In 2017, the Toyota Corolla celebrated its 50th anniversary. At this point, the Corolla has gone through eleven generations, and Toyota has sold 43 million Corollas and the vehicle is considered to be the best-selling nameplate ever!
Some people may think that the Toyota Corolla is just vanilla, one shade of beige that looks like all the others, but you have to dig a little deeper to find out why so many people love the Corolla. Dealers near Tustin auto center say when you do, you won’t go back to any other car.
The Corolla is a world phenomenal for the last fifty years. Many of us were not even born yet when the first Toyota was launched in 1966. The first Corolla that ever hit the road was a simple rear-drive subcompact.
When the Corolla started to be manufactured, Toyota decided to dedicate a new factory in Takaoka, Japan. However, no one ever thought that this new model at the time would be the success that it is today!
Nevertheless, can you believe that the Toyota Corolla wasn’t a hit right away? The Corolla finally made its way to the United States with its 1969 model, and by 1970 global sales sky-rocketed to over a million.
The 2017 Corolla has a new and stylish interior, and easy to use infotainment system and lots of rear legroom that competes with rival sedans.
Driving
When you check out the Corolla’s equipment under the hood, you will find that the 50th Anniversary vehicle at the Tustin Toyota service center is equipped with the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine offered in the Corolla SE.
The four-cylinder engine generates 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque and mates to a CVTi-S transmission. What stays the same is the independent MacPherson front suspension, torsion beam rear suspension, electric power steering, and 10.8-inch front disc brakes and nine-inch rear drum brakes.
In fact, the 2017 Toyota Corolla at the Tustin Toyota service center has two versions of the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. In every trim, except for the LE Eco, the engine makes 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. The LE Eco’s engine utilizes a complex valvetrain to boost fuel efficiency and produces slightly more power, with 140 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque.
Many Corollas are equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). If you like a vehicle that allows you to “drive”, the SE has an option of a six-speed manual transmission.
Technology
The 2017 Toyota Corolla is available in L, LE, LE Eco, XLE, SE, SE 50th Anniversary edition and XSE trim levels. The standard equipment on the base L model consists of 15-inch steel wheels, bi-LED headlights, LED running lights, power mirrors, doors and locks, air-conditioning, adaptive cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver seat, and four-way front passenger seat.
Also, this trim has a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker Entune audio system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, voice controls, a CD player, a USB port, an auxiliary audio jack, and, for iPhone users, the Siri Eyes Free voice control system.
Furthermore, the LE adds 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, keyless entry, metallic cabin accents, and automatic climate control.
The LE Eco has its foundation on the LE’s features and adds engine and suspension tuning designed for maximum fuel efficiency, 15-inch steel wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, a rear spoiler, and enhanced aerodynamics.
If you upgrade to the XLE, you get keyless ignition and entry, upgraded headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, simulated leather upholstery, which is Toyota’s SofTex, heated front seats, an upgraded driver information display, and the Entune Audio Plus audio system that builds on the basic Entune features by adding a 7-inch touchscreen display, satellite and HD radio, and an app-based navigation system (Scout GPS Link).
The SE is the sporty Corolla and it is built on the LE’s features. You can have it with either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a six-speed manual transmission.
The SE features 17-inch alloy wheels, unique front-end styling with a black mesh grille, heated color-keyed side mirrors with turn signal indicators, a rear spoiler, a chrome-tipped exhaust, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters (for CVT models), sport front seats, a sport-style gauge cluster and, for manual transmission models, a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, and the upgraded Entune audio system.
The XSE burrows the SE CVT features and adds a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat. There’s also an SE 50th Anniversary edition that adds anniversary badging, gray-painted 17-inch wheels, and upgraded upholstery and trim with Black Cherry contrast stitching.
There are a couple of options packages. LE and LE Eco models can select the Premium package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, bumper-integrated LED running lights, and Entune Audio Plus. You can also add a sunroof to this package for LE models, and it makes up part of the LE Eco package.
Comfort
The Corolla’s interior is very nice. It has a stylish dashboard and doesn’t look like a Corolla at all. All the buttons and switches are easy to use. You won’t find the audio and climate functions in the touchscreen menus. Instead, the Corolla has cleverly used traditional buttons and dials for audio and climate functions.
The touchscreen itself has large virtual buttons that are easy to punch, clear graphics, and responds quickly. In fact, it may be bold to say, but it is one of the most convenient infotainment systems to ever exist in an affordable car.
The Corolla’s front seats are pretty comfy, especially the firmer bolstering that is in the SE and XSE seats.
There is a lot of rear legroom compared to most small sedans, and a fair amount of headroom. Also, the almost flat floor makes the middle rear position possible to seat someone. There is a good enough, but not wow, trunk capacity of 13 cubic feet, however, the wide trunk opening simplifies loading and unloading.
Overall
So, if you want a Corolla, and one that is a little special than the 50th anniversary Toyota Corolla may be right up your alley! It is a U.S.-exclusive sedan that is based on the sporty Corolla SE and has many desirable exterior and interior features.