What's
New for 2010
After a complete redesign last
year, the 2010 Toyota Corolla adds standard stability control but otherwise
holds its ground.
2010
Introduction
There's an obvious reason why the
2010 Toyota Corolla is bound to be one of the country's best-selling vehicles
this year: Since its debut more than four decades ago, the Corolla has become
synonymous with dependability. That alone, we suspect, is enough for many. But
if these shoppers did venture over to their local Hyundai or Mazda or Honda
dealers for some test-drives, they'd likely realize that the Corolla is far
from the class leader it once was. It's not a bad car by any stretch of the
imagination -- it's just that its rivals have gotten better, while
On the bright side, the Corolla
provides impressive fuel economy with the volume-selling base 1.8-liter engine,
and its ride is more compliant than the typical compact sedan's. Its controls
are also intuitive, though most cars these days can claim the same. In other
respects, the Corolla ranks anywhere from "unremarkable"
(acceleration, seat comfort) to "below average" (handling) to
"memorably poor" (the vague and artificial-feeling steering). Even
the interior materials aren't anything to write home about -- a departure from
Corollas past.
Like some other small sedans, the
Corolla offers a more powerful optional engine -- a 2.4-liter four-cylinder
borrowed from the Camry that generates 158 horsepower. It's available only in
the sport-themed Corolla XRS, which boasts quicker steering, bigger wheels and
a front strut tower brace for sharpened handling. Unfortunately, this model
also fails to impress. Despite decent grunt from the larger engine, the XRS
doesn't provide a particularly exciting driving experience, and its fuel
economy is a significant downgrade.
The 2010 Toyota Corolla generally
gets the job done. But the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3 are
similarly priced compact sedans that do it better, and all have similar (or even
better) modern reputations for reliability. We'd also give the Mitsubishi
Lancer a look, and the Honda Fit is another intriguing alternative, combining
superior cargo space with a smaller footprint. In all likelihood, the Corolla
will maintain its status as the world's best-selling automotive nameplate --
but not because it's the world's best compact sedan.
Body
Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Toyota Corolla small
economy sedan is available in five trim levels -- base, LE, S, XLE and XRS.
Base Corollas come standard with 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a tilt
and telescoping steering wheel, power mirrors and an MP3/WMA-capable CD stereo
with an auxiliary audio jack. The LE gains power windows and locks, along with
body-color exterior mirrors. If you select the Corolla S, the LE's equipment
upgrades become extra-cost options, but you get 16-inch steel wheels, underbody
spoilers, foglights, sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an extra
pair of stereo speakers.
The Corolla XLE also gets the
16-inch wheels and an upgraded stereo while adding accoutrements like a sliding
center armrest, wood-grain interior trim, electroluminescent gauges, keyless
entry and variable intermittent wipers. The XRS forgoes some of the XLE's
standard conveniences, but it boasts a larger engine, 17-inch alloy wheels,
sport-tuned suspension and steering, a rear deck spoiler and chrome interior
trim. Cruise control is also standard on the XRS; it's optional on other
Corollas.
Heated mirrors are optional across
the Toyota Corolla line, while the S, XLE and XRS are eligible for a sunroof,
an upgraded JBL sound system (with satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity)
and a navigation system with real-time traffic. Leather upholstery is available
on the S and XRS only.
Powertrains
and Performance
Other than the XRS, all 2010
Toyota Corollas are motivated by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 132
hp and 128 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission driving the
front wheels is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. The manual
returns 26 mpg city/35 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined, according to the EPA,
while the automatic squeezes out 27 mpg city. We recorded a 10.1-second
0-60-mph time for the 1.8-liter four-cylinder and automatic, which is about
average for this class of engine.
The XRS muscles up with a
2.4-liter engine good for 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual
is standard and a five-speed automatic is optional. We recorded a 0-60 time of
9.1 seconds with this engine connected to the manual. Fuel economy drops
significantly, with a 22/30/25 rating for both transmissions.
Safety
The Corolla comes standard with
antilock brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side
curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Notably, only the XRS has
four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas have rear drums. In government crash
testing, the Corolla earned four out of five stars for its protection of
occupants in frontal collisions. Side impact testing resulted in a perfect five
stars for front occupants and four stars for rear passengers. In Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Corolla scored a top rating of
"Good" for its performance in frontal-offset and side impact
collisions.