Let’s play a little Jeopardy, my favorite game show. I’m Alex. You’re the contestant.
Entering its 52nd year of production, this vehicle is the best-selling Toyota nameplate of all time.
Did you buzz in? Did you answer in the form of a question: What is the Corolla?
If so, you are CORRECT! Sorry, no prize.
Part of the Corolla’s ongoing success can be attributed to its wide appeal. The model line covers the gamut of tastes and needs with the L, LE, LE Eco, XLE, SE and XSE grades. There’s a sporty, sophisticated look to all, with my tester SE model benefiting from standard 17-inch alloy wheels and upgraded LED headlights.
Other exterior features included a Blue Crush metallic coat of paint, rear spoiler and power/tilt moon roof.
Comfort is another reason the Corolla remains so popular. Consider, for example, the Corolla’s 41.4 inches of rear-seat legroom, which puts it in league with some much larger sedans. And the trunk is not too shabby either — for a compact. I squeezed over $300 of grocery bags in with room to spare. But more importantly, golf club bags and push carts fit with ease.
The LE, the most popular Corolla grade, offers quality fabric upholstery in a choice of almond, ash/dark gray or black/brown color schemes. My SE shows off Corolla’s fun side with bold Softex-trimmed sport seats with vivid blue, orange zest and black premium fabric inserts.
My tester was powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve engine with variable valve timing mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It was fun to shift through the Corolla’s gears, with the exhaust notes providing enjoyable feedback thanks to an optional TRD performance exhaust ($649).
Corolla seats four adults with plenty of room front and back. Five can ride, but it would get a little friendly in the back seat. I was able to coax almost 32-miles-per-gallon fuel economy in a week’s worth of city/highway driving.
The interior isn’t spartan, but it’s not over-the-top luxurious by any means. Goodies include a rear-view camera, push-button start and smart key, Etune audio, Bluetooth, automatic climate control and power windows and door locks.
Safety features are downright impressive, thanks to the ToyotaSense suite of features. Highlights include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, anti-lock brakes and traction control.
Other optional equipment include a TRD sway bar ($300) and a TRD performance air filter ($80).
There’s a reason why approximately 1.5 million Corollas are sold globally each year in over 150 countries. And for those squeamish about purchasing foreign, there is a Toyota assembly plants in Blue Springs, Miss.
Base Price: $21,715
Price As Driven: $24,072
Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.
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