Function over form
When it's time to buy a new car, you'll probably start shopping with one of two things in mind. Either you're looking for reliable transportation, to go from point A to point B without being able to write a drama film about, or you're looking for something exciting to drive.
Actually, this used to be the way to shop for a car. Today, with the competition getting as fierce as ever, and as all vehicles are getting more and more reliable, we can now have both at the same time. There are still some exceptions, though, and the current Corolla is one of them.
Ordinary styling
It's not ugly, but this Corolla won't win any beauty contests. Come to think of it, no Corolla in history ever really had a chance of even qualifying for such a competition. Like I said, Toyota's small sedan never offends anybody, but it blends in the scenery like a polar bear in the Arctic Circle.
The 20th Anniversary package adds 15-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof and a fender-mounted badge that reads: "Limited Edition". To me, an exclusive version of a Toyota Corolla is as oxymoronic as saying that Paris Hilton is camera-shy. If you're wondering what Toyota is celebrating for with this anniversary edition, it's been 20 years since the company started building Corollas in Cambridge, Ontario.
Fuel economy, not power
There's a horsepower war in just about every vehicle segment, including the compact sedan category. Yes, the Corolla's redesign is just around the corner, but right now, it's underpowered compared with all of its rivals except the VW City Jetta. On paper, the 126-horsepower output of the 1.8-liter engine seems low, as the power ratings of the other compacts range from 138 to 170 horsepower.
However, we used to get around fine with 85-hp cars 20 years ago, so 126 ponies is more than enough for city and highway driving, and to keep up with the rest of the traffic today. The most important factor about this powertrain is fuel economy, which is one of the most efficient of the compact crowd: 7.8/5.6 L/100 km with the optional 4-speed automatic, which my car has. My average is 8.3 L/100 km.
When it's time to buy a new car, you'll probably start shopping with one of two things in mind. Either you're looking for reliable transportation, to go from point A to point B without being able to write a drama film about, or you're looking for something exciting to drive.
Actually, this used to be the way to shop for a car. Today, with the competition getting as fierce as ever, and as all vehicles are getting more and more reliable, we can now have both at the same time. There are still some exceptions, though, and the current Corolla is one of them.
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| 20 years of building Corollas in Canada. |
Ordinary styling
It's not ugly, but this Corolla won't win any beauty contests. Come to think of it, no Corolla in history ever really had a chance of even qualifying for such a competition. Like I said, Toyota's small sedan never offends anybody, but it blends in the scenery like a polar bear in the Arctic Circle.
The 20th Anniversary package adds 15-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof and a fender-mounted badge that reads: "Limited Edition". To me, an exclusive version of a Toyota Corolla is as oxymoronic as saying that Paris Hilton is camera-shy. If you're wondering what Toyota is celebrating for with this anniversary edition, it's been 20 years since the company started building Corollas in Cambridge, Ontario.
Fuel economy, not power
There's a horsepower war in just about every vehicle segment, including the compact sedan category. Yes, the Corolla's redesign is just around the corner, but right now, it's underpowered compared with all of its rivals except the VW City Jetta. On paper, the 126-horsepower output of the 1.8-liter engine seems low, as the power ratings of the other compacts range from 138 to 170 horsepower.
However, we used to get around fine with 85-hp cars 20 years ago, so 126 ponies is more than enough for city and highway driving, and to keep up with the rest of the traffic today. The most important factor about this powertrain is fuel economy, which is one of the most efficient of the compact crowd: 7.8/5.6 L/100 km with the optional 4-speed automatic, which my car has. My average is 8.3 L/100 km.
 |
| The 1.8L engine is one of the most fuel efficient in its class. |