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09/12/2011
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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Toyota Corolla is a huge seller in Australia, with well over a million having been put onto roads downunder. There are no signs of sales slowing despite that fact that Corolla is no longer made in Melbourne, but is imported from Japan. Indeed, it topped the overall sales charts on several occasions during 2011.
The secret to the Toyota Corolla's success is simple. It is well-built, reliable and durable.
While the Corolla sedan is relatively conservative, the five-door hatch that’s been our review car for the past week has styling that lifts it away from many others in this market segment.
Toyota Corolla is quite a large car these days and can seat four adults in comfort, with good legroom and headroom for all. The rear floor is virtually flat all the way across so foot room is better than average for the occupant, preferably a child, sitting in the centre-rear seat.
Interior stowage is excellent, with an additional small, glovebox above the standard one, a large centre-console box, even a stowage spot for sunglasses above the interior mirror.
The Corolla hatchback’s boot has a comparatively small volume of only 283 litres. It loses some depth because there's a full-size spare wheel, rather than a space saver, under it. The 60/40 split rear seat makes for significantly greater luggage space should you be carrying fewer than five people.
Toyota Corolla is simple to drive and park. Though the windscreen slopes a long way forward, visibility to the front isn’t too bad. However, the extra window in the split A-pillar is all but invisible on the driver’s side and doesn’t really show you much to the left-front either. But the Corolla is hardly alone in this.
Handling is capable and the Corolla comes with far more road grip than is likely to be needed by the average driver. Should you make a mistake the latest Corolla has electronic stability programs in every model. Earlier variants didn’t have this potentially life saving features so if you’re looking at buying a secondhand model check if it’s fitted or not.
On the road the Corolla has good turn in and only moderate understeer unless you push it hard, in which case the understeer scrubs off speed to bring you back to a safe level. There's good feedback through the steering wheel and we feel the compromise between ride and handling is just right.
Bad bumps can catch the Corolla out from time to time but on the whole it’s capable of handling even harsh country roads.
Tyre noise is generally well subdued, though not to the excellent extent of that in the Australian-made Toyota Camry and Aurion.
The body has a taut feel that’s almost European and this promises even more long-term durability than we have become accustomed to in the Corolla for decades.
Power comes from a four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine with fully variable valve timing on both camshafts. It’s a modern unit that's happy to putter along at anything over 1500 rpm, and only needs 2000 revs to really come into its torque band. It spins towards the red line willingly enough, but this isn’t a car that’s likely to go much over 4000 rpm so there’s always going to be plenty in reserve.
Fuel consumption on our six-speed manual Corolla was impressively low. Most drivers will be able to keep it under nine litres per hundred kilometres in suburban running and figures below seven litres per hundred on gentle country runs are there for the asking.
We calculate the four-speed automatic transmission to use five to ten per cent more petrol than the manual.
Toyota Corolla's combination of build quality, interior space and comfort and good engine performance already place it in good stead with tens of thousands of Australian buyers every year.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Ascent 1.8-litre four-door sedan - $20,990 (manual), $22,990 (automatic)
Ascent 1.8-litre five-door hatch - $20,990 (manual), $22,990 (automatic)
Ascent Sport 1.8-litre five-door hatch - $22,490 (manual), $24,490 (automatic)
Ascent Sport 1.8-litre four-door sedan - $22,490 (manual), $24,490 (automatic)
Conquest 1.8-litre four-door sedan - $24,490 (manual), $26,490 (automatic)
Conquest 1.8-litre five-door hatch - $23,890 (manual), $25,890 (automatic)
Levin SX 1.8-litre five-door hatch - $24,990 (manual), $26,990 (automatic)
Levin ZR 1.8-litre five-door hatch - $27,990 (manual), $29,990 (automatic)
Ultima 1.8-litre four-door sedan - $31,490 (automatic)
SPECIFICATIONS (Toyota Corolla Ascent 1.8-litre five-door hatch)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.798 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 80.5 x 88.3 mm
Maximum Power: 100 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 175 Nm @ 4400 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.529:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4220 mm
Wheelbase: 2600 mm
Width: 1760 mm
Height: 1515 mm
Turning Circle: 10.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1275 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Towing Ability: 450kg (1300kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, McPherson struts, L-shaped lower arms, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Semi-independent trailing torsion beam, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.1 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 16.5 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 91RON
Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 7.3 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7/10
Air Pollution Rating: 8.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000km |
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