Variable Transmission ( CVT ) in the Corolla may not be a popular choice on paper , but had I not known it was working with a CVT , I wouldn ’ t have noticed . The software-controlled seven pseudo shift points make the Corolla ’ s CVT behave much like a traditional automatic transmission without the typical ‘ rubber band feel ’ characteristic that it ’ s known for .
While all 2016 Corollas come with a 1.8-litre motor , there are two variants on offer . A 132 hp , 128 lb . -ft . of torque unit is standard on CE , LE and S trim Corollas . The LE Eco trim cars get an engine capable of 140 hp and 126 lb . -ft . of torque . There ’ s also three transmission options that can be fitted to a Corolla depending on the model you ’ re driving , either a six-speed manual , a four-speed automatic or the CVT ( as fitted on my test vehicle ).
Although not segment topping in its fuel economy ratings , the Corolla LE I was driving is rated for 8.2 / 6.2 / 7.3 L / 100 km in city / highway / combined driving . During my week , I managed to average 8.8 L / 100 km combined without being overly cautious or aggressive . The LE Eco promises better fuel economy returns , but we will have to wait to test that one out .
There ’ s seating for five , although rear seat headroom is a bit limited . In an attempt to utilize all seats , I invited four friends to join me for a joyride . As expected a compact segment car ’ s rear seat isn ’ t made for an adult in the middle , but Toyota has made a clear effort to maximize the space there by keeping the seat backs rather flat on either side and indenting the rear portion of the centre console allowing for more knee room . Amazingly everyone had room to get their legs comfortably behind the seats , even with my driver seat pushed back to near maximum .
At highway speeds , the cabin can get a bit loud in contrast to the quieter 2016 Ford Focus I had been driving the previous week . But none of them reach
the heights of the 2016 Civic , which to me is the quietest cabin I ’ ve ever experienced from any compact car .
There ’ s good isolation in the cabin from engine noise , while its soft suspension soaks up most bumps and ruts on poor quality roads . On the other hand , handling felt loose , making the car at times a little too happy to plough in when thrown into corners . More improvement could be needed in the handling department , but driving dynamics , as exciting as they are , aren ’ t the reason a Corolla is purchased . As other car companies focus attention towards connectivity and technology , Toyota finds itself a little behind . In the Corolla , you ’ ll find auxiliary and USB inputs , Bluetooth , along with standard AM / FM / CD radio pushing out sound from four speakers . Beyond that there ’ s not much else . Android Auto , Apple CarPlay ? What ’ s that ? Navigation , oh , only on the S trim as part of a nearly $ 4,000 package . Yikes !
On top of that , there ’ s a noticeable lack of active safety systems . The new Honda Civic offers systems like lanedeparture warning , predictive braking and a slew of other collision avoidance and mitigation technologies ; none of which are to be found on the current generation Corolla . You may not have a lot of safety technology gadgets
This is the slickest cabin to grace a factory stock Corolla . to assist you , but the 2016 Corolla is still a solid choice on passive safety receiving an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .
At this point you ’ re thinking , man , so where ’ s the win with the car that ’ s a global best-seller ? For 2016 , the highlight has to be looks .
On the outside , the 2016 Toyota Corolla is one of the sharper looking sedans in the segment . While designers from other OEMs have been brave , sometimes to laughable effect , the current generation Corolla looks great despite playing it safe . Toyota calls the design language “ Iconic Dynamicism ,” and although I ’ ll argue that it ’ s not exactly iconic , there ’ s no denying that the Corolla is the most dynamic it ’ s ever been .
The 2016 Toyota Corolla starts at a base price of $ 15,995 ( CE with manual transmission ), a CE with a four-speed automatic sells for $ 18,815 . My as-tested Corolla LE rings in at $ 20,140 ( before taxes , fees and delivery ).
The 2016 version is a safe choice with some more flair compared to the models before the mid-cycle refresh . But Toyota doesn ’ t seem to be stopping there with an all-new Corolla on its way for 2017 , and at first glance it seems there ’ s a lot more improvement coming to this humble but legendary car . TDM
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