The car is supplied with an ignition key, which has a built-in chip for communication with the immobilizer, as well as three buttons on the handle. Two buttons control the door locks; at the same time, they also activate and deactivate the security alarm; the third unlocks the trunk separately from the doors.
Tin Lizzie, as the Ford T was called at one time, was long the best-selling car in the world. Then the legendary Volkswagen Beetle took over the baton. But it was also pushed forward by another Ford model - the F-series pickup. However, now the pickup has also taken second place. The Guinness Book of Records has named the best-selling car in the world - the Toyota Corolla. Why is this car so loved all over the world?
By and large, the current Corolla will soon also become history - in a couple of months sales of a new generation, already the eleventh, will start! But no one has canceled the secondary market, so this smaller copy of the “magpie” will be in demand and relevant for many years to come.
What does “magpie” have to do with it? Yes, despite the fact that the design of the Corolla is very much reminiscent of the Camry 40, except that it is reduced in size. Whether it’s beautiful or not is a matter of taste, which, as you know, is different for everyone. But no matter how hard Toyota designers tried, they could not move away from the main feature of the appearance of all Toyotas - the Corolla is faceless. I turned away from her and forgot what she looked like. Although you won’t completely forget, of course, because Camry 40 is on every corner. I looked at it and remembered Corolla, or maybe this is such a marketing ploy? May be. But it is unlikely that he brought a record listed in the Guinness Book.
— The rear of the tenth generation Toyota Corolla from the very beginning of production was not the strongest in terms of design. After restyling, the bumper began to look better, but the optics did not, as if from a Chinese car
The interior does not evoke a storm of emotions. Everything is simple, no frills. However, the quality of materials and assembly is not satisfactory. Made carefully, without visible flaws, although there are enough miscalculations. At night, the instrument lights are too bright. It would seem, what's wrong with that? I turned the adjustment wheel and adjusted the desired brightness. This is done in everyone, but not in Corolla, where, in order to turn off the brightness, you need to go to the menu, select the desired submenu... in general, a lot of unnecessary movements.
Attention in the cabin is attracted by the steering wheel with a cut-off rim and orange instruments.
The instrument panel is attractive and at the same time quite informative.
Under the ceiling is an eyeglass case designed for a pair of glasses
The multimedia system has only a small monochrome screen and is rather poor in terms of information
We liked the climate control: simple and clear
The front seats are equipped with dual-mode heating
Another thing I didn't like were the seats. Very amorphous, without lateral support, with a short pillow - it’s uncomfortable to sit. And it’s not clear why the passenger airbag light is constantly on. Why is it always on fire?
The radio is very simple, without any additional functions: a radio and a disc player. There is no large information display, which has now become common even for Korean-made cars.
Despite the fact that the automatic transmission has only 4 stages, it is very convenient to control the traction
The steering wheel does not have any keys on the spokes. This is the prerogative of the most expensive versions
The joystick for electrically adjustable mirrors is located to the left of the steering wheel
There is a secret drawer under the driver's left arm, although not too large.
The special feature of this car is two glove compartments. Above the main one there is a second small compartment
At the base of the central panel there is a cigarette lighter and audio inputs.
The box between the front seats is very simple and small in size
I went out and forgot
The interior of the car is completely forgettable; a couple of days after the test, the only things I could remember were the steering wheel truncated at the bottom and the instrument panel with orange backlight.
But it’s not just the lack of bright details; practically nothing in this car irritates or interferes. And this is worth a lot. But if you don’t pay attention to these little things, then everything else is very good. The oddly shaped steering wheel is comfortable, the instruments are easy to read, and the air conditioning system works correctly, despite the lack of an automatic mode.
The front seats are not ergonomically ideal, but you wouldn’t expect anything more from such a car.
The back seat is not too spacious, but the floor is flat
The driver's seat has six adjustments: height, backrest angle and distance to the steering wheel
Rear passengers only have an ashtray and two cup holders in the folding armrest.
Discount for winter
No, don’t rejoice in advance, we’re not talking about reducing prices for the new Corolla on the eve of the New Year. It’s just that before we talk further about this car, we must make a reservation: for the test it was received “shod” in winter studded Yokohama Advan tires. Of course, the clicking of spikes on the asphalt was clearly audible in the cabin, especially in the second row of seats. But it's not only that.
On the first free section of the highway (in our case, the Moscow Ring Road), it became obvious that the car was not very stable on course. Moreover, not only in those places where there are noticeable ruts, but also on quite even strips. We had to watch the direction of movement very, very carefully - the car, as we remember, reacts sharply to the “steering wheel”... We also had to forget about active steering during overtaking for a while: when picking up speed, move as straight as possible and with a good margin of distance from the overtaken.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the car is driving aggressively. As soon as you press the gas pedal, he’s just eager to go into battle! And the variator with seven (!!) virtual “steps” further warms up the atmosphere. Yes, yes, here it is a variator, and not an “automatic”, although it may seem the latter. For some, I personally didn’t hear the traditional sound of a CVT transmission. He's not there, there's silence on the air. But there are sports and manual modes. And, what should be especially emphasized, the sports mode does not cancel the manual one, but goes well with it! If you want, go through the gears manually in D mode, or in S mode. And the sport mode is not just for show, believe me. If in “drive” the car accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in about 7 seconds, then in “sport” it drops a whole second. That's it! Acceleration from zero to “hundreds,” by the way, according to the manufacturer is 10.2 seconds – but in reality it seems that the car is more dynamic.
