As safe and sure as an over-the-counter sleeping pill
If I say Toyota, you think: Reliable Japanese cars. If I say Corolla, you think good, reliable and economical Japanese car. You may also think of boring, bland and just plain no fun. All of these adjectives and descriptions accurately described the Corolla. Regardless of how it's said, one thing is certain: The Corolla is an incredible success story.
The first Corollas were produced as of 1966. They arrived in North America in 1968. In 40 years of production, well over 30 million have been sold worldwide; making it the most popular nameplate in automotive history. Back in 1988, Toyota Canada opened an assembly plant in Cambridge, Ontario; I like to think this is one of the reasons why the Corolla is so good...
A sleeker Corolla
The tested model hails from the 8th generation of Toyota's compact car. This then-new Corolla was a departure from the boxier lines of the previous 1993-97 car. The Corolla was more profiled, even sleeker looking. In 2001, the car received a very minor facelift and some trim changes were made. What had not changed was how low slung the Corolla was and how it made ingress and egress more difficult for taller and older people. A constant with many Toyotas was how quickly they rusted. The sure-fire trick was to get to get the undercarriage rust-proofed with a grease-based treatment as soon as the car was purchased.
The Corolla's cabin is extremely simple; a more functional user-friendly and uncluttered dashboard does not exist. The knobs for the HVAC along with the single-din radio are remarkably easy to operate. Both fit and finish are surprisingly decent for the price and category of the Corolla. The front seats are comfortable but provide nothing remotely looking like any type of support; this really goes along with the car's primary vocation. The rear bench is tight but can accommodate two adults. Overall, the Corolla's interior volume is limited. By comparison, the same-period Mazda Protegé and Honda Civic were roomier. Again, like many other Toyota's, the tested Corolla's seatbelt retractors were weak; best be careful when closing the door after stepping out.
If I say Toyota, you think: Reliable Japanese cars. If I say Corolla, you think good, reliable and economical Japanese car. You may also think of boring, bland and just plain no fun. All of these adjectives and descriptions accurately described the Corolla. Regardless of how it's said, one thing is certain: The Corolla is an incredible success story.
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| Over 30 million Corollas have been sold since 1968. |
The first Corollas were produced as of 1966. They arrived in North America in 1968. In 40 years of production, well over 30 million have been sold worldwide; making it the most popular nameplate in automotive history. Back in 1988, Toyota Canada opened an assembly plant in Cambridge, Ontario; I like to think this is one of the reasons why the Corolla is so good...
A sleeker Corolla
The tested model hails from the 8th generation of Toyota's compact car. This then-new Corolla was a departure from the boxier lines of the previous 1993-97 car. The Corolla was more profiled, even sleeker looking. In 2001, the car received a very minor facelift and some trim changes were made. What had not changed was how low slung the Corolla was and how it made ingress and egress more difficult for taller and older people. A constant with many Toyotas was how quickly they rusted. The sure-fire trick was to get to get the undercarriage rust-proofed with a grease-based treatment as soon as the car was purchased.
The Corolla's cabin is extremely simple; a more functional user-friendly and uncluttered dashboard does not exist. The knobs for the HVAC along with the single-din radio are remarkably easy to operate. Both fit and finish are surprisingly decent for the price and category of the Corolla. The front seats are comfortable but provide nothing remotely looking like any type of support; this really goes along with the car's primary vocation. The rear bench is tight but can accommodate two adults. Overall, the Corolla's interior volume is limited. By comparison, the same-period Mazda Protegé and Honda Civic were roomier. Again, like many other Toyota's, the tested Corolla's seatbelt retractors were weak; best be careful when closing the door after stepping out.
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| Clean interior is straightforward and well-assembled. |