver assistance functions of the car (without deliberately endangering myself or the car).

design

Toyota has revised its range in recent years and this year it was Corolla's turn. Toyota decided that the car might as well be designed for a hybrid powertrain as well as the usual gasoline-only engine. This speaks for the success of Toyota’s hybrid technology, which has slowly but surely crept in from the Prius into other Toyota vehicles.

While some cars can continue to drive without a visit to the design team, the Corolla is popular and the Toyota design team visits it often. The last complete redesign took place in 2014 with an update in 2017. In between, Toyota has published special editions. The equipment variants and functions are revised considerably each year to keep up with the new trends.

The 2020 Corolla Hybrid features a simplified version of the new Toyota Camry front with a large grille and a sloping bonnet. It may not be the most exciting design, but given the price, it's nothing to make fun of.

2020 Toyota Corolla back seatRiley Young / Digital Trends

You can find more cargo space in the trunk of the Honda Insight or in the hatchback Hyundai Ioniq. If you are just trying to choose between the hybrid and the non-hybrid Corolla sedan, you will be happy to know that the hybrid system does not penetrate the trunk. But trucks are still among the smallest in its segment.

Seating is typical of a small car. The front seats are fine for most people, and the rear seats are tight for adults. The batteries are located under the rear seat, so that the seat for the rear passengers is not affected more than usual in a car of this size.

technology

The Corolla Hybrid has an 8-inch touchscreen that is mounted high in the center console for maximum visibility. This is a common design for Toyota interiors, and although it's functional, I've always found it strange. It looks like it should fold down when you're not using it, but it doesn't work. The strange design of the screen makes the interior look old-fashioned than it is.

The driver has a large 7-inch digital display that you can customize to display the information you want. You can choose to display, for example, the odometer or the outside temperature. I have set it to show current fuel consumption and fuel consumption as I would like to see how my driving affects my average mileage in real time. After all, this is a hybrid.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

Unfortunately for Toyota, the Entune infotainment system lags behind Corolla's competitors. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay, but not with Android Auto. There is a USB port that is common for every vehicle in 2020, but is in an inconvenient place on the right side of the center console.

The basic system of the Hyundai Ioniq is easier to use and offers both Android and Apple compatibility. There is also an upgrade with a larger screen and wireless charging. The Honda Insight's basic infotainment system is sparse and resembles what you'll find in the Corolla. But like the Ioniq, Honda offers an improved system with a larger screen and a WiFi hotspot.

For those who work their Prime membership for everything that's worth it, Corolla's Entune system is compatible with Amazon Alexa. This is still an unusual feature in any car, let alone one that sells for less than $ 25,000.

fuel consumption

If you're considering the Corolla Hybrid, you're probably in for fuel economy. You will not be disappointed. The hybrid is rated by the EPA at a combined speed of 52 mpg, with city and highway averages in the late 1950s. The Corolla only with gas is designed for a combined output of approx. 33 mpg, depending on which model it is.

That's great compared to most cars, but pretty typical of a modern hybrid sedan. The Honda Insight publishes almost identical numbers with a total of 52 mpg. The Hyundai Ioniq surpasses both with a combined 58 mpg.

2020 Toyota Corolla HybridRiley Young / Digital Trends

There is an EV mode with which the car can only use battery power at very low speeds and very short distances. At first I found this disappointing because any acceleration would leave EV mode to get going. Then I found an application: sneaking around in traffic. I could use EV mode while waiting for a light to change or an accident to go out.

I drove the Corolla a little over a hundred miles over a week. This was mostly the case on roads and local highways, so I never set it to 65 mph. I was also not careful with my acceleration, which I found peppy enough in the city. On rainy days I made a few short trips to the grocery store about a mile away, which is terrible for everyone's gasoline consumption.

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid front seatsRiley Young / Digital Trends

At the end of my test drive, the middle display showed me that my real fuel consumption was in the mid-1940s. That number is low, but my miles were completely stop-and-go. If you can set the adaptive cruise control for longer distances than me, your mileage may be closer to the EPA numbers.

safety

The Corolla features Toyota's Safety Sense Suite with driver assistance functions and a full list of safety technologies. I have used all but two functions. automatic high beam as well as pedestrian and cyclist detection. I was in town so high beam was not necessary and no one stepped in front of my car or drove.

My toughest test was on a rainy night on a street with dubious markings and irregular traffic patterns. The lane keeping assistant was able to find the middle dotted lane with reflectors, but it was difficult for him to find the correct lane marking that had broken down in places. The Corolla's steering assistant gently suggested that I hug the middle lane marker more than I would like.

I had also set dynamic cruise control on this trip and it worked well. This system will bring you to the limit and if it detects that the car has moved in front of you, you will be asked to press a button or restart the accelerator. It follows traffic as it should. It was able to adapt quickly when another car entered my lane, and it correctly displayed the speed limit sign.

The dynamic speed control was able to adapt quickly when another car entered my lane.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Association rated the Corolla Hybrid five out of five stars, with perfect results in front and side crash tests and four out of five stars in the rollover test. The insurance institute for road traffic safety has awarded Corolla a top safety ax because it received the top grade “good” in every test.

The Honda Insight was recognized as a Top Safety Pick + for its excellent crash test ratings and headlight lighting. The Hyundai Ioniq has not yet been tested by the NHTSA, but received top marks in all IIHS tests.

The Corolla Hybrid has a comprehensive 3 year / 36,000 miles warranty and 5 years / 60,000 miles warranty on the powertrain. Hybrid components are guaranteed for 8 years / 100,000 miles.

Price and availability

The base MRSP of the Toyota Corolla is $ 22,950. Our tested price was $ 24,303. The extra money went only to a body protection package and carpet mats. Since I tested the car in bad weather in January, these were smart additions from Toyota.

How DT would configure this car

The Corolla Hybrid comes in just one version, the LE, and is only available as a sedan. There are no options or packages for this car. When you visit Toyota.com and build a Corolla to your specifications, you can choose the interior and exterior colors and add accessories such as floor mats and crossbars on the roof. That's it.

You can at least choose the color, and although the test car was in Celestite, a gray-blue shade, blue print is definitely the way to go.

Wrap up

The Corolla has long been an affordable car for the masses. Now it's an affordable hybrid for the masses.

The Corolla Hybrid doesn't offer much luxury. Some of the upper panels of the gasoline-powered Corolla are prettier than this, and there are no options like leather upholstery or heated seats to refine the hybrid. This Corolla is a hybrid for people on a budget, whose first priority is a safe, reliable car and whose second priority is fuel consumption.

Still, the Corolla's Drive Assist technology is solid for the price. It wasn't perfect, but it worked well even in harsh conditions. I just wish the Toyota Entune system would be better and offer Android auto support.

Should you buy the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid?

Yes. If you are looking for a reliable, low-cost limousine from a manufacturer with a decades-long hybrid record, the 2020 Corolla Hybrid is the right choice for you. Just don't expect a fantastic infotainment experience.

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