If you still try and maneuver more sharply, in a “hooligan” manner, you will notice that in fast turns the car “breaks down” and squeals with tires, as if the stabilization system is late. The feeling, frankly speaking, is not pleasant. In addition to the stall, you can also clearly feel the tires “breaking”, although they do not seem to be distinguished by the softness of the sidewalls. And the profile is not that high - only 55 percent (standard tire size - 205/55R16).
On the Russian market, the new Toyota Corolla is offered in eight trim levels at the following prices: “Standard” - from 659 thousand rubles, “Classic” - from 699 thousand rubles, “Classic Plus” - from 754 thousand rubles, “Comfort” - from 781 thousand rubles, “Comfort Plus” - from 843 thousand rubles, “Elegance” - from 875 thousand rubles, “Prestige” - from 938 thousand rubles, “Prestige Plus” - from 1 million 26 thousand rubles. Engines are gasoline, with a displacement of 1.33 liters (99 hp), 1.6 liters (122 hp) and 1.8 liters (140 hp). Transmissions are a six-speed manual or a CVT with seven virtual steps (only in pairs with 1.6- and 1.8-liter engines).
So, to the features of winter “shoes” it is necessary to add suspension settings, designed in this car for calm movement in space, and not for aggressive cutting through it. What do we mean by pendants? At the front there are MacPherson struts, at the rear there is a torsion beam (not even a multi-link). And the ground clearance, to “please” Russian roads, has been increased by 20 mm (up to 150 mm). As they say - nothing special. The external sportiness of the body, its sharp outlines hide underneath, in general, a “burgher” filling - a chassis designed for respectable citizens. And for me personally, the Corolla is a stark contrast to the Lexus CT 200h. Moreover, if the premium hatchback, which had a well-tuned chassis, lacked “fiery” dynamics, then with the family sedan everything is exactly the opposite: there are more than enough speakers, the CVT is quite “sporty”, but the chassis seems not from here.
To be honest, I even thought about this. It’s good that it’s autumn now, and it’s relatively dry. The asphalt is cold, but not frozen, there is no ice crust or snowfall. But any day now, winter will fall like snow - what then? Even well-cleaned asphalt is slippery in winter - this is an axiom. Will it be easy for owners, especially beginners, to cope with the harsh character of the 1.8-liter Corolla? For such drivers, I would recommend giving preference to models with 1.6 liter engines (122 hp), or even with a 1.33 liter engine, derated (for tax purposes) from 101 to 99 hp. With. As they say, the quieter you go, the longer you will...
To be fair, it must be said that the stabilization system on this car, although it has its own characteristics, still works. I checked this far outside the city, where we can still find both primers and gravel without any problems. The car coped well with potholes; breaking through the suspension turned out to be very problematic (in fact, it never came to that). And the stabilization system actively intervened in the process of cornering at high speed, holding the car securely. The attempt to turn it off actually... failed. After pressing the shutdown button, a corresponding warning would light up on the instrument panel, but as soon as the speed exceeded a certain threshold, the indicator would go out. Apparently, the engineers calculated this: if you need to get out of the snow or mud “captivity”, a low speed at which the system will be turned off is sufficient. And above - there is no need to indulge, for the sake of a dose of adrenaline, endangering yourself and your passengers.
Ideal company car
It's easiest to imagine the Toyota Corolla as a company car.
It has everything to feel quite comfortable when moving from point A to point B: comfort, the necessary amount of space, cup holders, ashtrays and a well-functioning air conditioning system. And you’re not allowed to do more at work. The rear sofa is spacious. There is a fold-down armrest in the center, which contains two cup holders. There are no more amenities for rear passengers. By the way, there is no central tunnel at the feet of those sitting in the back, so three passengers will not feel cramped.
The rear seat backs fold down to increase luggage capacity. But even without this, its useful volume is large.
The trunk in the Corolla is quite large, 450 liters
In addition, the rear seat backrest can be folded down to transport long items.
The right wall has a small tray for small items
There is a storage area under the floor, not the best solution for our conditions.
The ceiling in the far part of the trunk is completely devoid of upholstery
The Japanese saved
The fact that the trunk can only be opened with a key or a lever from inside the car can be attributed to concerns about safety.
They say that Corolla is a car for developing countries, and in such countries, at an intersection, something valuable can easily be pulled out of the trunk. But the lack of interior handles and upholstery in some places can only be explained by a desire to save money. In general, we can say this about the interior: very solid, high quality, but without any special features. I got out of the car and forgot what I saw inside.
Driving a Corolla also does not cause much delight, as well as disappointment. The car drives well. The 1.6 liter engine has enough power for the Corolla to accelerate confidently and quickly. I really liked the steering. On the steering wheel you can feel a distinct, perhaps even natural, reactive effort. The steering wheel is so transparent that for a long time I could not believe that the mechanism had an electric booster and not hydraulics. After all, people know how to do things when necessary! So why is the electric power steering on other tested cars, including this brand, so incomprehensible?
The Corolla's handling is not for active driving. The car carries out all the driver’s commands without unnecessary initiative. It turns exactly as much as the steering wheel is turned, and there are no unnecessary movements in the form of skidding or drifting - everything is safe, albeit with noticeable rolls on turns. And what’s interesting is that the Corolla does not have a stabilization system. Probably, with such settings of the steering and chassis there is no need for it. And the car doesn’t make you want to press the gas pedal all the way down in order to squeal along the road.
The suspension is hard. The car shakes noticeably, even when driving on relatively smooth streets. And on Kapshagayk at a speed of 70-90 km/h the Corolla literally jumps along the road. But as the speed increases, the suspension begins to work more delicately, and when the speedometer needle crosses the 100 km/h mark, the car becomes quite comfortable. An undeniable plus of the suspension is its enviable energy intensity. To break through the pillars to the bump stops, you have to try hard!
