Corolla motorin'
When the 1998 Corolla arrived, it sported a new aluminum 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. It produced 120 hp. In 2000, the 1.8L was grafted Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing and gained an extra 5 hp. All along, buyers could choose between a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The tested 2001's 125-hp engine is more than adequate for city cruising. Under a heavy load, it does get raspy and noisy but no worse than any of its competitors. The 5-speed 'box is easy to manipulate through the gate, although this car's clutch pedal is quite heavy. Steering is very light, however not completely disjointed. Once more, like many Toyota products, the brakes are questionable. The pedal is extremely spongy and overall performance is sketchy; best not to push the car too much...
So soft...
The Corolla's suspension links directly with the last sentence of the previous paragraph. The ride is very cushy and soft, perfect for city cruising. Although the drive is smooth, repeated offending potholes do get the struts out of sorts as they cannot properly manage the amount of vertical movement. Body roll is pronounced when the car's weight shifts from one side to the other. I actually consider this a safety feature as many of these used Corollas roll on sub-par shocks and when the car leans to one side, the driver tends to back off the throttle. Even with all this suspension travel, the Corolla displays a complete absence of rattles.
When the 1998 Corolla arrived, it sported a new aluminum 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. It produced 120 hp. In 2000, the 1.8L was grafted Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing and gained an extra 5 hp. All along, buyers could choose between a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
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| 1.8L VVT-i engine is more than adequate for the average daily commute. |
The tested 2001's 125-hp engine is more than adequate for city cruising. Under a heavy load, it does get raspy and noisy but no worse than any of its competitors. The 5-speed 'box is easy to manipulate through the gate, although this car's clutch pedal is quite heavy. Steering is very light, however not completely disjointed. Once more, like many Toyota products, the brakes are questionable. The pedal is extremely spongy and overall performance is sketchy; best not to push the car too much...
So soft...
The Corolla's suspension links directly with the last sentence of the previous paragraph. The ride is very cushy and soft, perfect for city cruising. Although the drive is smooth, repeated offending potholes do get the struts out of sorts as they cannot properly manage the amount of vertical movement. Body roll is pronounced when the car's weight shifts from one side to the other. I actually consider this a safety feature as many of these used Corollas roll on sub-par shocks and when the car leans to one side, the driver tends to back off the throttle. Even with all this suspension travel, the Corolla displays a complete absence of rattles.
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| The Corolla's super-soft suspension is not for aggressive drivers. |