Corolla Altis overtakes German counterparts as top model

Singapore

MASS market buyers returning to the showroom this year have powered the Toyota Corolla Altis past luxury models to become Singapore's most popular car.

Previously a familiar nameplate among the Top 3 models, the Corolla Altis dropped out between 2011 and 2013 and was overtaken by skyrocketing COE premiums and high-end German models.

Last year, Singapore's favourite car was the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which had replaced the C-Class the year before. In 2011, the BMW 5 Series was No 1.

But in 2014, an expanding COE quota, the recategorisation of COE Category A, the introduction of a newly launched model, and the increasing numbers of replacement buyers all conspired to accelerate the mass market Corolla Altis ahead of the Continental luxur…