Test Drive Toyota Corolla since 2010 Hatchback

Toyota Corolla Test Drive Report

Remembering the first Corolla
Toyota Corolla, Bestseller, whose sales amounted to more than 39 million cars around the world, this time is presented in the 11th generation. I can not say that I remember well each of the previous generations Corolla, but I will never forget the first model of this series. Debuting at the Tokyo Auto Show in the fall of 1966, this model went on sale already in November of the same year. It was a two-door rear-wheel drive sedan, equipped with a 1.1-liter row 4-cylinder OHV engine. According to today's standards, the model was compact enough: its length was 3845 mm, width 1485 mm, and height 1380 mm. Weeding the car is just 710 kg.

The operating volume of the first Corolla engine was 100 cm3 more than its main ones at that time a competitor Nissan Sunny 1000, which went on sale a little earlier: in the spring of the same year. This allowed Toyota boldly to run the advertising slogan limit of the possibilities more per 100 cm3!, Transparently hinting at the opponent. After some time, the second generation of Sunny was published with a 1.2-liter engine under the slogan now the neighbor's car is not so cool. In those years, the roast confrontation of these two models was all on the lips.

For me, at that time a 19-year-old student, the most awesome in the first Corolla seemed to have a four-stage box with a floor lever of gear shifting as standard. Nissan Sunny 1000, in turn, could only boast only a 3-step box with a submissive lever used in almost all Japanese cars of that time. Compared to it, the 4-speed KP with an outdoor lever at Toyota Corolla seemed an unusually sports element. And considering the fact that Toyota at that time was not yet one of the leading manufacturers of sports cars, such an innovation looked especially amazing.

By the way, in the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall of 1966, the World Bestseller Honda N360 Mini also debuted, the next year on sale. Each of these energetic cars seems to carry the charge of a rapid economic growth, which Japan covered at that time.

Crucial moment
Since the debut of the first Toyota Corolla and until the release of the 11th generation car passed as much as 46 years. One of the most important events in the history of the development of this model was the 5th generation Corolla exit in 1983. Starting with this model, the rear-wheel drive was changed to the front with the cross location of the engine. In Europe since the 70s, the rapid development began to receive compact vehicles with the front-wheel drive, so for Corolla, which by this time has already conquered the world market, such changes were natural and necessary.

Nevertheless, the front-wheel drive at that time was not equipped with all Corolla models. The Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno sports accumulation moved to another platform and received a longitudinally located engine and rear-wheel drive. So a generation of AE86 Levin / Trueno appeared, which today is simply called 86.

But back to the conversation about the first Corolla with the front-wheel drive. The luxurious characteristics in the model range had 5-door set of 1600ZX AT. This model acquired Car Graphic car magazine, in which I just worked at that time, and I had a duty to test this car for a whole year. 1,6-liter engine capacity of 100 hp In combination with a 4-speed automatic transmission, 1600ZX AT was made quite energetic and mobile model for its time. The car possessed a relatively small mass of 954 kg, which also made a great contribution to the dynamics. Lowly located chassis and comfortable feelings behind the wheel left me in my memory only the most pleasant memories of the first front-wheel drive Corolla.

And the Toyota Corolla of the 5th generation, and the car left in 1987 under the slogan is not for all the 6th generation, and the 7th generation that followed it in 1991 all this is bright representatives of good compact cars.

Car for special people
And back to the conversation about the 11th generation. Corolla models are sold worldwide, but the 11th generation of AXIO and Fielder aims exclusively to the invention on the country outside the country outside the country will be sold only in New Zealand. According to the concept of development, the new Corolla is a compact car suitable for comfortable movement of four adult people over long distances. Under adult people, of course, the middle and old people are meant. The fact is that the Corolla model of the previous generation was popular mainly in people in 60, or even 65, and it is unlikely to change the situation with the new model. Yes, because during the release of the first Corolla I was only 19 years old, and now it is already 65. Therefore, the model of the 11th generation was developed with the expectation that the elderly drivers felt the driving as safe as possible and comfortably as possible.

First of all, engineers, retaining the overall width of the car in 1695 mm, rooted the front Sve: in the sedan on 50 mm, in a 60 mm wagist, which had a positive effect on maneuverability. They also increased the angle of inclination of the front side of the body, and the rack itself was shifted by 110 mm back, which made it possible to significantly improve visibility.

