If you are a sedan shopper at Orange auto sales and you are looking for a car that provides you with a good combination of excellent fuel economy, a variety of features, acceptable versatility, and value for money, then the 2015 Toyota Corolla is the car for you!
Driving
When you visit Orange County auto sales, you’ll find that the 2015 Toyota Corolla is carrying a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that is available in two different versions. Every trim level with the exception of the LE Eco produces 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. The LE Eco has more oomph with 140 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque.
The base Corolla L at Orange auto sales comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, that has an optional four-speed automatic. While the other trims feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but the S is also available with a six-speed manual.
When it comes to fuel economy, it depends on the Corolla model you choose. The EPA-estimated fuel economy on the four-speed automatic is 27 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined. While the six-speed manual gives 28 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined.
The CVT version in the LE model is 29 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. The S is 29 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. Undoubtedly, the LE Eco in standard form provides the best fuel economy with 30 mpg in the city, 42 mpg on the highway, and 35 mpg combined. Whereas the Plus or Premium form is 30 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and 34 mpg combined.
Technology
The car sales reps at Orange auto sales let us know that the 2015 Toyota Corolla is a five-passenger compact sedan that comes in four main trim levels: L, LE, LE Eco, and S. Every trim, except for the L, are available in Plus and Premium sub-trims.
The standard features you are to expect from the base L model are 15-inch steel wheels, LED headlights (low beams only) and running lights, powered accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with auxiliary controls, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack.
As you go further up the ladder, the LE trim adds 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, keyless entry, metallic cabin accents, cruise control, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a six-speaker sound system with a 6-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth audio connectivity, phonebook download capability, and voice controls.
The LE Plus adds 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, piano black interior accents, and eligibility for both an optional sunroof and the Driver Convenience package, which includes the sunroof and adds keyless entry and ignition, a roof-mounted antenna (rather than the standard in-glass antenna), satellite radio, HD radio, a navigation system, and Entune App Suite mobile-app integration.
If you opt for the LE Premium, you get the LE Plus model’s standard and optional features as well as a power driver seat heated front seats, and premium vinyl upholstery.
At first glance, you would think that the LE Eco is just the LE in disguise, but you get the addition of an efficiency-maximizing engine and transmission tuning, 15-inch steel wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, a rear spoiler, and enhanced aerodynamics. The LE Eco Plus sticks on special 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, chrome window trim, an Eco driving mode, and the same options as the LE Plus. The LE Eco Premium has the same upgrades as the LE Premium.
Comfort
The interior of the 2015 Toyota Corolla is easy on the eyes. It has a stylish dashboard, with a sporty contoured steering wheel and an asymmetrical shifter. Toyota made sure to make ease of use a top concern so many of the audio interfaces have dependable knobs for volume and tuning. Also, the LE and higher trim levels have an automatic climate-control panel that includes a large knob and goofproof buttons.
The LE and higher trim models come standard with a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface, which has large virtual buttons and simple, clear graphics. The screen is very responsive, and considering the car is very economical it’s a generous tech feature. The car is not available with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but there is Toyota’s Entune App Suite that integrates smartphone-connected services from Bing, Facebook, Yelp, and Pandora, plus others, as well as real-time traffic data and sports and stock information.
The Corolla’s front seats provide excellent comfort, especially the S trim since there are bolstered chairs.
Keep in mind that the 2015 Toyota Corolla has a 3.9-inch longer wheelbase compared to the previous Corolla model. That means long-legged passengers feel more at ease sitting in the rear seats of this compact sedan. Also, the rear seats don’t have that awkward hump in the middle. It has been done away with for a flat floor that many buyers of the 2015 Corolla appreciate. The car’s truck has a capacity of 13cubic feet and has a wide opening for easier loading and unloading.
When it comes to safety features, the 2015 Toyota Corolla comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag, and a passenger seat cushion airbag. A rearview camera is standard on all trims except the base L.
The Corolla received top marks in government crash testing, which includes five stars for frontal impacts and five stars for side impacts. The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Corolla its top rating of “Good” in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof-strength tests.
Overall
The 2015 Toyota Corolla is a sure-fire winner and it’s no wonder why it’s been America’s popular compact sedan for over 50 years. This eleventh generation Corolla has everything that you expect in this nameplate: reliability, comfort, and fuel efficiency.