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| The Corolla is a huge seller for Toyota. It has pleasant rather than memorable styling. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
First introduced in 1966, the Toyota Corolla almost immediately struck a chord with the car-buying public, and became the best selling car of all time in 1997. During its ongoing model run, a new Corolla has been sold on average every 40 seconds, with over 35 million cars sold to date.
Now in its 10th generation, and built on the E-150 designated Toyota platform (also shared with the Toyota Matrix), the current version of the Corolla was introduced in North America in October 2007 as a 2008 model year. It is available in Canada in four trim levels; CE, LE, S (Sport) and XRS.
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| The interior is well fitted and logically laid out. A power moonroof, previously only available with the XRS, is now an option on the S and LE as well. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
For 2010, Toyota has left the basic Corolla platform unchanged, but has added a few interesting options that aren't often found on this class of vehicle. Of particular note, Toyota has added its Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control systems as standard equipment on the LE and S models, and made them an option on the base CE. (In Corolla-speak, the CE is the base model, and the LE adds a few extra comfort and convenience items but is only available with automatic transmission. The S “sport” model adds alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, trunk-mounted wing, and body skirt package. All three share Toyota's 1.8 litre 16-valve four cylinder motor, boasting 132 horsepower. The more potent XRS version is outfitted like the S, but has a more powerful 2.4 litre motor with 158 horsepower, and 17-inch alloy wheels.)
Toyota's VSC system was developed by Bosch and uses individual wheel braking to keep the car in control during emergency maneuvers. Toyota claims that this system is second only to seatbelts at saving lives on our roads. The Traction Control system not only keeps wheel spin in check in slippery conditions, but also helps hold the car from rolling backwards while starting on hills.
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| The CE, LE and S get a 1.8 litre 16-valve four cylinder motor, rated at 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
Also new for 2010 is the availability of leather seats on the S and XRS models. Yes, leather… in a Corolla! Toyota is apparently trying to move the Corolla upmarket, probably to allow its younger sibling, the Yaris, to truly take over as Toyota's entry level car. The fit and finish of the leather seats on the XRS model we previewed were beautiful. Let's hope the leather is as durable as it is attractive.
The slide and tilt moonroof, previously only available on the XRS model, is now available on the LE and S models. It comes together with a navigation package on the LE, and with the leather and heated seats on the S.
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| The Corolla XRS has a sportier appearance courtesy of its alloy wheels, trunk-mounted wing and body skirt package. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
The Corolla has a surprising amount of space for a compact car. The front seats have multiple adjustments, which work well with the tilt and telescopic steering wheel to enable drivers of all sizes to find a comfortable driving position. The rear seats accommodate average adults comfortably, although taller individuals may find the headroom lacking. The trunk space is quite significant at 12.3 cu-ft. Despite the hinges intruding into the trunk space, the ample trunk, coupled with the 60/40 rear split seats offers a lot of cargo-carrying options. We also particularly like the double glovebox on the passenger side of the dashboard.
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| The XRS gets a leather wrapped steering wheel, as does the S. For 2010, leather seats are also available for these two models. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
The interior design of the Corolla remains both simple and practical. All gauges are very easy to find and read, and major controls are located right where you'd expect them. Radio and climate controls are on the centre console, and are easy to identify at a quick glance. Everything works well and seems to fit well together, even if the overall impression is a bit ho-hum.
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.
