Toyota Corolla sedan 2014 review

Toyota has added a new sedan to its lineup, but its more than just a Corolla with a boot. Released this month, the Corolla sedan not only looks different but is physically larger and has a longer wheelbase than the hatch for the first time.

The longer wheelbase (distance between front and rear wheels) translates to more leg room in the back and a more capacious boot. The company hopes the new model will restore the balance between sales of sedan and hatch which slipped from one in three to just one in five in the last year.

The launch of the sedan, 18 months after the hatch, also sees the debut of Toyota's new Link entertainment system (not to be confused with Holden's MyLink) that together with a smartphone allow users to download apps in that enable the driver to find such things as cheap fuel.

VALUE

The new model is priced from $20,740 plus on road costs, $250 less than the previous model but with $2000 worth of extra value. The lineup up has been rationalised from four to three models, starting with the Ascent, then the SX and then the ZR.

Priced from $22,990, SX replaces the previous Conquest and Ascent Sport models while the ZR priced from $30,990, replaces the Ultima at the top of the range. An auto adds $2250 to the price of the SX and Ascent (ZR comes with an auto as standard).

Any colour but white will set you back another $450. Standard features include cruise control, reverse camera, rear parking sensors, trip computer display, and Bluetooth phone with audio streaming along with hubcaps and steel wheels.

SX gets 16-inch alloys including a full size alloy spare, fog lights, Optitron instrumentation, keyless entry and start plus front parking sensors.
ZR adds climate air, auto wipers, self-levelling LED lights, LED daytime runners, satellite navigation, leather-accented seats with eight-way power adjust for the driver, paddle shifters and an acoustic windscreen. All models feature a 6.1-inch touchscreen, with Bluetooth connectivity, single CD, USB and iPod inputs as well as an AUX jack.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

The engine is still a 1.8 and has been since the ninth generation was introduced in 2002. No sign of the latest direct injection but the new version introduces an "acoustic" controlled induction system (ACIS) that gives the engine greater flexibility.

It delivers slightly more power and torque at 103kW and 173Nm and is designed to produce torque earlier in the rev range to support a more relaxed driving style. The focus from get-go has been to make the car more dynamic.

The four cylinder engine is mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-step CVT style transmission replaces the former four speed auto. Fuel consumption for the manual is rated at 6.6 and for the auto, 7.4 litres/100km  a reduction of 10.8 per cent over the old 4-speed auto.

DESIGN

It's certainly a sharper looking car than before. Toyota has been keen to shed its boring image and the more aerodynamic shape, retuned engine, revised transmission and lower weight contribute to the lower fuel consumption figure.

But given the increasing desire of buyers to "bling" their cars we were surprised to learn the 16 inch alloys offered with the ZR are the largest available. In fact, apart from premium paint, there's very little you can really add to the ZR  won't please the sales blokes.

SAFETY

It's designed for and expected to get a full five stars for safety, with seven airbags, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and a full suite of safety systems.

DRIVING

We had a crack at both the manual and automatic this week in Tasmania. The chassis, steering and suspension settings have all been revised to provide a sportier drive feel. The manual falls easily to hand and is easy to use with a wider spread of ratios, although there is a small gap short changing between second and third. The CVT auto differs from most because it includes a torque converter.

As such it exhibits none of the slurring that characterises earlier CVTs and offers a sporty drive in manual mode. The CVT is the pick and is available with all three models. Steering wheel mounted gear change paddles are provided with the ZR, but not the SX or Ascent.

Both of the cars we drove exhibited quite a bit of tyre noise, particularly the 16 inch wheels fitted with Dunlop Enasave rubber. The satnav system, by the way, includes handy school and speed camera warnings as well as SUNA traffic updates.

The new sedan is better than the one it replaces, with better fuel economy and an impressive amount of rear legroom. But is it better than the recently released Mazda3? Only time will tell whether Toyota has done enough with the car. It might not be technologically superior to the Mazda, but that difference may not matter to the majority of buyers.

VERDICT

Solid, dependable and predictable. Nothing to dislike here.

This reporter is on Twitter: @IamChrisRiley