Front optics - it is very similar to the Corolla’s older sister Camry V40
And the rear is one of the most unfortunate elements in this car, in our opinion.
Before restyling, the rear reflectors had a funny round shape
The Terra package offers only iron wheels with hubcaps
"I want to be Lexus"
If the previous model looked like an inconspicuous “gray mouse” in traffic, then the same cannot be said about the new one. This is the very brightness, elegance, and boldness of every line. Both generations are similar to the older Camry model - but how differently this similarity is expressed! The tenth model borrows the general spirit of the business sedan, and the eleventh model boldly adopts some of its appearance features. The taillights, for example, are one in the same... Moreover, the “little sister” turns out to be even more proportional, calibrated, devoid of flashiness and pretentiousness - every line, every detail is in its place. The image turned out to be very modern, in the spirit of our fast-paced times - but at the same time unmistakably recognizable. The similarities with the previous generation are not too noticeable, but maybe that’s for the better?
The most interesting thing is that the body design here was carefully crafted not for the sake of attractiveness alone. Take a close look at the photo showing the open hood. And now – on the silhouette of the car as a whole. Would you say that he literally has a pointed ship’s “nose”? No. But in fact, the draftsmen managed to simultaneously give the body such an aerodynamic outline and... hide it. It turned out to be both original and functional.
I just want to take a quick look inside the body - has the interior changed? Yes, he didn’t just change - he became completely different! The pronounced asymmetry of the front panel reminded me of the Lexus CT200h. This panel is interesting to look at and study, both visually and tactilely. Fashionable glossy inserts are successfully combined with classic plastic, which is almost universally soft. The top of the dashboard is as smooth as a table - I like it! It is convenient to put an atlas or map here, or place some device, for example, a radar detector, on this surface.
Compared to the previous generation, the car has become 80 mm longer, 15 mm wider and 5 mm lower. The wheelbase has increased by 100 mm (to 2700 mm), and the curb weight has decreased from 1300 kg to 1260 kg.
Perhaps the dashboard will seem too massive to some. There is such a thing. This massiveness is felt more strongly if you lower the driver's seat to the floor (it is, of course, height adjustable). So, when the seat is in the lower position, the dashboard really begins to hang massively over the knees and impair visibility through the windshield. In general, the lower position of the driver's seat is not the most comfortable. It is better to lift it with a few movements of the lever. Even tall people will not have to worry about being close to the ceiling. Despite the fact that the car is low in appearance, its interior has a significant height.
Is the blue color of the backlighting of instruments and controls controversial? Why exactly? Maybe because the Chinese were among the first to use this color in lighting? But later some Korean cars, and even European ones, had blue devices, and they looked good everywhere. Why don't the Japanese try it too? The main thing is that all the design is in the same style. This is exactly the case in the eleventh Corolla.
The multimedia system screen is also blue most of the time (that is, in the modes of microclimate settings in the cabin, as well as audio). But the same screen can also be in color - in the mode of displaying images from the rear view camera. This picture, by the way, is of remarkable quality. With the help of virtual guides, it seems that the car can be parked even in the eye of a needle, and parking sensors (front and rear) will not allow you to make a mistake.
The seats in our version are combined: leatherette plus fabric with a rough texture. Lateral support looks better than it holds the body, but lumbar support does the opposite. It’s as if there is no adjustment (even more so), but with your back you can clearly feel the dense cushion, located in the most convenient way. You can spend many hours tirelessly in such a chair. All controls and instruments are at your fingertips, you don’t need to reach for anything or get used to anything. The functions of the buttons on the steering wheel are intuitive. One of them can “scroll through” the content on the display of the on-board computer, nestled between the scales of the main instruments. This device resembles the Volkswagen one, but contains less information. However, basic data is available to the driver, including average fuel consumption.
An ordinary miracle
The body of the Corolla is not at all full of any interesting details.
The manufacturer designed the car in a corporate style and that was it. A simple car that easily gets lost in the crowd and doesn’t stand out in anything special. Except that after the restyling it became more pleasant to look at her face, well, it’s worth taking off my hat for the fact that this image was loved all over the world by Small and Noise. Only during sharp acceleration does the engine roar like an airplane. But in normal modes, nothing prevents you from listening to music and talking with passengers.
— Corolla feels good on the road - this is an undeniable plus for a car of this class
Toyota accelerates well, but obviously, as they say, not at full power. The outdated hydromechanical automatic machine is thoughtful. Sometimes it freezes when trying to figure out what to turn on at the moment, and by modern standards there are few steps in it - only 4. The automatic does not have a manual mode; you can only limit the range of gears used.
— The red color of the car noticeably enlivens it both in the city and in nature. It’s a pity that our consumers more often choose white or silver metallic - the Corolla doesn’t stand out at all in such paints
Let's summarize
Toyota Corolla can be considered a very successful purchase for those who value reliability and safety. Statistics show that this car rarely breaks down. And the crash test scores speak for themselves. Perhaps this is the main reason why the car received record-breaking status. But for a person who is used to active driving, Corolla is not suitable. She's too boring. But now all this is becoming a thing of the past. Very soon the world will see the new Corolla. And then we’ll see in which direction it developed: drive or comfort?
Did not like:
- intelligible steering Only a careful study of the car’s design convinced me that the Corolla still has electric power steering, and not conventional hydraulics. Although the behavior looks like it is power steering.
- energy intensity of the suspension Despite the fact that the suspension is sensitive, it has an enviable energy intensity. We have to try hard to break through the suspension on our roads.
