• The Car

• Seat Plan & Seats

• Dash & Controls

• Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

• What's Changed

• Features

• Our Opinion

• Other Opinions

• Mechanical

• Safety

• Data

• Buy with Confidence

• Legal Disclaimer

The Car

The Car

Based on the Corolla Levin Seca hatchback, the Sportivo gains the mandatory go-fast looking bits required of any hot hatch. It's available in any colour you like as long as it's Aztec Gold, there's a full bodykit including front airdam, risers for the rear wing, side skirts, alloy wheels and the de rigeur Sportivo and turbo badging. Headlights are familiar and untouched from the rest of the Corolla range.

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan

There's little here to distibguish the Sportivo from the standard Corolla, retaining the same five-seat positions, everyone equipped with a lap-sash belt and headrest. There's also airbags for the front seat passengers, pockets in each front seat which just pass the Melways test, and two more pockets on the rear of the front seats. A deep lidded bin in the centre console has an inbuilt sunglass holder, while the top doubles as an armrest. Two pop-out cupholders in the centre dash don't do a great job of holding drinks in.

Seats

Toyota says the front buckets are sports seats, although side support doesn't seem to be good enough to qualify for that description. The driver's seat cushion adjusts for height via a knob on the base, while a lever looks after back rake. A combination of fine and coarse-weave cloth is the upholstery of choice, with a subtle chequer effect throughout the dark trim. The carpet quality is a disappointment compared to the rest of the trim, being somewhat industrial in look and feel.

Dash & Controls

Dash & Controls

Dash

Much of what you see when you sit in the driver's seat of the Sportivo is lifted straight from the Corolla range, and more specifically the Levin Seca. Like the deeply hooded binnacle which contains the large speedometer (marked in 20km/h increments) and tachometer dials, with red needles combining with a dark honeycomb backgrounds. Fuel and temperature gauges sit in smaller dials on either side of the speedo and tacho. A burnt metal-effect surround adds further to the sporty intent. Power mirror adjustment sits to the right of the dash. The plastic surrounds are finished in a typical Toyota dark-grey, although not as soft to the touch as the slush-moulded Camry.

Controls

The look and functions are familiar, with the Sportivo mainly identified from its brethren by the rather loud orange Corolla Sportivo badge and production number stuck on to the lidded bin on the centre console. The height adjust-only steering wheel gets the same leather clad and dimpled three-spoke steering wheel as the Levin, and polished metal and dimpled leather gearknob. Internal fuel and hatch releases are located on the floor near the driver's seat, wipers are four-stage intermittent, there's a left footrest and a loud warning if you leave the headlights on and remove the ignition key. However, there's plenty of omissions for a car of this price, like the lack of cruise control, trip computer and stereo controls on the steering wheel.

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres

The Sportivo's "Corsica" alloy wheel has been offered before as a Corolla accessory, but is not currently standard on any other car in the range. Reminscent of the current Subaru Impreza WRX in design, it is not the easiest wheel to clean. Commendably, Toyota has supplied a full-size spare tyre mounted to an alloy wheel as well as a sturdy jack if ever you are unfortunate enough to have a flat tyre.

Luggage

There's no lack of boot space in the Sportivo, with a claimed capacity of 376 litres before you take the 60-40 split-fold rear seat into account. To keep smaller items in place there's a netted storage box on the left-hand side of the compartment. However, the big load area does tend to impinge on rear seat space. There's quite a deal of versatility, with the one-piece seat base folding up and the back cushions folding individually, although to make them sit flat you do have to take off the headrests. A clever lock mount ensures the belt straps are out of the away when the rear seat is folded.

What's Changed

What's Changed

The Sportivo's 1.8-litre engine gains a turbo and intercooler, which are installed offline in Japan, as well as a beefed up clutch and brake pads. Fifteen-inch alloys and a T-CAM bodykit are also installed in Australia. The revised suspension is designed to deliver "throttle-off oversteer".

Features

Features

Stand Out Features

It's more what the Sportivo represents than any particular ability that is the most outstanding feature of this car. The base car is built at Takaoka in Japan, but the turbo, intercooler, heavy duty brake pads and clutch are added at Shinmei near where the cars are loaded on the boat to Australia. T-CAM in Sydney then fits stiffer springs, alloys and the locally-developed bodykit. T-CAM did much of the development work in Australia before it was all signed off by headquarters in Japan. The Sportivo's twin-port installation process is a first for Toyota, and the company says it could have global potential.

Climate Control

Air-conditioning is standard in Sportivo although it is not a climate control unit. The controls are by push buttons, rotary controls and a slide control for recirculating or fresh air. There are four controllable upper front vents but none for rear passengers to control. A digital clock sits next to the air-conditioning unit.

