• 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

If only Toyota allowed just a little bit of flair to creep into its sedan designs. Small four-doors have consistently missed out on the cheeky styling found in their hatchback or liftback stablemates, which quite apart from better looks also offer a taller cargo space and, usually, more load carrying versatility. Which brings us to the latest Corolla sedan, whose makeover includes new front bumper, grille and headlamp and front indicator designs, multi-reflector front fog lamps, body coloured doorhandles, bumpers and mudflaps front and rear, chrome window mouldings, seven-spoke alloy wheels as standard, a 45mm longer body and improved aerodynamics - the sedan's co-efficient of drag is down from 0.33 to 0.30Cd for less wind noise and improved fuel consumption.

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan

The Corolla sedan seats five people. Cabin space is increased from the previous generation - up 10mm in length and width, 15mm in height. Front seatbelts are now height adjustable, with lap-sash seatbelts and adjustable headrests for all five occupants. There's a 60/40 split-fold rear seat and the rear seat cushion tumbles to liberate more cargo space. Outboard passengers get overhead grabhandles.

Seats

Corolla's seats have been redesigned to offer more comfort and support. As the flagship sedan, Ultima features 'jacquard knit' velour trim and the front seats have new full-loop fore/aft adjustment levers. There's also two-way height adjustment for the driver's seat and a two-tone overall interior presentation.

Dash & Controls

Dash & Controls

Dash

The Corolla dashboard features a wrap-around design that attempts to harmonise with the door trim, with dash materials selected to ensure longevity of appearance. There's a four-spoke, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, dual front airbags as standard. a retractable dual cup holder and large centre console box. A tachometer is also standard, as is the in-dash digital clock.

Controls

Corolla's front and rear windows are electrically operated and the driver's window has anti-jam protection and a one-touch automatic up/down function. Windscreen wipers have a variable intermittent function. A warning chime will sound if the door is opened when the headlights are on. Power-operated exterior mirrors are standard.

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres

Ultima comes standard with 5.5 x 14-inch alloy wheels, but three alloy wheel options are available: the 14-inch (five dual-spoke) Entice and (four dual-spoke) Quad patterns, and the 15-inch six-spoke motorsport-inspired Corsica design.

Luggage

Corolla sedan's boot volume increased three per cent with the new model to 417 litres. The 60/40 split-fold rear seat features seat cushions which tumble, allowing a flat cargo floor and providing a barrier between the front seats. Rather oddly, a split-fold rear seat is an option in the Conquest sedan (linked with Ultima-spec velour seats).

What's Changed

What's Changed

The Corolla four-door represents a generational change for the Corolla sedan in Australia, moving from the seventh to eighth generation. The all-new body is stronger than before and is claimed to offer greater passive safety and refinement levels. There's a new grille and the wheelbase remains the same, but the sedan body is 45mm longer, 5mm wider and 5mm higher than its predecessor. Cabin space has also increased.

Features

Features

Climate Control

Air-conditioning is standard on Corolla, which features rotary type temperature controls to operate the usual heating and four-speed fan functions. There's also a rear window demister, which switches off automatically.

Sound System

Corolla stereo is contained within a large pod rising from the dashboard above the centre console. Ultima has a 1-DIN radio/cassette unit with a 1-DIN six-CD in-dash multi-changer. The stereo is an electronic-tune system featuring auto reverse, seek, scan, key off pinch roller, fast forward/rewind and dolby noise reduction. A manual antenna is located in the front pillar on the driver's side.

Security

Ultima, Conquest and Levin models have a new keyless entry system and security alarm standard. The new 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:

Smooth, refined, reliable

We Don't Like:

Pricey, bland styling

Toyota's Corolla has been the company's bread-and-butter model since its introduction to Australia in 1967. Although the Camry is now Toyota's biggest seller here, the Corolla still plays a key role. Successive generations of the Corolla have grown in size to the extent that the current model has similar dimensions to its ancestor's bigger brother, the Corona. Its price has gone up accordingly - a well-equipped Corolla will set you back as much as a base model Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon, both of which are significantly larger and more powerful.

The Corolla is obviously pitched at a completely different set of buyers - predominantly those with no kids to haul around. Those with families usually opt for the larger Camry or Mitsubishi Magna. In its market segment the Corolla is king - outselling the likes of Nissan Pulsar, Mitsubishi Lancer and Mazda 323. The Corolla's success could be attributed to the general perception that they are reliable, well-engineered cars. This perception is fundamentally true - Corollas are, on the whole, dependable cars. There is no reason to believe the latest generation Corolla will prove any less reliable than its predecessors. Its overall build quality is good, although not perfect. The interior is well put together but the odd squeak and rattle can be heard. Exterior fit and finish is also good but the inside door pressings appear ripply and poorly moulded.

Toyota has given the Corolla a new 'four-eyed' face with its aggressive, slanty headlights setting it apart from its rivals. But the rest of the car is notable only for being a typical example of Toyota's trademark conservative styling. The new Corolla is not likely to turn many heads but it is an equally safe bet that few onlookers will find its styling offensive. The bland, inoffensive theme is carried over to the interior that is upholstered in a sea of grey trim. Ergonomically, the Corolla is up to the mark with easy-to-read instrumentation and all switchgear positioned within easy reach of the driver. The front seats are comfortable enough but rear seat accommodation is a bit tight in terms of legroom and headroom, especially for tall passengers. Boot space is generous at 417 litres but care must be exercised to avoid knocking the back of your head on the latch protruding from the bootlid when loading and unloading bulky objects.

