[steinravnik]

New Toyota Corolla solid but not very exciting

The radical thing about Toyota's redesign of its strong-selling Corolla compact sedan is how little the big Japanese automaker advanced the car — particularly in contrast with Honda's heroic makeover of the Civic, Corolla's main rival.

Honda offers an optional five-speed automatic transmission across the board. Toyota stayed with a four-speed, reserving a five-speed for the optional engine.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos...-20-toyota-corolla_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

 

[steinravnik]

"Impressions left by the test car, an $18,410 Sport with four-speed automatic and 1.8-liter engine:"

Nearly 20k for a car, and it has a 4 speed auto and crank windows? That's pretty sorry.

 

[jkr2106]

...as opposed to the last generation which was solid AND exciting...? Right...

 

[mgescuro]

Just remember, the Corolla is the ultimate appliance.
It will never break down. It is extremely reliable. It is also the best selling car in history. Why mess with a good thing.

 

[Butz]

Just remember, the Corolla is the ultimate appliance.
It will never break down. It is extremely reliable. It is also the best selling car in history. Why mess with a good thing.

They messed with it when they switched from RWD to FWD

 

[jkr2106]

I'm not saying they should (I know I wouldn't), just that that title makes it seem like at one point the Corolla was exciting and now it isn't. Obviously I disagree.

 

[mgescuro]

They messed with it when they switched from RWD to FWD

True enough. But that was what... mid-late 80's?? 20 years ago or so.
Thing is... Corolla still sells all over the world. The car is over 50 years old. It's managed to survive.
But it's an appliance. It's not meant to be anything more. Unless there's a TRD version floating around somewhere. And even then, an SS or R32 would probably still out perform it.

 

[FoMoCo Fan]

The people who want something more cutting edge are going to get a Civic anyways.

 

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Pretty adequate review.

But what's new? We've always known the Corolla was solid but not the least bit engaging or exciting.

 

[PhishPhood]

Pretty adequate review.

But what's new? We've always known the Corolla was solid but not the least bit engaging or exciting.

Yep and there is a huge segment of the buying public with a huge amount of money to spend on appliances. This attracts that huge slug of money better than most. After all in the end it's all about money, nothing more.

 

[Rex Raider]

We have a good portion of Corolla buyers that don't buy the Civic simply because it's too modern, and they prefer the "mature" look of the Corolla.
Seeing that it is their world car, and most successful and oldest product, the 2009 car is not going to deviate from what has made it a success up to now.
If Toyota wants to experiment with style, they can use the scion brand for that.

 

[EldoFan]

Is any of this really news??

 

[mini1]

One could always opt for the Corolla S if they wanted real excitement!!! HA!!!

 

[Poly Student]

You might question what Toyota was smoking when it decided to keep hand-crank windows, like those on the Corolla Sport test car. Turns out that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S. distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, has to pay Toyota Motor Corp., the Japanese parent, extra for every accessory or upgrade on the U.S. models. Making cranks standard on all but the XLE trimmed a bit from what TMS has to pay TMC per car, according to spokesman Bill Kwong.

Anyone else know what this is all about?

 

[CobaltSScrazy]

You onl;y need to look at three words of the article to understand the rolla:

Overall: Competent Underachiever


...hmmmm sounds like how some people describe the Cobalt LS/LT (eyeroll)

CObaltSS

 

[Ttple]

I think the new Corolla is nice looking. I had a 1985 Corolla SR5 and it was great.

 

[Mr. Burns]

Yep and there is a huge segment of the buying public with a huge amount of money to spend on appliances. This attracts that huge slug of money better than most. After all in the end it's all about money, nothing more.

In the end it's all about the car, and pontiac is car.

 

[vsd]

While most manufactures are trying to sell their compacts to a younger audience, I think Toyota has given up on that and is actually going for the older crowd now, and this is probably the car the older people will want most out of all the compacts. I mean just look at the commercials, they're advertising how quiet and smooth it is, those are Buick qualities.

 

[Htay7500]

if anyone wanted a fun corolla, be it a ae86 or the corollas w/ RWD.

 

[CACressida]

This new Corolla is so stupid, it left me scratching my head. I sat in it, drove it, pulled it back into the dealership, jumped in mine and noticed it was like night and day. The old one is better.. The new one is like you already know it, but yet its not what it used to be. I do like the new steering wheel though..