On the outside, the Corolla CE and LE models are again somewhat bland. The S and XRS are slightly improved, with body skirts and trunk wing, but this car has none of the distinctiveness of the Honda Civic. That said, there's nothing inherently wrong or ugly about the Corolla, just nothing memorable.
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| Unique to the XRS is a bigger, 2.4-litre motor developing 158 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
With no major changes to the car itself, the driving experience can be expected to be the same as for the 2009 Corolla — that is to say, competent if not exactly exciting. In my experience, the current crop of Corollas have limited steering feedback and are only moderately responsive to steering inputs. This may have something to do with Toyota's electric (rather than hydraulic) power steering system, but at any rate it means that driving the Corolla through twisties is a little bit on the boring side (though for many buyers, this may indeed be a plus). Toyota claims that the electric-assist system reduces fuel consumption, but it also makes it more important than ever to maintain good alignment in order to avoid over-taxing the system. Handling-wise, the XRS is a little better than the base models; with slightly stiffer springs the car seems to react a bit quicker, while still maintaining a civil ride over minor bumps.
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| The Corolla's tidy rear end incorporates a large trunk. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
The standard 1.8 litre motor serves well, powering the Corolla around town quite happily using either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic. The 2.4 litre equipped XRS provides a little bit of extra, if not stellar, power for those onramps and mountain highways, and offers an optional 5-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. Combined city/highway fuel economy is rated by Toyota at 7.5 / 5.6 L/100km for the 1.8-litre motor and 9.5 / 6.7 for the 2.4-litre XRS (both equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission).
The Corolla is a smart if somewhat reserved choice for a compact car, with pricing starting at $15,160 for the CE and $22,250 for the XRS. Toyota has a good reliability record, with Corollas still on the road with hundreds of thousands of kilometers on their odometers. Toyotas also have decent resale value, and the new features for 2010, such as stability control, will only serve to assist with that. Ultimately, any lack of performance won't be noticed by most consumers in the market for a Corolla, and it is otherwise a very good car. Its longevity is a testament to Toyota's practical approach to design. The Corolla just keeps going and going.
