Toyota Corolla 1.8 Review

Another big success for Toyota. The Corolla sold here is the version sold in South-East Asia, not the ultra-complex European version; the car has an extremely strong brand image, and a superb reputation for reliability and service back-up.


The Corolla, with its conservative but well balanced proportions, appeals to less adventurous customers. However, details like the striking headlights, the pronounced nose and smart alloys give it a touch of class. The Corolla also gives the impression that it is larger than it actually is (always a good thing) and also hides its space-efficient, mildly cab-forward stance quite nicely.

A point in its favour is that it cannot be mistaken for anything other than a Toyota, which goes well with its strong badge. The Corolla is the longest car in its segment, but not surprisingly, also the lightest. One drawback in the tinny build, which does not feel up to the standards one expects from Toyota, and feels considerably poorer than its rivals.

The Corolla uses MacPherson struts in front, and a non-independent torsion-bar set-up at the rear; ride height has been cranked up considerably to guard against the Himalayan speedbreakers that dot our roads.

The Corolla's interiors are light, airy and pretty well equipped as well. The in-dash six-CD changer (on the top version) works well and the electronically controlled air-con is brilliant as well. Unfortunately, the interiors, although pleasant, don't have the rich feel of some rivals.

However, when it comes to seat comfort, the Corolla is the car to beat. It has a hugely comfortable back seat, an important consideration if you are chauffeur-driven and most owners of these cars will be. The front seats are large and supportive too and the overall interior space is extremely generous.


The Corolla has the best petrol engine in the class, and by a big margin. Toyota's variable valve timing motor or VVT-i has more teeth than a Great White shark, especially at the lofty end of the powerband. Throttle responses are immediate and the engine delivers its torque in an even manner and, most importantly, is as enthusiastic as a puppy. As a result, it is happy pottering around in traffic or burning up the track. Because it only has to pull a kerb weight of 1160kg, it squeezes out 100 kilometres in a class-topping 9.07 seconds! Squash the throttle for 21.8 seconds and you'll be doing 150kph, the motor snarling in anger towards the top of the powerband. Overtaking as a result is pure joy, the power delivered after a quick downshift sends you rocketing into the distance with a firm shove in the back. It is an audible engine though, and it gets boomy and raucous at high revs; plus, the manual gearbox is notchy.

The Corolla also has an automatic variant, which works well, particularly in the city, and is a boon for those who prefer to drive themselves. Fuel economy is good, with the manual variant returning 8.2kpl in the city and 13.6kpl on the highway; the auto, not surprisingly, isn't great, and gives only 7.7kpl in the city and 11.2kpl on the highway. Agile, ever-willing to turn and light-footed, the Corolla darts from corner to corner with a great deal of enthusiasm. The steering is quick and the Corolla follows the lead of the front wheels quite gamely. The raised, stiff suspension however means ride quality suffers a lot, particularly in the city. The only car riding on tube-type tyres in its class, the Corolla thuds through potholes and there is a fair amount of ‘torque steer’ on uneven surfaces. It’s a nervous highway car, and difficult to drive at the speeds it is capable of as it suffers from typical Japanese ‘lightness’ at high speeds.


The Corolla is an extremely easy car to like: with its blend of performance and fuel economy, pin-sharp handling and pleasant looks inside and out, it’s easy to see why it has sold so well. The Corolla isn’t without its faults though: it’s expensive, it doesn’t have the kind of build or interior quality that you would expect in this class, and the ride is quite choppy. Still, if the badge and the car’s strengths attract you, there’s the flawless reliability and Toyota’s rock-solid service back-up to help firm up your decision – it’s not the best car in the class, but it is very hard to go wrong with.