2012 Toyota Corolla LE | Photo: Charles Renny
After undergoing a significant refresh for the 2011 model year, the 2012 Corolla looks remarkably unchanged. Four versions -- the CE, LE, S and XRS -- are offered in Canada. Minor changes in the various trim levels, such as an auto-down feature on the driver’s power window and steering-wheel mounted audio controls, are hardly noticeable. More importantly, Toyota Corolla LE trim models get a new audio system with USB and auxiliary inputs as well as Bluetooth™ connectivity.
Keep in mind that these are just fine-tuning items in response to customer demand. When the refresh was done in 2011 that's when the biggies, such as the Star Safety System, were made standard across the lineup. Individual items such as 16” wheels were added to the Toyota Corolla LE and a “performance” engine was installed in the Toyota Corolla XRS.
Powertrain
The only engine for the Toyota Corolla LE is a wet-sleeved, aluminum, inline-four that puts out 138 hp; and the only transmission available is a 4-speed automatic. As the last vehicle to be replaced amongst it competition (Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra or Ford Focus) expect to see more power and more gears in the transmission when the current Toyota Corolla is replaced.
Interior
Bucket seats up front and a bench in the back is standard fare for the Toyota Corolla lineup, and the Toyota Corolla CE is no exception. However, seating materials and interior trim do take a step up from the basic Toyota Corolla CE.
Unseen changes include the ability to order heated front seats with the cloth interior via the “Upgrade Package” that also includes an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat. The stereo also gets upgraded to a six-speaker system with XM satellite radio.
Getting into these well upholstered cloth seats in the 2012 Toyota Corolla is made easy with doors that open wide when there is enough room to do so. In the average parking lot, the doors are never opened to full width, so the fact that the doors are short overall is the best of both worlds. When crowded, a short door opens far enough to let you in fairly easily, and if you are out in the open picking up your wealthy aunt, the door will open wide enough to let her get in easily.
If you don’t happen to have a wealthy aunt, but you do have a couple of small children in car seats, there is enough room in the Toyota Corolla to let you bend and twist to make sure seats and seat belts are done up properly. The only thing that would make the back seat even better is a bit more width so that a referee could sit between the kids comfortably.
City driving
In the city, you notice the lethargy of the Toyota Corolla LE’s 1.8L engine when coming off a stop, even if it has 138 horsepower. It is a bit of a chicken and egg situation: 138 horsepower is plenty, but the motor needs to rev a bit to get to peak power. It takes a while to get the rpms up because there aren’t enough gears in the box to make things happen quickly.
Once you are moving, all it takes is enough right foot and a tolerance for the engine noise that penetrates the otherwise quiet interior. Part throttle kickdown will come into play, and you can then zip around to your heart’s content.
Ride quality on the LE is supposed to be soft and a bit on the “luxurious” side. If you look at the average Toyota Corolla driver, you will see that the settings are right on. Things like automatic climate control are much more important than being able to zip around a corner at high speeds.
Toyota Corolla has increased in size over the past few generations, so that zipping into a parking space is no longer a no-brainer. You will still fit into mall parking spaces and angled parking spaces, but when you parallel park you are going to need to pay attention. The corners of the car are not always visible and it isn’t always easy to judge where they are.
Highway driving
The flip side of being larger, with a soft ride, is that on the highway the Toyota Corolla LE offers a very comfortable trip. You do sacrifice some crispness in handling, but it is less susceptible to crosswinds and being moved about by 18-wheelers. If you get out of your comfort zone, the Toyota Corolla LE will still corner hard enough to get your adrenaline going. Passing might take a bit longer than you think it should, but the Toyota Corolla LE will get the job done.
Summary
The Toyota Corolla LE may not be an industry leader in every category for 2012, but it is a solid car that does everything well in every category.
Keep in mind that these are just fine-tuning items in response to customer demand. When the refresh was done in 2011 that's when the biggies, such as the Star Safety System, were made standard across the lineup. Individual items such as 16” wheels were added to the Toyota Corolla LE and a “performance” engine was installed in the Toyota Corolla XRS.
Powertrain
The only engine for the Toyota Corolla LE is a wet-sleeved, aluminum, inline-four that puts out 138 hp; and the only transmission available is a 4-speed automatic. As the last vehicle to be replaced amongst it competition (Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra or Ford Focus) expect to see more power and more gears in the transmission when the current Toyota Corolla is replaced.
Interior
Bucket seats up front and a bench in the back is standard fare for the Toyota Corolla lineup, and the Toyota Corolla CE is no exception. However, seating materials and interior trim do take a step up from the basic Toyota Corolla CE.
Unseen changes include the ability to order heated front seats with the cloth interior via the “Upgrade Package” that also includes an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat. The stereo also gets upgraded to a six-speaker system with XM satellite radio.
Getting into these well upholstered cloth seats in the 2012 Toyota Corolla is made easy with doors that open wide when there is enough room to do so. In the average parking lot, the doors are never opened to full width, so the fact that the doors are short overall is the best of both worlds. When crowded, a short door opens far enough to let you in fairly easily, and if you are out in the open picking up your wealthy aunt, the door will open wide enough to let her get in easily.
If you don’t happen to have a wealthy aunt, but you do have a couple of small children in car seats, there is enough room in the Toyota Corolla to let you bend and twist to make sure seats and seat belts are done up properly. The only thing that would make the back seat even better is a bit more width so that a referee could sit between the kids comfortably.
City driving
In the city, you notice the lethargy of the Toyota Corolla LE’s 1.8L engine when coming off a stop, even if it has 138 horsepower. It is a bit of a chicken and egg situation: 138 horsepower is plenty, but the motor needs to rev a bit to get to peak power. It takes a while to get the rpms up because there aren’t enough gears in the box to make things happen quickly.
Once you are moving, all it takes is enough right foot and a tolerance for the engine noise that penetrates the otherwise quiet interior. Part throttle kickdown will come into play, and you can then zip around to your heart’s content.
Ride quality on the LE is supposed to be soft and a bit on the “luxurious” side. If you look at the average Toyota Corolla driver, you will see that the settings are right on. Things like automatic climate control are much more important than being able to zip around a corner at high speeds.
Toyota Corolla has increased in size over the past few generations, so that zipping into a parking space is no longer a no-brainer. You will still fit into mall parking spaces and angled parking spaces, but when you parallel park you are going to need to pay attention. The corners of the car are not always visible and it isn’t always easy to judge where they are.
Highway driving
The flip side of being larger, with a soft ride, is that on the highway the Toyota Corolla LE offers a very comfortable trip. You do sacrifice some crispness in handling, but it is less susceptible to crosswinds and being moved about by 18-wheelers. If you get out of your comfort zone, the Toyota Corolla LE will still corner hard enough to get your adrenaline going. Passing might take a bit longer than you think it should, but the Toyota Corolla LE will get the job done.
Summary
The Toyota Corolla LE may not be an industry leader in every category for 2012, but it is a solid car that does everything well in every category.
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