2011 Toyota Corolla: Redesigned?

Were it not for the registered sales of its compact sedan, the Corolla, on most markets worldwide, Toyota would not have been nearly as successful over the past 20 years. This little car was recently updated, striking a balance between superior quality assembly, somewhat reduced fuel consumption and reassuring long-term reliability.

This car’s positive sales figures were achieved despite its reputation for being a bit of a snore to drive. Plus, I’ve got another beef with this car. Toyota’s trying to pass it off as completely redesigned, but as far as I can tell, it’s exactly the same as it was before!

Totally redesigned? Yeah, right…

A quick read of Toyota’s press releases will have you believing that the 2011 model has been all but totally revamped. They mention that 300 pieces have been replaced. Well, that may be true, but none of them is truly noticeable to the naked eye. As our neighbours to the south put it: "You have to know what you’re looking for."

That said, Toyota’s conservative approach (read: static approach), is largely explained by this car’s popularity. Lots of people consider the Corolla a sure bet with good resale value. So why mess with that by completely changing its appearance? Instead, the Japanese automaker has opted for gradual modifications. By the same token, the latest Honda Civic is about as revolutionary as the "new Corolla.
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Made in Canada
There’s no question that the "Made in Canada" label is good for sales in our country, much like the Canadian Volvo that caught the eye of buyers a while back thanks to its origins. Built in Cambridge, Ontario, the Corolla’s quality of assembly is terrific. That said, some of the plastics used on board could have been a little less hard and more attractive. Overall, the interior is comfortable and the seats offer decent support. The vesion I tested had leather seats, on which the stitching wasn’t as straight as it could have been. The dashboard, however, is plain and practical. Given that the exterior was updated at the beginning of 2011, they could have added a little zest to the inside. But it’s balanced and reasonably elegant. The new steering wheel, with its lower flat section, is significantly better than the previous one.

In keeping with trends, there are three climate control buttons. For safety reasons, the automatic transmission shifter snakes its way through an open channel to switch gears. They wanted to mimic Mercedes-Benz on this point, but let’s just say that the Germans pulled it off better.  On a more positive note, the trunk is spacious while the loading height is medium-to-high.

The most popular Corollas come with the tireless 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. This engine is known for being good on gas, but it has earned some negative reviews due to its constant din, as it has to work quite hard to fight gravity. If you’re not a fan of manual driving, you really won’t like this option. There’s an automatic version that comes with a four-speed transmission. But  that should be replaced by a more modern version. And though it always seems to be working hard, this four-cylinder engine has proved its worth time and again.

If you’re looking for more power and a more energetic engine, Toyota also offers a 2.4-litre four-cylinder. This one generates 158 horsepower and is paired with a five-speed manual transmission. It can also be teamed to an automatic gearbox – this one is also a five-speed. What’s surprising is that, although it has 26 more hp, it’s performances are fairly average. Plus, it seems to enjoy high revs and driving it in the city is not all that pleasant.

On the road, this little sedan offers honest road handling, which would be greatly improved with the addition of better tires. I drove it in wet conditions and it felt like the car had cakes of soap for tires. Thus, I was quick to note that the vehicle stability control kicked in quite quickly. Like all Toyotas, my test model also had the Star Safety System, which harmonizes the various safety systems, including the ABS brakes, stability control, etc.

As for the suspension, it’s passably comfortable as the rigid rear axle has trouble countering any bumps in the road.

When you do the tally, the Corolla’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, as evidenced by its unwavering popularity. But you have to admit that this car is more functional than spectacular. It’s an efficient car that gets the job done.