Sound System

The audio head unit is a familiar Toyota design, incorporating a single CD, audi-cassette and AM/FM tuner into what the company calls a three-in-one design. A burnt-metal effect surround continues the styling them from the dash - and this is one feature the Levin doesn't get. The FM channel offers 12 pre-sets, the AM six pre-sets and the button controls are nice and large. The head unit is situated at the top of the centre console, which is nice and close to the driver's eyeline, handy considering there are no steering wheel stereo controls. There are four speakers.

Security

Like the Levin it is based on, as well as the Ultima and Conquest models, the Sportivo has a keyless entry system and security alarm as standard. The system features a panic alarm, visual and audible confirmation of lock/unlock via the indicator lamps and horn chirp, automatic door relock after 60 seconds, and low battery warning for the transmitter battery. All Corolla models have power door locks and a transponder-type engine immobiliser.

Our Opinion

Our Opinion

We Like:

Toyota having a dip at performance

We Don't Like:

Not enough performance, too expensive

Taking a mild child and turning it into a wild child is accepted motoring lore. The proof is in our very own backyard - just take a look at HSV's hi-po V8s and the humble Commodore taxi packs at the opposite end of the Holden food chain. But if that seems a stretch, it's nowhere as elastic as the Corolla Sportivo. The ultimate commuter car becomes a rorty little performer, or so Toyota would have us believe.

The Sportivo is fundamentally a Corolla Seca Levin - previously presented as the sportiest of Corollas. A small IHI turbocharger is bolted on to the virtually stock 1.8-litre DOHC engine (no forged pistons here) to deliver 115kW and 237 Nm of torque. Those figures are up a substantial 35 and 53 per cent respectively on the normally-aspirated unit, making this the most powerful Corolla ever sold here. An intercooler, a stronger clutch pack, high-performance brake pads, stiffer suspension springs and semi-sporty Bridgestone rubber are all designed to cope with the extra urge offered over the standard Corolla fare.

To let the world know this is a Corolla above and beyond the usual, there's an eye-catching Aztec Gold paintjob, 15-inch alloy wheels and a bodykit which includes airdam, side skirts and risers for the rear wing. Mesh for both upper and lower front grilles and foglights are shared with the Levin. In fact there's plenty more shared with Levin, as the Sportivo offers the same level of specification: air-conditioning, dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes and discs all-round, a three-in-one audio system including a single-slot CD, power front windows, chrome exhaust extension, leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel and leather and polished metal gearknob.

The catch is that you pay substantially more for that extra performance, getting close to the pricing of Honda's Integra Type R, Subaru's Impreza WRX and Nissan's 200SX, the three kings of dollar-friendly sports performance. The Sportivo, quite frankly, cannot match them in a straight line or, even more noticeably, when the going gets tight, twisty and sporty. But it still accelerates like no other Corolla. While there's some thrashiness and noise as the revs rise, there's also real overtaking and hill-conquering power that would have a normally-aspirated Corolla panting. Yet it's civilised enough to loll along smoothly around 4000rpm, just waiting for the shift back into third and firm prod of the accelerator to get up and going. Turbo lag? Not really evident. The significant increase in torque, which comes in 1200rpm lower in the rev range at 3600rpm than the normally aspirated 1.8, plays an obvious and crucial role in this performance boost. The engine works neatly with a sweet-shifting five-speed transmission (that's all you can get with Sportivo incidentally) that's as good as any we've ever sampled in a Corolla. The clutch is nice and malleable too and the pedal set-up good for heel-and-toeing. Unfortunately, the extra power through the front wheels - and the fact the standard Corolla's unequal-length front driveshafts remain unchanged - means Sportivo also has some idiosyncratic and disturbing characteristics. The tighter the road gets the less impressive the chassis behaviour is. A firm grip on that steering wheel is definitely required during any cornering activity, or when you take off from a standing start with any sort of serious throttle application. There is plentiful inside front wheel wheelspin during cornering, torque steer at high revs in the low gears and steering weighting that changes depending on how much load is on the throttle. There's also plenty of kickback through steering wheel and plenty of jarring coming off the road too thanks to the stiffer suspension. Get on dirt roads and the unpredictability is increased because of the tendency to wheelspin and react severely over corrugations. This is a package that feels only partway resolved. A four-wheel drivetrain would have made a lot of sense. Dirt roads also expose some inadequate sound proofing under the guards and an anti-lock braking system that doesn't seem as well calibrated as others we have sampled off the tarmac.

Inside, it's all pretty much what we know about Corolla already - particularly if you are familiar with the Levin. It's comfortable enough and the quality of build is good, of course. But the bright orange numbered Sportivo badge on the centre console strikes a jarring note and that big wing does interfere with rear vision. The sports front seats are comfortable, the steering wheel about the right size and easy to grip (firmly!). Rear seat space is limited, but the luggage area is huge, and aided by the versatile 60/40 split-fold seating.