- high-quality headlights The headlights are so excellent that at first I thought they were xenon. But no, it's halogen. However, it shines beautifully!
- front seats The cushion is short, there is practically no lateral support. My back starts to get tired after an hour of driving.
- modest equipment Compared to its South Korean classmates, the Corolla is poor. The more expensive versions, of course, are filled with stuffing, but you don’t want to pay more.
- high price There is nothing outstanding in the Corolla, it is just a good car, but based on all the parameters it should cost less. But, apparently, you have to pay for the brand.
— The sedan has good ground clearance
View from the outside
To be honest, I haven’t liked Toyota cars for several years now. The beginning of this antipathy began when I purchased my first car, freshly imported and right-hand drive. The prices for Toyota SUVs were too high, so I had to settle for an all-wheel drive Mitsubishi. The dislike was aggravated by numerous situations with the repair of used cars (mine and my friends), and Toyotas were a minority among them. I can’t say that Toyotas don’t break down, but restoring them was often easier and cheaper than all other cars. And the final nail in the coffin of my love for this brand was its current popularity. I can’t love cars, of which there are a hundred in every yard. I don’t want a repeat of Soviet times, when all houses had the same furniture and the same dishes.
Something like these thoughts were floating around in my head when I drove the test Toyota Corolla sedan. Below me is a moderately comfortable chair, in my hands is a steering wheel with a cut chord at the bottom of the rim. Before your eyes are nice instruments with orange backlighting, showing everything you need, but nothing more. Somewhere in the depths a middle-aged 1.6-liter engine and an archaic 4-speed automatic transmission are working. There are no special delights, but I can’t say a bad word either. Why do our compatriots buy 150 of these cars a month, half of which are in Almaty?
What arguments make people choose this not the most modern, not the cheapest and not the prettiest car? Perhaps this is exactly what prevented me from ever loving this brand. They are expensive, but they are slowly losing value. They are simple and archaic, but reliable and inexpensive to maintain. There are a lot of them in Kazakhstan, which means there will never be problems with spare parts and maintenance, and it’s not difficult to resell a Toyota. In a word, an excellent choice for those who treat their four-wheeled friend as a household appliance. But while a car is not only a means of transportation for me, I will not be able to fall in love with this brand. Although there is something in this approach, and the Corolla as a whole is a good car with a balanced set of driving and everyday characteristics.
Pavel Kim
Personal car Renault Duster.
A fan of cars for an active lifestyle.
Potential bestseller
And yet, the few days spent in “left me with generally pleasant memories. There is something in this car that pleases both the eye and the soul. The previous generation car, it seemed to me, could have been purchased based solely on reason. It’s not difficult to “vote” for the current one with your heart. In any case, if I were faced with the choice of a model in this size and price class, I would not hesitate to add the new Corolla to the list of contenders for my finances.
Although it wouldn't hurt to think about it. For example, the fact that in our country the Corolla in top trim levels is promoted as a replacement for the Avensis model. And this is a pity. In my opinion, there is no replacement - the Corolla lacks “class”. On cars of this price level it has long been considered nonsense to have no backlighting for the power windows and central locking keys, but in the Corolla it’s like a family trait. Korean classmates have long been oriented in space using standard navigation systems, and the top-end Corolla, when the corresponding button is pressed, displays the inscription: “Service unavailable.” Great, but why the button then? As it became known, it is assumed that the car owner will connect his smartphone to the multimedia system. But without a multimedia system, on the smartphone itself, can’t you do the same?
Be that as it may, you can choose the new Corolla with your heart. But the mind still has to work on calculation. The basic version of the car is estimated at 659 thousand rubles, but it will be an almost “empty” car. The maximum configuration “Prestige Plus” will cost 1.026 million rubles - wow! True, there are eight fixed configurations to choose from, each of which can be supplemented with options if desired. Moreover, I must say that I did not find a single “extra” option in the top version and would not give up anything.
What I would add is grippy low-profile tires on wheels of increased diameter.
Perhaps such a car may seem too rigid to some, but for me, this would be a reasonable price to pay for better directional stability on the highway. Author Andrey Ladygin, columnist of the portal “MotorPage” Edition MotorPage.Ru Photo photo by the author
Did not like:
- balanced suspension The suspension on the Corolla is not too stiff and very energy-intensive, which is what we need for our roads.
- high-torque 1.6-liter engine has good traction throughout the entire rev range.
- simple and proven design What is needed is simple, complex is not needed - this is about the Toyota Corolla. A simple engine with distributed injection, a 4-speed automatic transmission and a minimum of electronic systems.
- high price For $27,000 you can buy more modern and better equipped Korean cars, or even take a closer look at a crossover.
- tightness in the back row The vast majority of competitors are ready to provide much more space in the back seat.
- inconvenient deceleration control The brake pedal is too soft, it is quite difficult to calculate the braking distance, and you have to push it too deeply for normal deceleration.
View from the outside
For me, Corolla should be like chicken in a store. Low-calorie, easy-to-cook meat that everyone eats. At the same time, despite the simplicity and mass production of the product, the dishes can be delicious. There is something in common with this car.
Over the past years, the model has received a restyling operation: the headlights have been added, the bumper has changed. Cute! Only the rear lights began to resemble Chinese cars even more (who is stealing whose design?) But in general, the hen was a white laying hen, and remains so - the body lacks diversity, except that the color of the test car is rare - red.
