WASHINGTON — The Toyota Corolla has been around for nearly four decades, and has recently passed 40 million sales worldwide. The Corolla has grown over the years, but has never really strayed from its mission: To be a bargain sedan that’s very reliable.
The Corolla doesn’t usually wow with its looks and an upscale interior, but with this redesign and the S Plus trim level, that’s just what it does. The exterior styling stands out – something I don’t remember a Corolla doing in my lifetime. The front end looks sporty and has different styling than other lower trim-level Corollas.
I spent a week with the S Plus trim-level Corolla, and it’s near the top of the price range with a sticker of $22,870 (the base model starts under $17,000). The new Corolla is still a good value. My car came with a sunroof, push button start, rearview camera and a NAV with a touchscreen that measured around six inches — not the largest screen, but the resolution was good.
The tech is upgraded, and the rest of the interior is nicer as well. The seats are a combination of durable cloth and something called Softer, a faux leather that feels good. The seats proved comfortable during my commute. Two car seats fit in the back seats without much of a problem. The trim and dash material seem nicer than previous Corollas, and there is a little more space.
Driving the Corolla is fine. It’s not sporty, and you’re not going to blast down back roads on a sunny Sunday; it’s just not what this car is about. But it does the commute well. The cabin noises are well controlled, and it handles most bumps well. Power from the 1.8L four-cylinder engine is adequate, but you’re not buying a very quick car. The transmission is one of those CVT units, and you notice the engine droning when you’re trying to merge into traffic. Otherwise, it does a nice job when you’re cruising. The CVT should help on fuel economy. The Corolla is rated 29 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 32 combined. I could only manage 28.5 in 190 miles of mixed driving.
The Corolla has been around for many years, and with this latest redesign it will continue to be a top seller for years to come. Now with a nicer interior and updated style on the outside, the Corolla is more appealing to more buyers who want their toys but don’t want break the bank to get them.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
