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If you’ve been reading around automotive news sites, you have probably learned that finally, there is a new Toyota Corolla compact car in town. The 2014 edition is the bestselling model’s 11th generation release, and motoring hobbyists and enthusiasts alike have been waiting for it for quite some time now. They have all agreed that the Corolla, for all its world-class reliability, has unfortunately fallen behind in styling and technology, so the new release is something of a godsend. The new Corolla was unveiled on the first week of June 2013. The model enjoys a reputation as the world’s bestselling model, selling almost forty million units since it was launched to the market in 1968, beating the Volkswagen Beetle. The model has gained loyal fans over the years for its reliability; however it was last redesigned in 2008, and even then it had rivals that were arguable more impressive, sportier, more comfortable, had better entertainment features, and more fuel efficient. Needless to say, it’s been a sad half-decade for the Corolla where improvement is concerned. Enter the new Corolla and it looks like Toyota’s efforts were not in vain. The new release features a more distinctive, upgraded look that can really compete with others in its class. Its dimensions have also gotten longer and wider, offering a bigger cabin space for the rear passengers. The four-speed automatic of the old Corolla will be replaced by a continuously variable transmission. The new Toyota Corolla compact is visibly sportier, with slimmer and more powerful headlights. The lights make use of LED beams, allowing for a lighter headlight housing made of plastic instead of the traditional glass. The new car will be offered in three trim levels, names L, LE, and S, with the LE trim having an LE Eco variant. Inside, you can see that the instrument panel and center console have been meticulously designed to give off a futuristic and upscale feel similar to that of the Avalon and new RAV4. Because of the bigger cabin space, rear passengers will have more legroom. The exhaust pipe has also been rerouted, so there is no interior dividing “hump” to annoy rear passengers. To add to passenger comfort, the new Corolla makes use of denser urethane pads for the seats. Depending on the trim level, the seats will be covered in high-quality cloth, SoftTex leather, or a combination of the two. Wheel sizes are 15, 16, and 17 inches depending on the trim. All new Toyota Corolla compacts regardless of trim will have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 132 horsepower. L models will either have a six-speed manual transmission or four-speed auto. What’s special here is the LE Eco variant, which will have a more efficient engine that produces 140 horsepower and is expected to have a high 40 mpg highway mileage. What do you think of the makeover? Are the changes good enough or is Toyota simply trying too hard to please? What are the other changes you think should have been done instead? With all these changes, though, we’re left wondering when the company will come up with a Toyota Corolla compact hybrid—or this is just wishful thinking?
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