I got behind the wheel after Karimov and immediately noticed that my legs could barely squeeze between the steering wheel and the seat cushion - for good reason, it means it was cut off from below. Remembering that Uncle Zhenya had grumbled something about the landing, he began to tweak the settings of the seats and steering wheel. I don’t know what didn’t suit him there, but I was accommodated well - just right for city skating. In addition, when I lowered the pillow lower, access to the steering wheel was no longer obstructed.
I rode with joy. This is not easy to believe, because this is an ordinary hard-working sedan, and not a driving BMW. The pleasure was brought by the lightness and ease. These are the feelings when I just drove and drove. The world was passing by outside the windows, cool and very cool cars were overtaking me, and I was just happily driving around in the Corolla. The sedan sits well on the road, responds adequately to pressure on the gas, steers well and passes tram tracks painlessly. The ride quality elevated the overall rating of this car in my eyes.
I also liked the quality. The interior, of course, is made of budget materials, and the steering wheel in the Terra+ version is not even covered with anything, but at the same time everything is assembled and made perfectly. Only the trim on the inside of the trunk lid spoiled the opinion - the work is clumsy, plus there is no handle - you have to paw at the outside of the door.
It turns out that the Corolla model is such a good chicken: it’s tasty, and the recipe for preparing it at the factory was clearly successful. In addition, before getting to the table, she manages to lay golden eggs for the entire concern. The massive love for the Corolla by both private owners and corporations is 100% justified. But I would say this: a little expensive for chicken, although tasty.
Timur Enikeev
Personal car Subaru Legacy Outback.
A fan of classic rallying and rear-wheel drive.
Review of Toyota Corolla 1.6 (2011)
Good day!
After searching the site a little, I was surprised that no one had written reviews about the 2011 Corolla cars. In advance, I apologize to all readers for all sorts of spelling mistakes and “mistakes” in the review below. I address this review to people who are deciding on the choice of car at the stage of transition from the domestic automobile industry to foreign cars.
For 3 years I owned a VAZ 21099, produced in 1997, and was “fabulously” happy with my first car in my life. At the time of purchase (spring 2007), my Nine had 40,000 km on it, which made me happy to own a relatively “fresh” car, despite its age. But constant minor breakdowns and running around for spare parts began to seriously bother me, which made me think about changing the car.
In June 2011, I decided to change my car and toured local car dealers, opting exclusively for foreign cars - I traveled to Russian cars, let's try foreign cars. I decided to take a car of the Renault Logan - Hyundai Solaris - Volkswagen Polo sedan class.
My state following the detour was difficult to describe; I experienced a mixed feeling between annoyance and hopelessness. Inside, Renault was annoyed with the appearance of the car - it’s rather scanty and the ergonomics are quite specific, and in some ways my snow-white Nine looks more elegant than Logan; in the Hyundai showroom, I was confused by the origin of the car's engine - China, and the waiting time for the car for up to six months, without hope of getting the car in the configuration and color that I wanted; The Volkswagen Polo sedan immediately scared me away with a queue of 700 cars and a wait of 1.5 years. Rather than in our age of science and technology, you need to stand in line and wait for “handouts” from dealers - take what you have.
After some thought, I decided to stop by the Toyota Lipetsk showroom. Here I was offered several Corolla options in the elegance and prestige configuration at prices beyond my wallet. “What the hell,” I swore, “I don’t need a prestigious car, give me a normal car with a normal configuration (comfort), and put your rear view cameras and so on in... yes, that’s where it is.”
Having cooled down a little, I decided to look around and think about my situation: an attentive and sensitive attitude towards clients, free access to the Internet, cars seemed to be available... I decided to sit down at the computer carefully offered by the consultant, on the Internet I found the phone numbers of dealers in the regions closest to Lipetsk - Tula and Voronezh. Without leaving the showroom I called: in Tula an hour ago they sold a black car in the Comfort + manual configuration, and in Voronezh they have it in stock, only not black, as I wanted, but gray, and with an automatic, instead of the desired manual. I decided to stop by and have a look.
What happened next was like a fairy tale: I came, I saw, I bought. But the fact that I will have to travel from Voronezh to Lipetsk “on a Japanese horse unknown to me” is quite seriously confusing. A few calls to my friends - the proud owners of a 2009 Corolla - allayed my fears.
I'll tell you my first impressions after purchasing the car:
— gas: the car’s reaction to pressing the pedal is a little delayed, you can really feel the moment of “thoughtfulness” of the machine at the command to accelerate. During operation, I came to the conclusion that the automatic could have been equipped with a 5-speed one, sometimes there is a shortage of another stage;
— brakes: deceleration and sharp braking are excellent, the tandem of front and rear disc brakes is beyond praise;
— steering: the power steering works quite predictably, the control is clear and familiar, as if you had already driven this car;
— visibility: the side mirrors are quite “big-eyed”, I especially liked the refraction of the left mirror, reducing the blind spot, but the visibility of the interior rear view mirror leaves much to be desired. Subsequently, you get used to this and find your bearings quite well, compensating for the deficiency with side mirrors;
— interior: I really liked the front seats with developed lateral support, the number of adjustments is quite large, and the adjustment process itself is quite intuitive and understandable. The rear seats are rated by my family as moderately comfortable, but on long trips they require a break - stops;
— air conditioning: it does its job very well, there are no complaints about its operation or control;
— ergonomics of the dashboard: there are no complaints, everything is in its place, but the control levers for the on-board computer are a little annoying — I expected more informative controls;
— appearance: Super! Inspires respect and increases your status. The latest restyling was clearly beneficial. On the highway, many people give way to me in the left lane, as soon as they see it in the rearview mirror - they think it’s a Camry flying. One guy in the parking lot didn't even believe it was a Corolla until he read it in the back;
— 1.6 VVTi engine: loves high revs, pulls well at low speeds too. In tandem with a manual it will be more interesting than with an automatic in terms of dynamics. On the highway at 3000 rpm I’m driving 120 km/h - this is a comfortable ride without pressure on the ears, but at 4000 and a speed of 150 km/h you can already hear the roar of the engine quite clearly (here it would be nice to tuck in the sixth gear on the mechanics);
— sound insulation: I rate it as “satisfactory”, in the area of the wheel arches one can say “none”, in the rain you can hear the water hitting the protection quite loudly, which I really want to muffle. Sometimes, when driving next to a roaring truck, you get the feeling of an “unclosed door” or an unraised window; I’ve caught myself doing this more than once;
— suspension: quite comfortable, smoothing out unevenness at a high level. I was very pleased with the high ground clearance, I’m not afraid to climb onto a curb with my take-out. On primer - no problem;
— trunk: I never felt a lack of volume, although I managed to travel with my wife and 2 children to Moscow and Tula with a bunch of trunks and a stroller.
