By Gary Chan
Below are my impressions of the base model Corolla after spending a brief time test driving Toyota’s icon for conservative and economical transportation
Interior:
For $15k, the interior is cheap .. too much plastic .. and the design is dated. Everything is where it should be, and the a/c definitely works well (as Twain’s review attested) having it cranked during a hot test drive. Seats are okay: flat and comfy, but not enough padding/support for extended drives. Seat adjustability is limited. Commuting to work would be okay, but I’d stop to stretch my legs after a few hours in this car. The rear passengers have plenty of room also, and both rear seats fold down for longer cargo.
Driving Impressions:
Get on the gas, and the motor screams .. literally. Flooring it on the freeway drops the transmission a gear, and the engine noise becomes very loud. That small 1.8-liter engine is straining to pull all 2,500 lbs, but once at speed it just lumbers along. Cruising along (like normal highway speeds), the engine/car is fairly quiet. This base model is perfect for getting from point A to B, but don’t expect much more. Narrow tires make aggressive driving something of thrill ride. While I didn’t have my GPS unit to verify the actual speeds, the speedometer did seem to be a bit optimistic.
Overall:
“Hmmm … I need to get to/from work each day, and I need something inexpensive and reliable… what should I buy?”. This Corolla CE would fit the ticket as it gets great gas mileage and is perfect for short commutes. You could wake up each morning, year after year, knowing that the car would start each time. But its definitely bland and in need of a makeover. My dad has had the last two generations of Corolla’s (and even owned the first gen Corona back in the 60’s) and is waiting to buy the next generation Corolla. Like my dad, I would like to see what Toyota does style-wise with the next generation. If you’re looking for something with a bit more flair, then check out the Mazda 3 whose driving dynamics and design are a step above the Corolla.
|
|
Build |
Interior |
Performance |
Handling |
Styling |
Value |
Overall |
|
Rating |
4.0 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
3.5/C |
###
Editor’s Note: Cars similar in class with the Corolla are the Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Mazda 3.
>> See all of the Toyota Corolla photos in our photo gallery
>> Read more Toyota Corolla reviews submitted by the CarReview.com community
>> 2007 Toyota Corolla CE specs
>> Toyota Corolla and Auris videos
>> Links to more Toyota Corolla reviews on other sites
>> Toyota Vehicles: Official site for information on Toyota cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers
Test car generously provided by Stevens Creek Toyota of San Jose, CA
Pingback: amazon cyber monday
I brought this car after driving the new ’07 Nissan Sentra as a rental. The Nissan I thought had better handling, better stereo system and more cab space. But like you stated in your review, I needed a practical get to work-and-back car with reliability so I bought the CE w/ power windows. Not a thrill seeker, can’t go past 80 mph on the highway anyway w/o getting a ticket, just got to get back and forth. Best option for me.