Test Drive: 2018 Toyota Corolla
Relying on renowned owner satisfaction ratings and offering a car that attracts consumers in all demographic age groups, our tester this week is the 2018 Toyota Corolla, arriving in mid-level XLE trim. Completely restyled last year, Corolla is no longer the tiny lightweight compact we experienced when it debuted in North America in 1968 riding on a 90-inch wheelbase.
Today, Corollas traverse highways on a 16.3-inch longer wheelbase along with growth roominess and curb weight. These modern day dimensions find Corolla categorized as mid-size vehicles on the EPA fuel mileage estimate chart, a fact that solidifies Corolla as one of the “biggest little compacts” out there.
Now in its 11th generation and undergoing several nice upgrades along the way, the ’17 and ’18 Corollas feature new front end designs, LED headlights and the elimination of the outdated fourspeed automatic in favor of a contemporary automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Our XLE tester listed at a base of $22,035 well equipped. The entry “L” starts at a most impressive $18,600 while the LE starts at $19,035. The remaining Corolla models, each with increasing amenities and features, find the LE Eco (economy) starting at $19,435, SE at $20,545, and top-line XSE for $22,780 giving prospective buyers six different Corollas to choose from.
Notable are the standard features on the entry “L,” including all the powers, keyless entry, a great sounding stereo, and USB and Bluetooth features. Therefore, don’t think the entry model is a stripped down Corolla because it isn’t.
With the exception of the LE Eco, Corolla comes powered by Toyota’s proven and fuel efficient 1.8-liter four-cylinder that delivers 132 horsepower and 128 lb. ft. of torque. It performs all duties adequately with surprisingly good low end torque. If you want to shift manually, you still can still purchase the SE model as it comes standard with a sixspeed manual transmission.
Fuel mileage is near identical be it manual or CVT. The six-speed churns out 28 city and 35 highway versus the CVT, which does one better highway at 28 and 36, respectively. The LE Eco comes with a 140-horse 1.8-liter engine, lighter curb weight, less coefficient of drag and is a California emission LEVEL 3 model. It generates 30 city and 40 highway EPA, the best of the bunch.
From millennial to baby boomer, Corolla’s outstanding low entry price coupled with the above EPA estimates and an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick makes it a winning choice. Your Toyota dealer is awaiting your visit to explain all models and features.
Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and other GateHouse Media publications.