Did not like:
- ease of movement The car is responsive, maneuverable, and stands confidently on the road.
- beautiful instrument panel I remembered it when I first met it and still like it to this day.
- Build quality Despite the budget materials, there is nothing to complain about.
- absence of a lock release button on the trunk lid. You can open the trunk either from the passenger compartment or with the key. In addition, there is no handle with which to slam the lid
- high price of $26,800 and mediocre equipment/design - there is no balance.
Milestones of history
1966 - Toyota Corolla first generation
1970 - Toyota Corolla second generation
1974 - Toyota Corolla third generation
1979 - Toyota Corolla fourth generation
1995 - Eighth generation Toyota Corolla
2001 - ninth generation Toyota Corolla
2006 - Toyota Corolla tenth generation
2010 - Tenth generation Toyota Corolla (restyling)
2013 - Eleventh generation Toyota Corolla
1983 - Fifth generation Toyota Corolla
1987 - sixth generation Toyota Corolla
1991 - Seventh generation Toyota Corolla
1999 - Eighth generation Toyota Corolla (restyling)
The first Toyota Corolla was introduced in Japan in October 1966. At that time, the Corolla was a small, only 3,850 mm long, rear-wheel drive two-door sedan. The model was equipped with a 1.1 liter engine with a power of 60 hp. Six months later, a 4-door sedan and a 3-door station wagon appeared.
The second generation Toyota Corolla appeared in 1970. The car has grown a little. As an option, I received a two-speed automatic transmission and purchased a larger engine (1.6 liters with power from 75 to 102 hp).
The third generation Toyota Corolla appeared in 1974. The third Corolla enjoyed particular success in the United States, where, due to the outbreak of the fuel crisis, people began to buy small cars.
The debut of the fourth generation Toyota Corolla took place in April 1979. And in May 1983, the first front-wheel drive Toyota Corolla was introduced. This is already the fifth generation.
The date of appearance of the sixth generation is May 1987. In the same year, all-wheel drive modifications of the Corolla appeared for the first time. The sixth Corolla was produced, like the previous two, for 4 years, after which the seventh generation of the model entered the market in June 1991. But it lasted only 4 years on the assembly line - in 1995, the eighth version of the Toyota Corolla debuted. In 1999, the model was restyled, and in 2001, sales of the ninth generation Toyota Corolla started.
The premiere of the tenth generation Toyota Corolla took place in December 2006. The model lost its hatchback version - it received its own name Auris and became an independent model.
In 2009, the model was modernized: engineers replaced the robotic gearbox with a conventional hydromechanical automatic transmission. In 2010, the appearance of the car was updated.
In the coming months, the world will see a new, eleventh generation of Toyota Corolla.
Long test drive of Toyota Corolla: part one
For a Russian, Turkey is not only watered-down beer in a hotel, beaches covered in cigarette butts, and 20 packages of Turkish delight for the price of one. The Turks supply cars to Russia. And not just any kind, but, for example, one of the most popular C-class sedans in the world. This is the 11th generation Toyota Corolla.
This Corolla has been brought to us for more than two years. During this time, the Russian car market managed to do a lot: reach a peak in sales, and then collapse to a ten-year low, where it remains now. But Corolla still continues to sell well, although it cedes leadership to the RAV4 crossover.
One of the secrets of the model’s success is very simple: recently Toyota Corolla was once again named
a car that loses the least in value among other popular golf-class models. And not just anywhere, but here, in Russia.
Three years after leaving the assembly line and being sold, the Corolla is cheaper on average by only 17%.
The choice of such a sedan looks especially advantageous at a time when the market - both new and used cars - is terribly feverish. Yes, it's like a gold bar! Yes, world prices for this noble metal, of course, can change, but not as sharply as for stocks or oil. With these thoughts, I sat behind the wheel of the relatively new Corolla for the first time in the hope of understanding what else it can do other than prevent blood from flying down the drain and dissolving in the darkness of the economic crisis.
We can say for sure that the 11th generation of Corolla is the most beautiful. Of course, if such adjectives are generally appropriate to use in relation to Japanese cars. Beautiful, and not only in comparison with past generations, but also with other masterpieces of utilitarianism of the Japanese automobile industry.
The only, essentially, aesthetic flaw of the sedan is the 15th radius of the standard wheels, which are disproportionately small relative to the body. Otherwise, it looks stunning, even though it was updated externally in 2012. Your friends will definitely fall in love with it and forget to ask at what interest rate they took out the loan.
