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Writer's Notes
Test Car: Toyota Corolla LE
Price: Under $15,000
Curb Appeal: New styling kicks it up a notch.
Asphalt Rating: A five horsepower increase from the previous generation yet still a gas sipper.
Real World: A lot of bang for small bucks.
Handling: Solid for a car of this class, although spring for the optional Anti-Lock Brakes.
Safety: Dual-stage front airbags with two-stage deployment, ISO FIX child restraints, side airbags optional
Comfort: Lots of comfort and convenience for the money and the optional leather is a pleasant surprise for the subcompact market.
While still an inexpensive subcompact, the redesigned Corolla has been transformed with new styling and an array of surprisingly luxurious features for a car priced under $15,000.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
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I squinted in the midday sun as I walked up the cobblestone street. The sunlight reflected harshly off the buildings whose age was obvious from the crumbling stucco and faded paint. The courtyard, with its benches nestled under shade trees, was a welcome respite from the stifling heat. I took a few swallows from my water bottle and almost believing that I was touring some historic Spanish village in the middle of summer. Appearances, however, can be deceiving.
Water in hand, I strode down the cobblestone street and slid into the driver's seat of my car. Within moments, I found my way through the maze of streets and emerged among the towering buildings that comprise Los Angeles.
My mode of transport wasn't time machine, but a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The old Spanish village wasn't real at all---it was one of the many full-size sets on the backlot at Universal Studios. In Hollywood, appearances can be deceiving. The same can be said for the redesigned Toyota Corolla I was piloting.
Introduced in the U.S, in 1968, the Corolla quickly established itself as a no-frills, reliable mode of transportation. While sales of the Corolla over its 35-year history have been record setting (25 million units in 142 countries), the Corolla's popularity stemmed from its inexpensive price tag for consumers who viewed owning a car as a way to get from Point A to Point B. This was not a car for people who were passionate about driving, plain and simple, so it would be easy to assume that the 2003 Corolla would be cast in the same mold. Yet, things are not what they seem.
A stiffer body lends itself to reduced body roll while the variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering improves response from the driver's inputs.
While still an inexpensive subcompact, the redesigned Corolla has been transformed with new styling and an array of surprisingly luxurious features for a car priced under $15,000. With styling cues from its older sibling the Camry, the Corolla is now longer, taller and wider. The windshield and rear window glass have been extended over nine inches at the belt line, increasing the visibility and updating the design to a more modern, upscale look. Overall, the car is five inches longer, giving its occupants increased head and leg room. Although the Corolla's width has increased only slightly, the door shape has been redesigned to increase side-to-side room without compromising side impact safety.
While the exterior changes increase the Corolla's overall size as well as make it heavier, Toyota has updated the engine from the previous generation Corolla to improve horsepower and torque. Introduced four years ago, the 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, twin-cam engine has been boosted five horses to 130 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 125 lb.-ft of torque at 4,200rpm. Whether equipped with the five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, the Corolla still sips fuel getting 32/40 mpg and 30/38 mpg respectively.
Handling has been improved significantly, with the Corolla performing nicely in the Hollywood Hills near University City. To eat up the bumps, the front suspension features MacPherson struts while torsion beams bring up the rear. A stiffer body lends itself to reduced body roll while the variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering improves response from the driver's inputs. Finally, standard 15-inch wheels and tires (up from 14-inch with the prior generation) and a disc/drum brake combination round out the handling improvements.
While these changes make the 2003 Toyota Corolla more than just a commuter car, what really stands out are the interior enhancements, which offer quite a few luxurious surprises for a car in this price range. The standard fabric upholstery has been upgraded and, for the first time leather is now offered as an option. Standard features on the base model, the Toyota Corolla CE, include air conditioning with clean air filtration, power mirrors, power steering, tilt steering wheel, audio system with CD player, outside temperature gauge and a 60/40 split folding rear seat.
The upscale Corolla LE adds all the standard amenities of the CE plus power windows and door locks, wood-look instrument panel, variable intermittent wipers, vertical seat height adjuster and remote keyless entry.
The Corolla S, the sporty model, has several subtle styling differences, including smoked headlamps, front and rear underbody spoilers, side rocker panels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, a unique look instruments and interior chrome accents.
As the tires of the Corolla rolled back onto the cobblestone streets of Universal's backlot, I was once again transported to that magical old world where things are not necessarily what they appear to be. My perception of the new Corolla, however, had permanently changed.
---Story by Tara Baukus Mello
© 2002, Tara Baukus Mello, All Rights Reserved.
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