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COROLLA: HANDLING IS SHARP, RIDE COMFORT GOOD

No lack of creature comforts – from topclass infotainment to good air conditioner.

One of the biggest motoring mistakes I’ve made involved a Toyota Corolla. Not because I bought one and had a nightmare experience, but because I didn’t buy one and had my nightmare with an Opel instead.

My first new car purchase had boiled down to three cars: A Corolla 1.3; a VW Golf CSL and an Opel Kadett. The last was by far the cheapest, even though it was a 1.6 to the Toyota’s 1300cc.

In my innocent, magpie-like state, I went for the flashy because, in the end it was one thing (other than the price) which sold it for the Opel: It had a rev counter and the others did not.

In all likelihood, had I bought that Corolla back in the late 80s, I would probably only have just sold it. I see plenty of them running around the streets today.

Toyota is not known as one of the world’s most reliable car brands for nothing.

Back in the 1980s, the Corolla had a “hot hatch” version, with a screaming, twin-cam 16-valve 1.6 engine that had plenty of street and racetrack credibility. But, over the years, that edginess was the exception rather than the rule for Toyota’s family-mobile.

Reliable, comfortable, affordable. The Corolla ticked all of those boxes. But elegant? Sexy? Desirable? Not so much.

So, towards the end of last year, I was shocked (to quote a well-known politician prone to holding family gatherings) when I walked through the office car park, to find I had done a double take on a sexy sedan sitting in the bay reserved for my motoring colleagues. It was chic enough that it could be mistaken for an upmarket Audi; so beautiful and understated was the design.

Initially I thought it was a Kia or Hyundai, who have been putting out attractive, Euro-style cars for some time. I walked around to the back of the car to see the Toyota and Corolla badges and felt almost as though I was having an out-of-body experience.

In metallic ivory white (yes, that most appliance like of colours), the Corolla was simply stunning. The front looked like the Corolla hatch I tested in 2019, but it was the sculpted rear boot which really brought the Japanese car to life.

When I finally got to test the Corolla, it was still the sort of car which makes you turn to look back at it as you walk away.

Inside, the theme of elegance was continued as the cabin, controls and ergonomics were reminiscent of the top drawer design in Toyota’s premium brand, Lexus.

These days, if you are put behind the wheel of either brand, with logos and identifying features removed, you’d be hard put to distinguish between them.

That’s a way of say Toyota’s main ranges are premium products themselves.

The Corolla sedan has an option of two engines, both naturally-aspirated – one a 1.8 litre, the other a new generation 2.0 litre petrol. The 1.8 pushes out 103kW and is available only with a CVT transmission, which has seven “fake” speeds to cover for the fact the constantly variable setup actually has infinite speeds (and an infinite drone at some times).

The 125kW 2.0 litre gets the option of a six-speed manual as well as a “10 speed” CVT. The CVT is what we drove – but given how good the rest of the car is and if you relish driving as I do, then a six-speed manual is the better bet. The CVT offers better consumption, according to Toyota, and I was easily able to better 7 litres per 100km in city driving and low 5s out on the highway. That’s good in anyone’s language.

Handling is sharp, but at the same time ride comfort is also good, both in the driver’s seat and in the back.

There is no lack of creature comforts – from top-class infotainment to good aircon – or driver’s aid in the top-of-the-range version. The whole experience leaves you with the feeling you’re travelling in something more upmarket, not “just a Corolla”.

And that’s the shocker. You can have Audi-like levels of design and chic, but with Toyota’s levels of build quality, reliability and longevity. Mind you, when you hear the top Corolla is going to set you back just short of R450 000 then it isn’t anywhere near entry-level.

Nothing in the category is these days, however. You can’t even buy an equivalent VW Golf or Jetta, because small SUVs are the way that company is going.

Interestingly, to get the same Audi-like levels of quality you’d actually have to buy an Audi. If you want a quality, elegant sedan, your only real choice is a Corolla.

Never thought I’d ever say that.