Corolla — a force to be reckoned with
- Details
- Published on Monday, November 2, 2015
By Ben Castle
The Neepawa Banner
The iconic Porsche 911 celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013, but are you aware that another very different car, Toyota Corolla, reaches its half-century next year?
Since 1997, the Corolla has out-stripped the Volkswagen Beetle to become the all-time, best-selling car, with sales of more than 40 million worldwide over 11 generations. Although Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra outsell Corolla in the Canadian sales charts, thanks to strong sales in United States, the Canadian-built 11th-generation Corolla has become the best-selling compact in North America. However, whilst it has always stood for value, fuel efficiency and reliability, it has traditionally been a bit dull to look at and drive. So, what’s this new one like?
Firstly, it looks fantastic! The new Corolla is only available as a four-door sedan but the new front end styling is both sporty and aggressive; the kicked-up rear styling with a steeply raked rear windshield is reminiscent of the “Coke bottle” styling of 1960s and 1970s American muscle cars.
The car comes in three trim levels: CE, LE and S. Our test car, the sporty top-of-the-range Corolla S, looks resplendent in crush blue metallic, subtle boot lip spoiler and optional 17-inch aluminum wheels that come as part of the Corolla S “upgrade package” ($1,750), which also gives you rear disc brakes, power moonroof and automatic air conditioning. As tested, with the CVTi-S automatic transmission and upgrade package, this car comes in at $22,335 before taxes.
The swept-up rear also has a practical purpose. Thanks to a deeper trunk and a wider opening than its main rival (Civic), there are 369 litres of space, 16 litres more than the Civic. This means that loading a fairly large child’s stroller or a five-gallon water jug is child's play. For those in the back, the wheelbase is now four inches longer than the old car and the floor is completely flat, meaning more legroom for rear passengers.
If you have driven in an older Corolla, the stylish design of the interior and quality of the materials used in this latest model will come as a pleasant surprise.
The cabin has a cockpit-type feel with all the controls being intuitive and falling easily to hand. The LE and S models have a 6.1-inch colour touchscreen enabling you to navigate between functions. They also benefit from automatic headlights, air conditioning, backup camera and heated front seats. Our test model also has fog lights, leather-trimmed steering wheel and front sports seats with blue inserts.
The story continues on the drive. The 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with 132 horsepower and 128 pound feet of torque is the only engine option, but thanks in part to the new CVTi-S transmission (a six-speed manual is also available on CE and S models and a four-speed automatic on CE models), this engine is quieter, more refined and more fuel efficient than before. Despite its modest power output, there is plenty of power available for overtaking. The steering feels more positive and weighty than the old model and this, combined with taut, yet supple, suspension means it feels very stable driving in slippery conditions.
With a test average of 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres, fuel economy compares favourably with the Civic and combined with its 50 litre gas tank, means a range of 500-plus kilometres ought to be achievable. Service intervals are every 8, 000 kilometres or six months; traditionally, Toyotas have been cheap to service, so this should remain one of the least expensive cars to run.
The Corolla CE starts at $15,995 before taxes with the six-speed manual transmission but if you want air conditioning, it's an additional $1,870. A Corolla S manual is only another $1,735 on top of an AC-equipped CE and benefits from standard air conditioning as well as many more features and a wider choice of exterior colours. Personally, I would probably go for an S model or possibly an LE for similar money if I wanted the CVT transmission.
Toyota Corolla has now turned from an also-ran into one of the best cars in its class. Honda and Hyundai better watch out, their dominance in the Canadian market is about to be challenged! Whether you’re after an economical commuter or a safe, roomy, reliable family car on a tight budget, the new 2016 Toyota Corolla is well worth a look.