Overall, this car is a bit of a conundrum. It's an important experiment for Toyota Australia's T-CAM skunkworks, which made the running on this project with a lot of co-operation from Toyota Japan. To simply be given the nod to develop the Sportivo under the full gaze of one of the world's most conservative car manufacturers is a triumph for the Australians. The car itself is not. Neither econobox or sportster, it resides uncomfortably - and too expensively - somewhere in between.

Other Opinions

Other Opinions

Motor: "It's faster, yes, but it won't appeal to anybody who was thinking Rex or 200SX. And there's the biggest glitch, because at $37,990, it's within coo-ee of both those accepted hotshots"

Wheels: "This car promises more than it delivers, even if what it delivers ain't so much bad as not bad enough"

Mechanical

Mechanical

Plan Views

The fundamentals of the Corolla's transverse front-wheel drive layout remain unaltered, although the amount of power and torque channelling through to the front wheels has risen appreciably. Therefore the Sportivo now has a TRD (Toyota Racing Developments) clutch and clutch pressure plate.

Engine

The addition of a small IHI turbocharger boosts the 1.8-litre DOHC 16-valve engine's power output from 85kW at 5800rpm to 115kW at 5600rpm, and its torque from 154Nm at 4800rpm to 237Nm at 3600rpm. Along with the turbocharger comes heat shields, a dedicated front exhaust pipe and manifold, an intercooler and piping. The engine's control unit and fuel injectors have also been replaced with components engineered to suit turbocharged operation. Other modifications include revised spark plugs and the addition of an oil separator. The Sportivo requires premium unleaded fuel.

Suspension

Like all Corollas, the Sportivo's suspension is an all-independent affair with MacPherson struts front and rear. Suspension modifications were limited to springs, Bridsgetone tyres and the 15-inch "Corsica" alloy wheels. The coils are 15 per cent stiffer all round - and lower by 17 mm at the front and 15 mm at the rear - which produces a slight alteration in steering geometry.

Transmission

Only a five-speed manual transmission is offered with Sportivo. While the internals are untouched, the clutch and clutch pressure plate have been strengthened by adopting TRD (Toyota Racing Developments) items. Inside the cabin, the gearknob is made out of polished metal.

Brakes

Disc brakes are standard all-round on Sportivo, the fronts being 255 x 22mm ventilated items and the rears 266 x 9.0mm solid items. Single-piston sliding callipers are employed front and rear. Four-channel anti-lock braking is standard, but the sole concession to the Sportivo's increased performance is the use of heavy-duty brake pads.

Steering

The Sportivo's power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is unaltered from other Corollas, with only the shortened springs bringing a slight change in steering geometry. This generation Corolla received a new steering box with a revised pinion helix angle, which is claimed to improve on-centre feel and reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Revised power steering valve characteristics are also said to improve initial turn-in and corner tracing. The steering wheel is adjustable for height only.

Safety

Safety

Perhaps surprisingly the most powerful Corolla ever sold in Australia lacks traction control, an active safety feature that would seem to make sense. However, it does have anti-lock braking, dual front airbags, pre-tensioners and force limiters on the front seatbelts. There are lap-sash belts all-round as well as headrests for each passenger. The body of this generation Corolla has high-strength steel to increase rigidity, crashworthiness and dent resistance. Body reinforcements were made for increased front and side impact protection, and the B-pillar was also reinforced and pillar width increased to maximise side impact protection. The instrument panel is reinforced by high-strength steel to minimise the intrusion of steering column and pedals into the cabin. Energy absorbing material is incorporated into the doors, while soft upper interior sections on the roof side rails and inner A and B-pillars aim to protect the head.

Data

Data

Engine:

• 1.762-litre DOHC 16-valve front-mounted transverse turbocharged and intercooled inline four-cylinder

• Power: 115kW @ 5600rpm

• Torque: 237Nm at 3600rpm

• Bore x stroke: 81.0 x 85.5mm

• Compression ratio: 9.5:1
  
  
  

Transmission:

• Five-speed manual only
  

Suspension:

• Front: independent by MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

• Rear: independent by spring-struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
  

Steering:

• Power-assisted rack-and-pinion

• Turning circle: 9.6 metres

• Turns lock-to-lock: 3.2
  

Dimension:

• Length: 4290mm

• Width: 1690mm

• Height: 1370mm

• Wheelbase: 2465mm

• Front track: 1460mm

• Rear track: 1450mm

• Kerb weight: 1175kg
  

Standard Equipment:

• Body coloured mirrors

• Front fog lights

• 15-inch alloy wheels

• Metallic paint

• Stainless steel exhaust

• Leather gearknob

• Leather steering wheel

• 60/40 split-fold rear seat

• Front power windows

• Air-conditioning

• Front vanity mirrors

• Power steering

• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel

• Power mirrors

• Variable intermittent wipers

• Rear washer/wiper/demister

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

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Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.

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