All Corolla models are now powered by a 1.8-litre engine that generates 85kW at 5800rpm and 154Nm at 4800rpm. Toyota has a reputation for producing smooth, refined engines and this powerplant is no exception. It is reasonably tractable at low speeds yet winds out quite effortlessly to its redline. Relaying power to the front wheels is a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission. The manual gearbox is reasonably user-friendly, even though the throws between gears are relatively long and shift quality is a bit on the notchy side. The optional auto delivers smooth changes and its four ratios are well matched to the power delivery of the engine. Refinement is one of the Corolla's fortes and it is an effortless cruiser at highway speeds. Its economy proved somewhat disappointing with the automatic test car returning an average of about 11 litres/100km during a mixture of highway and city driving, but it should be pointed out the air-conditioner was on at least half the time. Ride quality is beyond reproach, the suspension dealing with the majority of road surface undulations in its stride. Overall noise levels are also commendably low, making the Corolla an ideal vehicle for long-distance trips.

In typical front-wheel drive fashion, the Corolla tends towards understeer when pushed hard into corners, although this is easily rectified by backing off the throttle. Driving the Corolla left no lasting impressions on the Automotive Networks team but perhaps this is partly due to the car's run-of-the-mill styling and its lack of any glaring deficiencies. One of the few things that proved even mildly irritating about the Corolla is that the keyless entry system beeps the horn - rather unnecessarily - when locking or unlocking the car remotely. This usually results in passers-by looking around to see if someone is trying to attract their attention.

Overall, the Corolla is a thoroughly competent car although some of its cheaper rivals - particularly the Holden Astra - are every bit as capable. However, if you are swayed by the Corolla's understated styling and enviable reliability record it is by no means a bad choice. It is not the most exciting choice but, then again, it is aimed at buyers who are seeking no-fuss motoring rather than thrills and spills galore.

Other Opinions

Other Opinions

The Sydney Morning Herald: "The once revolutionary Corolla, the volume-seller of all time, has lost its zeal and now just matches the $20,000 benchmark in the small-car class"

Which Car: "The Corolla promises reliability, high retained value and hassle-free dependability, and even if the pulse rate has been increased slightly it's at the cost of a higher price tag"

Wheels: "With its combination of a comfortable ride, sound handling, decent performance, impressive refinement and admirable fuel economy, the Corolla must now rank as one of the world's best small cars"

Mechanical

Mechanical

Plan Views

Corolla's inline four-cylinder engine is transversely mounted and powers the front wheels.

Engine

The limited edition turbo aside, one thing all Corollas now have in common is the engine - a 1762cc, 16-valve four-cylinder that produces 85kW at 5800rpm and 154Nm at a rather high 4800rpm. Claimed acceleration times include the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 17.0. Corolla uses 91 RON unleaded petrol and produces fewer emissions as a result of a new electronic control unit and oxygen sensor. Carbon monoxide emissions are claimed to be down as much as 60 percent. 7A-FE engine features a cast iron engine block and grouped electronic fuel injection, cross-flow alloy head and an electronic spark advance with a knock control system. NVH was improved by adopting a clamp type exhaust pipe.

Suspension

Corolla's suspension is an all-independent affair with MacPherson struts front and rear. Local development work aimed to improve the ride and handling characteristics. In particular, spring and damper rates and stabiliser bar diameters were tailored to achieve more neutral handling and better traction. Changes include new springs, the addition of front lower arms, a revised rear mounting point and a vertical mounting bush for front lower arms. There are now ball-joint mounted stabiliser bars front and rear, while a new lever arm was added to the front stabiliser bar. Dampers include internal rebound springs for the rear units and two-stage dampers front and rear. Tyre selection aimed to improve grip.

Transmission

Transmission choices are a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic. The latter features a lock-up torque converter designed to reduce fuel consumption. The manual transmission is fitted with heavy-duty drive shafts.

Brakes

Ultima's stopping power comes from four-wheel disc brakes, ventilated at the front. The rear discs are included on Corolla models when the four-sensor, four-channel anti-lock braking system is either specified or optioned. Currently, Levin and Ultima Seca are the only other models with standard ABS/rear discs. All other Corollas rely on rear drum brakes.

Steering

The Corolla sedan has also had work on its power assisted rack and pinion steering. A new steering box, with a revised pinion helix angle, 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.

Safety

Safety

The Corolla's body 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. Dual front airbags and ABS brakes are standard on the Ultima. Front seatbelts are now adjustable for height too, while the rear seat features three lap-sash seatbelts. A high-mounted rear stop lamp and three child anchorage points are provided.

Data

Data

Engine:

• 1.762-litre, double overhead camshaft, 16-valve, in-line four-cylinder, fuel-injected

• Power: 85kW at 5800rpm

• Torque: 154Nm at 4800rpm

• Bore/stroke: 81.0mm/85.5mm

• Compression ratio: 9.5:1
  

Transmission:

• Five-speed manual

• Four-speed auto
  

Suspension:

• Front: Independent MacPherson struts with stabiliser bar

• Rear: Independent MacPherson struts with stabiliser bar
  
  

Steering:

• Power-assisted rack and pinion

• Turns lock to lock: 3.2

• Turning circle: 9.6 metres
  
  

Dimension:

• Length: 4315mm

• Width: 1690mm

• Height: 1385mm

• Wheelbase: 2465mm

• Track front: 1460mm

• Track rear: 1450mm

• Kerb weight: 1130kg (1155kg auto)
  
  

Standard Equipment:

• Remote central locking

• Power windows and mirrors

• Air-conditioning

• Alarm

• Dual airbags

• Anti-lock brakes

• Alloy wheels

• Six-stack CD player

• Fog lamps

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

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Know your seller

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Buyer protection

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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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