However, the design refinements created problems with visibility for the driver. Wide and littered front pillars can hide not only the cyclist, but also the minibus from his eyes. Or take the front bumper. Taking into account the fact that engineers lowered this generation of the sedan by 5 mm, the front overhang is so close to the asphalt that perpendicular parking to a curb of any existing height ends in scratches and chips if you are careless. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to me.
Having driven a lot of other models from the manufacturer, I didn’t really expect this sedan to be comfortable. In general, I can admit that I was mistaken.
Let's say, despite the fact that the climate control and multimedia units here, as, for example, in the RAV4, are shifted towards the front passenger, the driver can confidently reach them, despite the fact that in the mentioned crossover this turns out to be impossible. The seats are comfortable, but there was not enough cushion under the lower back - you can’t get this in any of the trim levels. The rest (armrests, cup holders, USB ports) is placed wisely.
There are, of course, oddities here. For example, watches and where designer-engineers placed them. It turns out that they met the consumer halfway: the Americans were unhappy that passengers could not see the dial from the back seat. Why this device is needed in this form in a modern car, there is no need to say.
A blow to the head of the new owner (or rather, to his ears) is the rattling plastic collected by the Turks. And most importantly, he looks deceptively decent! But it crackles here and there.
In our case, the 1.6 liter naturally aspirated engine is responsible for the “drive”. It pulls exactly at 122 according to the data sheet. But real fuel consumption traditionally puts the manufacturer in an awkward position: up to 10 liters in the city instead of the declared 8.2. Although there are much more piquant situations with this.
Surprisingly, the best thing about this car is the Multidrive S variator. Its difference from many transmissions of this type is that it is not the clutch that is responsible for the smooth transmission of torque, but the torque converter, as on a conventional “automatic”. Its performance is impressive: it saves gas, doesn’t hesitate at the start, and doesn’t howl heart-rendingly with every press of the accelerator.
You can accelerate on a Corolla with such an engine only in manual mode. And “Multi” never resists - it allows you to turn the engine up to the cutoff and holds the speed until the last, even if you slightly release the gas pedal.
Next to the gear selector there is a button labeled “Sport”. Honestly, after the first month of testing and several attempts to activate some dynamic mode by pressing this key, it seems to me that this is just a button that can only cause a placebo effect in the driver.
The sedan's suspension is like an orthopedic mattress: only moderately soft and perfectly elastic. Although, to be honest, breakdowns happened to her, more than once. Even in the city, at a harmless 40 km/h. But this rather depends on the capital’s budget for asphalt repairs, and not on the automaker. But the Japanese were quite capable of achieving silent operation of the suspension. But they didn’t: the springs and shock absorbers constantly remind those sitting in the cabin of their hard work.
The Corolla handles at least as well as other golf class leaders. Even with the Camry, which is two steps higher in the model hierarchy, the Corolla is similar in handling. At least in the city.
Typically, Toyota models are equipped better than they drive. But with the Corolla it's just the opposite. There is no automatic door locking, only the driver has an automatic window lifter, and the rest of the buttons are not even backlit. Heater deflectors were not installed for rear passengers. There is no cruise control either, no matter how you ask.
But the most annoying thing is the lack of a navigation system. There is a touchscreen and a corresponding button, but the navigator itself, alas, is not offered.
It’s not for nothing that I remembered Turkey. “Corolla” is reminiscent of a holiday in this country, where tourists are offered a banal minimum, which does not affect the popularity of this destination. The sedan is the same: it simply knows how to drive well - taking into account its class, of course. The model does not reach five stars, but it can certainly serve its owner with a solid “four”. And the main thing is that hard-earned money will certainly not be wasted. And with the right expectations from the car, there will be no disappointment. But you shouldn’t count on all inclusive with this sedan, even in the richest version.
Classmates
Hyundai Elantra
KIA Cerato
Chevrolet Cruze
Nissan Almera Classic
Ford Focus
MG 350
One of the potential competitors of the Corolla is the increasingly popular South Korean Hyundai Elantra . In a similar configuration it can be purchased for $25,830 .
The new KIA Cerato assembled in Kazakhstan in a similar Lux configuration is even cheaper - it is estimated at $23,380 .
Another Korean car, also assembled in Kazakhstan, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan with a 1.6 liter engine does not have an automatic transmission option. But it is inexpensive - only $20,530 . Models with an automatic transmission are equipped with a 1.8 liter engine. This car is a little more expensive, but still cheaper than a Toyota - $22,390 .
The Nissan Almera Classic in the top SE trim level is comparable in the range of options to the Toyota Corolla we tested. A car with a 1.6 liter engine and automatic transmission will cost $22,248 .
Ford Focus is also presented in Kazakhstan with a single 1.6-liter engine, but it has two boost levels: 105 and 125 hp. Prices range from $23,300 (105 hp engine, 5-speed manual) to $27,800 (125 hp, 6-speed manual).
Not so long ago, another representative of class C appeared on our market, which may find its place. This is a British MG 350 , assembled and designed in the Middle Kingdom. It is equipped with only one 1.5 liter engine, has a very rich set of equipment and costs less than other competitors - from $18,760 .
Savings in reverse
The new Corolla is offered on the Russian market with three options of gasoline engines with a displacement of 1.3, 1.6 and 1.8 liters. We have the most powerful modification on test: a 1.8-liter engine with the Dual VVT-i system develops 140 hp. With. power and 173 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.
The speakers of a car with such an engine are amazing: the engine is simply evil! Already in the first meters of driving through the parking lot I feel its “agility”, the urge to finally break away on a free section of a smooth and “tubeless” highway. But before I get onto such a highway, I am forced to weave for several kilometers along the “crooked” local road, avoiding potholes and barely passing oncoming cars: the “highway” is narrow, there are practically no shoulders, and you’ll just get caught in the edge of a ditch...
