Leave in D mode with auto brake activated. Don't tead to use the M (manual gear control mode) myself just use the D (automatic) and R (reverse) for going backwards but this not advised at traffic lights 😂

Thanks for the info, I made a typo. M should read N as in neutral.

My thoughts are to leave it in D with the ‘hold’ brake activated. You set the ‘hold’ after you’ve started the car and put your seat belt on, and it is activated at every stop for your whole journey…(it won’t activate without the drivers seat belt fastened and deactivates if you undo your belt). This leaves you to concentrate on keeping your right foot away from the accelerator as even the lightest touch disconnects the brake and the car will move forward as all automatics do on the flat. With the ‘hold’ activated your brake lights stay on even though your foot is off the brake pedal. As you have said the car doesn’t charge in the neutral position so just leave in Drive…If its your first automatic car keep your left foot tucked well out of the way of everything as your foots natural instinct will be to find the non existent clutch pedal and hit the brake instead… i did this on a number of occasions when I first got an automatic with rather dramatic unexpected stops !
hope useful

Thanks for the info Clive, very useful.

The brake hold on the Toyota works exactly the same on my present Mazda 3 car, except the Mazda is a manual.

If the Toyota has brake hold activated I assume when the car is stopped and switched off the parking brake applies automatically, as it does on my Mazda?

Glad useful… yes when you shift the gear stick into P (park) the brake comes on automatically… a message telling you to shift to P is displayed on the display if you try to switch the engine off in D (drive)

I agree with the other guys keep it in D and keep your foot on the footbrake, as its pointless putting it in P as to much messing around.
The Toyota Corolla is a lovely and a beautiful car.

I agree too,I leave the brake hold switched on must of the time except when entering my driveway,the car will creep in slower without any accelerator, the gate gap is a bit tight.

If I wait at a railway level crossing,I do put the gear into Park position but leave engine at READY,The engine usally stops depending if power consumers running like the air con.
My 1-8 Corolla is my first automatic in 59 years of driving,you will soon get use to the automatic, after a while you will wonder why you never change over before it makes life a lot easier in traffic.
I hope you enjoy your 2 litre I have read the latest ones are nearly as good on petrol as my 71 plate 1.8 model..

Thanks for the info, all very useful to me. I'm looking forward to my first ever automatic.

When I test drove the 2ltr Corolla demonstrator I was very impressed. The latest 2 ltr Corolla pulls effortlessly and drives really well.

I have owned Honda's and Mazda's for many years, but this time around the 2ltr Corolla looked a good combination of reasonable running costs and good performance. Also far better value than the new model Honda Civic.

I did own a Toyota GT86 when they first came out and it was a fantastic motor, unfortunately a back problem meant I had to sell it after 2 years. I always regret selling it.

As others have said (being on my 3rd Corolla Hybrid now) i just leave mine is D unless i'm parked or reversing :)