2006 Toyota Corolla

INTRODUCTION AND INTERIOR

I test drove the Toyota Corolla with the automatic transmission. It was one of the higher trim levels, but I don't remember which one. The first thing I noticed was that the interior was a little tighter than I expected; it felt no bigger inside than Toyota's tiny Yaris. The head and legroom adequately accommodated my 6 foot frame, but the whole interior felt small and cramped, fitting me as tightly as a spandex body suit (not that I would ever wear such a thing). O.K., it wasn't really that bad, but you have to admit the spandex reference made you chuckle.

This upper-level Corolla is slathered with caramel-colored faux wood with a brilliant glossy finish. The wood itself looks nice, but in such a little car, it comes across as a desperate and failed attempt to make an economy compact feel luxurious. The gauge cluster is nice, with large, easy-to-read gauges. The speedometer takes center stage, with the tachometer on the left and the oil temperature and fuel level in the area on the right.

STYLING

The present generation Toyota Corolla is the most stylish to date, at least in my opinion. That doesn't say much though, since the previous design for the Corolla was about as exciting as a pine box. The new Corolla has cat's eye headlights, distinctively shaped taillights, and moderately sleek lines. The optional ground effects kit makes the Corolla look sporty, but only mildly so.

That said, this is still kind of a dull car. There are attempts at style, but they seem contrived and cautious. I think the designers were trying harder not to offend the general public rather than to attract a specific audience.

ON THE ROAD

The most remarkable thing about the Toyota Corolla's road manners is that everything was totally unremarkable. The Chevrolet HHR has a cushy ride and relatively numb steering and braking responses. By contrast, the Honda Civic has sharp steering and braking responses, but doesn't have the softest ride. The Corolla seems to fall somewhere in the middle. It seems that again Toyota is trying harder not to turn off customers than to turn them on.

The throttle response is certainly sufficient, and compares respectably to similar cars. The sound of the engine is much like that of Scion xB I drove the same day, but somewhat quieter. The sound is deep and solid, and isn't bothersome, but it is definitely perceptible. I presume that the sound is quieter because the larger, more powerful engine produces enough torque for adequate acceleration at a lower, quieter rpm.

POWER AND EFFICIENCY

The 2006 Toyota Corolla has about the same power to weight ratio and much better gas mileage than most cars in its price class, making it a strong contender in the power and efficiency compromise. Exceptions include the cars with much less power and a one or two more city mpg (but actually one or two fewer highway mpg) such as Toyota's own Yaris and the Honda Fit. The Honda Civic has a marginally better power to weight ratio, but less gas mileage. The Suzuki Aerio and the Mazda Mazda3 have slightly better power to weight ratios than the Civic, but considerably less efficiency.

Although this judgment is a little subjective, I find the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic to be the winners in this area. However, the Corolla doesn't feel as roomy and isn't as exciting to look at or drive.

AWARDS

The Toyota Corolla has garnered a respectable set of accolades, including but not limited to the Lowest True Cost to Own award from Edmunds and the following from Intellichoice:

Smart Choice Highest Retained Value
Smart Choice Lowest Depreciation
Smart Choice Lowest Fuel
Smart Choice Lowest Ownership

THE VERDICT

There's no shame in driving a Toyota Corolla, especially the latest version. It has a middling power to weight ratio and excellent fuel mileage, along with great value retention. The interior could be more spacious, but it's workable, especially for a smaller driver. Although the driving experience doesn't offer anything particularly riveting, there aren't any real problems with it either. If you want a decent driving experience and outstanding fuel efficiency and resale value, the Toyota Corolla may be for you.