Toyota’s Corolla continues to be the brand’s go-to sedan for consumers insisting on excellent fuel economy, adequate space for at least four adults and a sub-$20,000 price tag, as well as Toyota’s reputation for durability.
Although delivering better fuel economy, the Prius costs far more up front. The Yaris, although less expensive to buy than the Corolla, offers only a modest increase in fuel economy, less passenger space and the acceleration of a three-legged plow horse.
The Corolla is the lineup’s best compromise and Toyota sells a bundle of them.
Redesigned for 2009, Corolla maintains essentially the same exterior dimensions as last year’s edition; although it is wider by about 2.5 inches. This bucks the industry’s penchant for seriously growing models from one generation to the next. The front end is somewhat bolder with a stronger grille and headlight treatment. The profile is virtually identical. Passengers will find the boost in exterior width carried inside with about an inch of extra hip room and nearly two inches of additional shoulder room.
Offered in five trim levels, Corolla shoppers trolling for the best fuel economy need to avoid the top-of-the-line XRS, and stick with the 1.8-liter four found in the base, S, LE and XLE versions. It makes 132 horsepower, which isn’t huge, but manages to get the 2,700-pound sedan up and moving without difficulty. The good news is that when armed with this smaller engine, Corolla gets to pass up more than its fair share of gas stations. The Environmental Protection Agency rates its fuel economy at 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway when the four-speed automatic transmission is transferring power to the front wheels. The base and S trim levels also offer a 5-speed manual transmission, but this reduces the EPA’s city fuel economy by 1 mpg.
Although delivering 26 additional horsepower, the 2.4-liter four powering the XRS delivers just 22 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway according to the EPA. This is still very good by industry standards; but if fuel economy is your key criteria, the 1.8L makes much more sense. The XRS will also cost $2,400 more at the time of purchase than the $18,210 XLE - the Corolla provided for this evaluation. The XRS does come with a few items missing from the XLE standard features list, such as cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels and a firmer suspension; but only the cruise control (a $200 XLE option) might really be missed.
Even with the firmer suspension and larger wheels on the XRS, Corolla won’t be mistaken for a sporty car. The extra 35 pounds-feet of torque delivered by the larger engine does provide some additional kick off the line; but won’t justify the higher cost for many drivers in this segment.
MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam rear axle provide the suspension architecture. The ride is pleasant and untroubled. Fine for a commuter, the handling is up to the challenge of around-town driving. Behind the XLE’s 16-inch steel wheels are disc brakes in front and drums in the rear. An anti-lock system monitors the braking and includes emergency braking assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.
Uncluttered and user friendly, Corolla’s dashboard places all controls well within the driver’s reach. The only gauges located in the pod behind the steering wheel are the tachometer and speedometer. They are large, round and easily seen at just a glance. If you ponied up the additional $1,300 for the DVD-based navigation system, the touch screen displaces the audio system controls at the top of the center stack and just above the three large round knobs controlling the climate control. The audio controls are integrated into the navigation system menu when so equipped.
Carefully constructed, the interior is comfortable, acceptably stylish and roomy enough. There is nothing terribly fancy about it, but it is functional and laid out for five. Three adults across the rear seat would be tight, but all right in a pinch. The front seats won’t wear you out on longer trips, but the 60/40 split fold-down backseat earns its bench-seat description. The trunk harbors 12.3 cubic feet of cargo room.
All Corollas, including the $16,010 base version, come with air conditioning, a four-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio jack, power mirrors, and a tilt-telescoping steering wheel. To this the XLE adds such amenities as six-speaker audio system, keyless entry, power accessories, variable intermittent wipers and wood-grain cabin accents. Anyone primarily concerned with fuel economy will probably be more than satisfied with the level of creature comforts.
Corolla is simply a solid little car that will get you around inexpensively and with a minimum of fuss. If you like your Toyota reliability with a healthy helping of fuel economy, the Corolla fits the bill.
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