The 2014 Toyota Corolla Very Good
Of course, enthusiasts remember a time when the Corolla was once fun and semi-destructible like the rear-drive TE-37, or the Panda-liveried AE86 of Initial-D. With sharp creases and a front fascia borrowed from Emperor Zurg, the new Corolla also sports LED lighting across the board. Its also bigger than before; inside, theres three inches of extra legroom, and eight-airbags as standard, as the Law of Model Bloat demands.
No surprises underhood, with a bullet-proof 1.8-liter four-banger pumping out a tuned-for-efficiency 132 hp, and a new CVT transmission to help eke out extra distance from each gallon of fuel (base models still get the antediluvian 4-speed automatic, which debuted during the reign of Ramses II). In the meantime, its lightweight, sturdy, reliable, gas-sippin business-as-usual with fancy new duds.
Toyota says this results in a 5 percent improvement in fuel economy and engine output, and accounts for the LE Eco models 140 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque, up from the L, LE, and S models 132-hp rating, and nearly matching maximum torque, which is achieved at lower rpm on the LE Eco.
The LE Eco model is aimed squarely at other hypermiling compacts such as the Ford Focus SFE and Chevrolet Cruze Eco, and Toyota estimates that fuel economy will be between 40 and 45 mpg.
Base 2014 Corolla L models will be offered with either a carryover four-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, which is also an option on S models. The 2014 Corolla will be the first Toyota model to offer a pulley-style CVT in North America--its CVTi-S unit ("i" standing for intelligent, and the "S" standing for shift) offered on LE, S, and LE Eco models.