The model is represented by two types of body: sedan (AXIO) and wagon (fielder). The sedan can be equipped with an engine, a volume of 1.3 liters or 1.5 liters, wagon 1.5 liters or 1.8 liters. Among the versions with a 1.5-liter engine are possible all-wheel drive, calculated, first of all, for operation in conditions of heavy snowfalls. As for the transmission as standard, all models are equipped with a variator, and the version with front-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter motor unexpectedly received a 5-speed mechanical gearbox. Many drivers who have long been accustomed to three pedals and manual speed switching, persistently do not want to switch to two-bed management. Even today, about 10% of Corolla owners prefer a manual transmission. Still Toyota Corolla car for special people ...

The chassis was borrowed from Vitz and Aqua B-class models, stretching the wheelbase to the Corolla dimensions. But despite this, there is quite enough space in the back seat, and in general the layout of the car does not cause almost no complaints.

Three Motor Three Character
For a start, I decided to get behind the steering wheel of the basic of all Axio 1.3 packages. Personally, I would not recommend taking this version. The car is good only after gaining more or less decent speed. However, during overclocking, even if you sit in the car, one felt the lack of traction, and the revolutions are absorbed simply with a trashing speed. For impatient people, such as I, such a car, is not at all suitable. In addition, comfort here is much lower compared to a version equipped with a 1.5-liter engine on an uneven road Feels literally every bodie. This is another reason why Axio 1.3 should not be taken. The point here is most likely that model 1.5 is equipped with 15-inch wheels with a pressure of 2.3 kg / cm2, while air pressure in 14-inch wheels version 1.3 is 2.5 kg / cm2. The difference in price between these two models is insignificant only 45,000 yen (about 18.5 thousand rubles), therefore, in my opinion, the choice in favor of 1.5 is obvious.

A much more favorable impression on me was made by a complete set with a 1.5-liter engine. Due to its small mass (1090 kg), as well as the engine with a capacity of 109 hp The car easily accelerates to the required speed. The level of comfort here is also higher than in 1.3 the car does not jump on each hole. At the turns and during the speed movement in a straight line, this model demonstrates everything that is expected from a practical passenger car. And the introduction of hybrid technology will even more reveal the potential for this configuration.

Well, finally, I drove on the Fielder equipped with a 1.8-liter engine with a capacity of 140 hp. Is it worth saying that the speed she picks much rapidly than 1.3 and 1.5. Entering the taste, I decided to ride along the winding mountain route Fuji Subaru Line, where the car confidently entered even the coolest turns. The Fielder is designed to publish from 30 years, respectively, the sensation of this model gives completely different than Axio, aimed rather on the elderly drivers.

Despite the fact that the 11th generation of Toyota Corolla and, in particular, the version of AXIO, which is the kernel of the model range, has already ascended as a car for pensioners, in general, this is quite a decent and well-made model. From the point of view of functionality, namely ease in management, everything is done here, in my opinion, correctly. But with the design of the exterior and interior, the situation is worse. So, for example, I really liked a huge speedometer it is excellent, since it was located right in the center. But here is a fabric that the dashboard on both sides of the appliances looks like, somehow is too much old. If the owner is an elderly person, it does not mean that he categorically not accept anything modern ...

And yet, if I asked me, whether I agree to buy a new Corolla, as I get into the age group, which this model focuses, my answer would be unambiguous. If you choose from modern Toyotov's classmates Corolla, I would rather give Aqua rather than. And what, grandfathers are different.
    
Toyota Corolla Axio 1.5G specifications
Total Length: 4360 mm
Total width: 1695 mm
Total height: 1460 mm
Wheel base: 2600 mm
Mass: 1090 kg
Drive: Front
Engine: 1.5-liter row 4-cylinder DOHC
Maximum output power: 80 kW (109 hp) at 6000 rpm
Maximum torque: 136 nm (13.9 kg - m) at 4800 rpm
Transmission: stepless
Fuel consumption in JC08 mode: 20.0 km / l (5 l per 100 km)
Cost: 1,650,000 yen (about 608 thousand rubles)

A source: carview.co.jp.

Toyota Corolla Test Drives Video since 2010