The Toyota Corolla sedan continues on as a standout family car- as it has for generations, The current model is a cool, neat looking car that is extremely attractive with the black roof option- especially on our white painted tester. Smart gloss black painted18-inch wheels finished off the sporty, cheeky styled car. Interior wise, there is more room and features than before. The cabin design is smart, modern, and nicely finished. Entry, exit and good visibility is also a plus for families with kids and older buyers.
The Corolla is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine delivering 169 hp in conjunction with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It is tried and trusty unit and the transmission also has alternate drive mode selectability.
In terms of models and pricing, the 2024 Corolla has a starting price of $23,490 for the base model, which includes the Toyota Safety Sense suite of safety systems. The range continues with: LE, LE Premium and XLE trims. The entry-level L trim has heated front seats, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, power windows and locks, air conditioning, and heated door mirrors among others standard features.
The LE adds alloy wheels, tinted windows, automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, an eight-inch touchscreen, and two USB ports on the rear of the centre console. The top XLE Option pack as fitted to our tester included: XSE – Premium Colour with Black Roof, black finished alloy wheels, twin sports exhaust wireless Charging, Heated Steering Wheel, and Heated Front Seats. There is also: Blind Spot Monitor with RCTA, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, Heated Exterior Mirrors, 8-way Power Adjustable Drivers Seat, Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control, and an 8 -Speaker JBL Audio System. The black Mixed Fabric and SofTex Seats have an attractive red stripe design. Also added are Fog Lamps, 7-in. Colour TFT Multi Information Display plus Toyota Roadside Assistance Included 3 Years or 60,000 km. We tested the 2024 XSE version ($31,150) with the premium color black roof option at an extra $795. Total cost for our tester came to $33,838 including options, freight and PDI.
The interior features a neat cabin with well-designed ergonomics and controls. The driver’s seat is supportive, and its a typically comfortable, high- quality Toyota interior. Front seats are beautifully finished in a mix of fabric and leather and heated, but no heated rear seats are available. There’s decent enough rear legroom than the Corolla sedan, and the back seat is fairly roomy.
As with all Toyota’s safety features are good, with forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and following assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic. The XLE trim also adds low-speed reverse automatic braking.
On the road, with 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, the Corolla will not win the stoplight Grand Prix! with the CVT’s somewhat sluggish acceleration on hard starts as the engine exerts itself moving the weight of the AWD system and mass of this crossover. More power would not go amiss here! The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is not the quickest transmission , a common issue with the CVT format. Despite the underwhelming acceleration, the Corolla HB is a capable, comfortable cruiser once it gets going and performs well on the highway. Overall ride quality is good, and the Toyota Corolla HB has excellent handling, comfort, and composure. Actually, the sprightly handling is very enjoyable and the light point and shoot steering had me hankering back to the hot hatches of my youth! Fuel economy, is also good, with the AWD variant delivering a combined rating of 7.8L/100 km. To sum up, highlights include the good looks, impressive passenger and cargo space, versatile practicality, and fairly good fuel economy figures. Finally, and of course, there are the tried and trusted Corolla bones. A good buy all around and recommended.
2024 Toyota Corolla Sedan: Priced from – $31,150 Price as tested: $33,838 including options, freight and PDI.
More info at www.toyota.ca