Already the basic “Standard” package includes exterior rear-view mirrors with built-in turn signal repeaters, heating and electrical adjustment, all-round disc brakes, windshield washer fluid level indicator, driver’s seat with mechanical adjustment in 6 directions, brake assist (BAS), ABS+EBD, central locking with remote control, LED daytime running lights, multifunction steering wheel with tilt and reach adjustment, air conditioning, heated front seats and front airbags.
You immediately feel that the car reacts sharply to movements of the steering wheel. The steering wheel here is moderately sharp - only 2.7 turns from lock to lock. But its information content is low, and a pleasant “heaviness” on it (thanks to the electric booster settings) appears only at speeds above 50 km/h. Until you reach this threshold, the steering wheel is as easy as when parking. So on a winding road you have to “catch”... no, not the car, but the “zero” position of the steering wheel. How to feel for it.
In the urban rhythm, the new Corolla is completely at home. Everything is good with her dynamics, maneuverability, and visibility. The exterior mirrors are, however, a little small, but not critical. In addition, the parking sensors are constantly on alert, especially the front one. In general, the sensors of this device here, in my opinion, are often played out on the safe side. And it would be okay only when parking - here there is no need to be too careful. But no, even while driving, especially in traffic jams, they every now and then find objects that they consider necessary to signal to the driver. A commercial van pulls up on the left, seemingly at a sufficient distance. No, the sonar beeps, and a danger icon appears on the display in the instrument cluster from the left front corner. Sometimes it seems that the sensor reacts mainly to large vehicles. However, this is not much of a nuisance, and those who find the squeaking annoying can disable this function by simply pressing the button next to the parking brake lever.
When parking in reverse, the rearview camera is automatically activated. In a new generation car, the picture behind is displayed on the display of the multimedia system (and not on a tiny screen in the interior mirror, as before). The picture quality is excellent, there are guides in the frame. At the same time, the parking process is also accompanied by the assistance of a parking sensor-reinsurer. Of course, the camera lens gets dirty when moving, but there’s no getting around it.
You can also use the auto parking function. It is, however, limited here: in auto mode, the car can only park at the right edge of the road and parallel to the curb. On a one-way street, he ignored the left side, which was replete with convenient places. But when he finally found a place on the right, he handled the task perfectly: quickly and confidently.
And now about the fuel economy, which the new Corolla has, so to speak, on the contrary. How so? The fact is that in the city, even with traffic jams, I was unable to achieve a consumption rate of 7.9 liters per 100 km. As for the route, after covering about 150 km, I easily exceeded 9 liters. Unbelievable but true! To tell the truth, on the highway I was not particularly able to restrain the agility of the 140-horsepower car. But still... In my practice, this is the first case. Typically, cars “suffered” from high traffic jams and actively saved fuel on the highway, which is natural. What about the Corolla? Have the Japanese outdone the whole wide world or is this a simple error on the on-board computer? After all, the manufacturer promises that everything should be the other way around: consumption in city mode is about 8.3 liters, on the highway - 5.3 liters, and in the combined cycle - 6.4 liters per “hundred”.
Interesting fact
Toyota Corolla is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling car model of all time. Currently, about 40 million Corollas have been sold worldwide.
The cost of a Toyota Corolla in the Terra+ configuration in Kazakhstan is $26,800 The cost of a Toyota Corolla in the Terra+ configuration in Russia is $23,650 The cost of a Toyota Corolla in the Terra+ configuration in Belarus is $22,600
— Price data is taken from sources: in Kazakhstan — www.toyota.kz, in Russia — https://toyota.ru, in Belarus — https://toyota.by.
About security
According to the results of a crash test conducted by EuroNCAP in 2007, the Toyota Corolla received the maximum rating of 5 stars. Moreover, the car earned the highest rating in almost all disciplines: frontal and side impacts, pedestrian protection. The rating was reduced for the safety of children, and not due to the risk of injury, but for unclear information about the status of the airbag (it is not immediately clear whether it is disabled or not), as well as unclear information about the presence and method of attaching a child seat.
- EuroNCAP (The European New Car Assessment Program) - European committee for conducting independent crash tests of cars with an assessment of active and passive safety. Founded in 1997.
Specifications
Automobile
| brand, model | Toyota Corolla |
| Version | 1.6 Terra+ |
| Assembly | Japan |
| Year of issue | 2012 |
| Body | carrier |
| Type | sedan |
| Number of doors | 4 |
| Number of seats | 5 |
Engine
| Model | 1ZR-F |
| Type | petrol |
| Location | front transverse |
| Supply system | distributed injection |
| Number of cylinders/valves | 4/16 |
| Working volume, cm cubic. | 1 598 |
| Maximum power, hp (kW)/rpm | 124(91)/6 000 |
| Maximum torque, Nm/rpm | 157/5 200 |
| Environmental class | Euro-3 |
Dynamic characteristics
| Maximum speed, km/h | 183 |
| Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s | 11.9 |
Transmission
| Drive unit | to the front wheels |
| Transmission | automatic 4-speed |
Suspension
| Front | independent spring McPherson type |
| Rear | semi-independent spring |
Brakes
| Front | ventilated disc |
| Rear | disk |
Dimensions and weight
| Ground clearance, mm | 150 |
| Length/width/height, mm | 4 545/1 760/1 470 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2 600 |
| Tire size | 205/55 R16 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1 225 |
| Total weight, kg | 1 785 |
| Trunk volume, l | 450 |
| Load capacity, kg | 560 |
