Corolla continues rolling for the folks at Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker. First introduced in the United States in 1968, Toyota’s mission statement is relatively straight forward for the diminutive Corolla; build a small, reliable, economical vehicle available within the budget of the working masses. In 2005, the 30-millionth unit rolled off the assembly line.
Currently, the 2006 front-wheel-drive Corolla comes in one body style (four-door sedan) and four trim levels (base CE, S, LE and XRS). It’s key Asian rival, the Honda Civic, was totally redesigned for 2006 and includes a coupe body style in addition to a sedan (both with 1.8-liter, 140 horsepower four cylinder engine). Civic is also available with a gas-electric hybrid engine. Corolla is not available in a hybrid version. Instead, Toyota markets the Prius, a high mileage compact sedan with a distinctly different body style from Corolla
Corolla’s last major redesign occurred in the 2003 model year and represented its ninth next-generation effort. The vehicle is firmly entrenched as a compact which differs from way back in 1968 when it arrived as a subcompact. Corolla, Civic and the compact Nissan Sentra all have been slowly but steadily growing in size. To better serve the sub-compact community all three Japanese automakers are introducing all-new subcompacts for the 2007 model year, the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Verge. During the 2003 model year redesign, Toyota introduced the versatile Matrix hatchback/wagon which is built off the Corolla platform.
Corolla comes standard with such items as air conditioning, a compact disc player, rear window defroster and power steering. Bundled options are, of course, available. Cruise control, power windows and remote keyless entry are optional in CE and S trim levels. Cruise control is optional in LE but standard in XRS. Corolla is built at two North American plants: one in Freemont Calif. and another in Ontario, Canada.
Toyota supplied the Daily Herald with a Corolla S model with a $15,850 starting price. After factoring in a moon roof ($750), extra value package featuring power windows, rear spoiler and cruise control and a $780 discount on the extra value option package, the bottom line ended at $18,597 with a $580 destination charge factored in.
A base CE Corolla with five-speed manual transmission starts right around $14,100. In comparison the lowest-price 2006 Honda Civic sedan, a DX with manual transmission, starts around $14,700. The redesigned 2006 Civic offers an optional navigation system, optional satellite radio (both not yet available in Corolla) and standard front and side air bags (Corolla’s are optional). The compact Ford Focus is available in three body styles: sedan, three-door hatchback and five-door wagon. The lowest-priced Focus sedan, a 2.0-liter with manual transmission, lists at $13,750. Chevrolet’s new Cobalt, available in coupe and sedan body styles starts its sedans at around $13,000 for a 2.2-liter four-cylinder with five-speed manual transmission.
The front-wheel-drive Corolla is powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder in-line double over head cam engine. CE, S and LE trim levels deliver 126 horsepower and utilize regular, 87-octane fuel. The top-of-the-line XRS tunes its engine to generate 164 horsepower (manual transmission exclusive), but higher, 91-octane fuel is required. The fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons.
With five-speed manual transmission, Corolla generates a plentiful 32 miles per gallon in city driving, and 41 m.p.g. highway. With four-speed automatic, mileage dips slightly to a still impressive 30 m.p.g. city and 38 m.p.g. highway. The powertrain warranty is good for five years or 60,000 miles (which ever comes first). Corrosion and perforation is good for five years with no mileage restriction. The basic/comprehensive warranty is covered for three years or 36,000 miles.
Cloth seats in our test drive Corolla were supportive and comfortable. Headroom in front is generous even with an optional moon roof. While promoted as a five-seater, two riders situate most comfortably in back. The spacious-for-this-segment 13.6 cubic foot trunk with a low-lift over design included easily accessible pull tabs for unlocking the 70/30 split back second row seats. A temporary spare tire is found under the flat floor design.
The simplistic, yet friendly interior is well designed and very user friendly. Just about everything is large enough to find and operate at a quick glance. Power mirror controls are on the far left-side of the dashboard. Below is a pull-down storage door. Several small storage areas are conveniently found. Power window and lock switches are on the driver’s door. Driver’s have very good sight lines in all directions with a minimum of blind spots.
Three semicircular analog gauges make up the flat instrument panel. A small, square digital window provided outside temperature and odometer readouts along the bottom. Headlights monitor from the turn signal stalk while the front wipers activate from a right-hand side stalk. The ignition cylinder is also on the steering column, not the dashboard. A square steering wheel appendage at 5 o’clock handles cruise control duties. Fuel door and trunk release levers are on the floor left of the driver’s seat.
Ceiling handles are found above all four doors. Dual in-line beverage holders and a hand-operated parking brake are between front bucket seats. Also nearby is a deep, storage bin/arm rest combo. The top center of the dashboard is where the rectangular stereo with large preset buttons is located. Circular knobs at each end control sound and station homes. Below are three large ventilation dials along with large air conditioning, rear window defroster and hazard buttons.
Dual front airbags, rear child safety locks and daytime running lights come standard. Anti-lock brakes are standard in the top-line XRS and optional elsewhere. Side and side curtain air bags as mentioned earlier are optional across the board as is vehicle stability control.
Exterior styling remains conservative (which has served it well over the decades), even more so than its recently redesigned Honda Civic sedan rival. Corolla incorporates a short deck lid in back and longer hood in front. All four doors have a strap-like, body-color handle design and cat’s eye headlight housing stretches from the fender to the small front grille with circular Toyota logo front and center. The fuel door is on the left-side rear fender.
Corolla benefits from something money just can’t buy; good word of mouth. For 36 years, it’s been reliable and economical mode of transport. Two generations have grown up with Corolla’s ‘reliable reputation factor.’
Corolla’s four-cylinder engine provides ample power for a vehicle of this size. It doesn’t provide performance-type get-up and go, but it does get you to the mall and back. Still, Corolla provides more spirited pickup than a recently tested 2006 Korean-built Hyundai Accent with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and 110 horsepower. With gas prices predicted to reach $3 a gallon soon, Corolla looks as appealing as it did back in late 1960s and early 1970s. |