Toyota charged ahead with the sixth generation of the Corolla in 1987 and offered it in a few shapes and sizes, including the liftback version, which was considered by the carmaker the best choice for small families.
Apart from coupe and convertible, the 1987 Corolla was available with any other shapes for the compact segment, including this liftback, which stood right between the four-door sedan and the station wagon. It was designed for those who didn't need a station wagon on a daily basis but still needed some extra load area from time to time, and the five-door hatchback was just too small for them.
The Liftback version sported rectangular headlights that flanked the three-slat grille at the front, featuring the same angular styling as the rest of the range. The turn signals were placed lower in the bumper, exposing them to parking bumps. But the most significant change was on the car's profile. After the C-pillar, the carmaker added a longer glass area and ended into the raked-forward D-pillar. In addition, the liftgate offered a broad opening area at the back, helping to load and unload bulky items.
Inside, the Corolla Liftback featured the same dashboard as the sedan, with the raised, curved instrument cluster extended above the center stack. However, Toyota considered that the HVAC controls were more important than the audio controls, and thus it installed them above the stereo. At the back, the split-folding bench allowed the users to load longer items.
Under the hood, Toyota installed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines, ranging between 67 hp and 125 hp. However, unlike the Wagon or the Sedan, the Liftback was not available with an AWD system.