14 March 2013
New car report: It just keeps rollin' on.
The Corolla needs no introduction to Kiwi motorists. It’s been our market leader for a quarter of a century and roughly half of all Toyota passenger cars ever sold in New Zealand have worn the Corolla moniker.
With a solid reputation for reliability and dependability, low cost of ownership, retained used car residual value and desirability among fleet buyers (rental companies in particular) and popularity among the private buying sector, it’s no wonder we have such a love affair with the Corolla.
A best seller
With the introduction of the latest incarnation, Toyota will undoubtedly be focused on retaining that number one spot, but with a wave of new competitors with great, well priced new product in the hatchback sector, has the new eleventh generation Corolla got what it takes to remain the leader of the pack?
Weight has been shaved by between 45 – 60kg, depending on model, and rigidity is improved. The dependable 1.8 litre powerplant remains, with a few tweaks and enhancements, but the outdated old 4 speed automatic transmission has been binned in favour of a CVT auto with seven stepped ratios. A six speed manual is also on offer as an option for entry level GX buyers.
Lower by 55mm with a 10mm reduction in ride height, the 2013 Corolla has a drag coefficient of just 0.29Cd. Luggage space is up by 10 litres, although there’s no longer a full size spare wheel, with a space saver taking its place.
Four grades of spec are offered, starting with the GX. There’s also a GLX, Levin SX and range-topping Levin ZR. All models have Bluetooth with audio streaming, voice activation and USB connectivity. All are Euro 5 emission compliant and have a 5 star crash test rating, with towing capacity of 1,300kg braked and 450kg unbraked.
Power output remains largely unchanged, with 103kW now available at 6,400rpm as opposed to the outgoing model’s 100kW at 6,000rpm, with maximum torque now at 173Nm at 4,000rpm compared with the 175Nm at 4,400rpm for the previous Corolla. Fuel economy is said to be 7.1L/100km for the manual and 6.6L/100km for CVT models. On the road the 2013 Corolla is quiet with a good level of refinement, handling is as good as anything in class, ride quality impresses and the 1.8 litre Toyota powerplant is well matched to either the CVT or six speed manual transmission.
Fleet and budget conscious buyers who opt for the GX will get 16 inch steel wheels, manual air conditioning and a mat black grille. The GLX adds 16 inch alloys, a 6.1 inch touch screen, reversing camera, front fog lights, gloss black and chrome accents on the grille and rear privacy glass.
Levin SX models get steering wheel gear shift paddles, 17 inch alloys, sport seats and carbon fibre look dash panel inserts, while at the luxury end of the range, the Levin ZR has heated leather seats, smart key, alarm, dual zone climate air conditioning and the option of a glass panoramic roof.
Changes inside and out
Out goes the plain Jane old Corolla body styling, and in comes a stylish looking hatch with contemporary lines and a sleeker stance, enhancing the external visual appeal enormously and bringing New Zealand’s favourite runabout well and into the 21st century.
Dashboard styling tends to polarise people, with some welcoming an entirely new look but others finding the prominent air vents, flat surfaces and sweeping dash top design a little too fussy and un-cohesive.
It's been treated to a quicker steering rack, received improvements in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) levels and upgrades to the VSC system.
Pricing kicks off at $34,990 for the GX Manual and $34,990 for the auto. The GLX is priced at $37,490 and Levin models are $38,990 for SX and $43,690 for ZR.
So, like before, Toyota has come up trumps with a benchmark 5 door hatch for the masses, only now it’s more stylish, handles better, has more equipment, it’s quieter, more refined and with a better ride quality and uses less fuel.
So yes, we predict Toyota’s 2013 Corolla will hang on to its number one spot in the market with ease.
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