2012 Toyota Corolla Reviews

Everyone in Australia, whether they know it or now, has craved a Toyota Corolla at some time in their life. Since the Corolla first landed in the 1960s, it has been the first choice for first-car buyers, young married couples, retirees and parents looking to launch youngsters on their first motoring adventure. Even if you haven't targeted a Corolla, you have almost certainly targeted a car that does a Corolla job.Now we have another new Corolla, the 11th time the car has been renewed, which comes with everything from big promises to a great-value $19,990 starting price. After driving it this morning, I can confidently say ... But things will not be easy for small-car shoppers, even diehard Corolla fans.Nissan is about to bring the Pulsar back to Australia with an all-new model also priced from $19,990, Hyundai has done an impressive job on renewing its i30 this year for less money, and the Volkswagen Golf is now the best small car in the world after a huge seventh-generation overhaul.As you'd expect, this is the best Corolla yet. And it trumps anything else from Japan or Korea. But the aardvark in the room is the VW Golf. Even if we're still waiting to hear how the final pricing will affect its competitiveness in Australia.Still, nobody is going to be disappointed in the new Corolla, thanks to everything from truly comfortable seats to an indicator sound that could have come from a Jaguar and not any other Corolla.VALUEThe Corolla has never been better value. But, then again, the Australian dollar has rarely been stronger. Toyota has again cashed in its exchange-rate gains to boost the value in its favorite baby, just as it did earlier this year with the bottom line on the landmark 86 sports car.The basic Corolla Ascent now has a $19,990 showroom sticker, a cut of $1000, while the Ascent Sport is down by $5,000 to $20,990 and the Levin SX has copped a $1100 cut to $23,990. Only the flagship Levin ZR is the same price as the outgoing car, at $28,490, but Toyota says it has more equipment with 17-inch alloys.Toyota in Japan has also taken a cost-down approach to the car, but been careful to do the job without hurting quality or equipment. It also has to protect the resale values of all those other Corollas on the road in Australia, even the latest $18,990 driveway specials based on the outgoing model...The only bad news on the money front is the $2000 price of the optional CVT automatic gearbox, up from the industry standard of $1500 for a self shifter. But Nissan says the CVT on the Pulsar is going to be $2250, so it's not as bad as it could have been.TECHNOLOGYEveryone wants to know about things like Bluetooth and big sound and aircon and power steering -- electric this time -- which are all standard on the Corolla. Every new Corolla also gets seven airbags and a five-star ANCAP rating, which is more important than things like power.Still, Toyota says the updated 1.8-litre engine now makes 103 kiloWatts and the 173 Newton-metres of torque arrives in a more-accessible rev range. Importantly, and helped by the seven-speed CVT, fuel economy is as low as 6.6 litres/100kilometres running on 91 unleaded.The new auto is a big improvement and Toyota claims it provides self-shifting convenience with manual-style shift breaks, for more response and a car that sounds less like it has a slipping clutch. The chassis is standard stuff for the class, there is ABS and ESP, but the body is more rigid and a lot of work has gone into cutting noise. Toyota is looking closely at a high-performance model but don't expect a Corolla diesel any time soon, although there is a hybrid for Europe. Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda, promises the sporty DNA developed for the 86 will spread throughout the range and the Corolla's chief engineer says his new car is more rewarding to drive than any previous model.DESIGNThe Corolla has never pushed the boat out on style, but the new look is nowhere near as blandoid as before. It's wedge and a bit edgy, with more contouring of the body panels and a nose which is much more prominent. Inside, work has gone into improving finishes and giving the soft of touch-and-feel satisfaction that Golf buyers get and Mercedes-Benz is promising with its upcoming baby A-Class.The functionality is also better, with front seats that sit lower for better access and also have more adjustment so a wider range of owners can get comfortable. This is a very big change for a company which has always steered for the middle of the road. Trimming the seat backs also gives more knee room in the rear, while the boot has a longer floor and a wide opening to improve access and boost capacity slightly.SAFETYThe Corolla is a five-star ANCAP car and that's enough for most people.But Volkswagen recently included an auto-braking anti-collision system on its $13,990 Up, something that's missing from the Corolla.I can still remember Toyota dragging and lagging on ESP for Australia, so it's hardly a safety leader, despite including things like HID lamps on the Levin ZR.DRIVINGOn paper and in pictures, the new Corolla looks very good. But, after driving the all-new seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf in Europe a week ago, Carsguide knows the Corolla has to be nothing short of brilliant to trump the new Euro champ. Visually, the Corolla finally stands out -- at least a little -- in the small-car herd. And the cabin reflects a totally different design approach. It's still Toyota efficient, but it breaks away from the blandness with the potential for some personalisation.Visibility is great, despite a slightly pinched view through the rear window, but the real delight comes in the new driving position. Toyota has finally recognised that people don't like to sit with their hair brushing the roof or jammed up against the dash, which means you can sit back in comfort and also enjoy front seats that are nicely shaped and padding that's just right.The steering is light, the car is easy to park and even thought the boot is no bigger it is easier to load. It's also good to find. Full sized spare in the starting price car. So, how does it drive? It's very, very good for a Corolla, and good for a Japanese car. But I've just been spoiled by Golf 7. The Corolla gets along nicely enough, promises great fuel economy and is pretty quiet on all but the worst surfaces. But it doesn't have the limo-like cushiness or the library-quiet cabin of the Volkswagen.Now we come to the gearbox... And I have to say that CVTs are about as popular as brussel sprouts wi the Carsguide crew. But Toyota's engineers have added bearnaise sauce with a system that almost -- but not quite --eliminates the horrible flaring and slipping clutch sound while also giving a seven-speed drivers mode that's not as bad as a fake manual.The overall impression is a car that's more complete, and returns the Corolla to the top of the small car heap. For now, anyway. When ou also consider the $19,990 starting price, it's a brilliant package.VERDICTThe new Corolla ticks all the boxes, and has everything it needs to be Australia's best seller in 2013. If only there wasn't a new Golf just around the corner...

Australia's favourite car in 2011 was the Mazda3.  The Japanese compact also topped the small-car class despite a solid challenge from the Toyota Corolla and opposition from more than 20 other babies.But does that make it the best small car in Australia today? There is only one way to find out, which is why we have the Mazda3 lined up against its toughest showroom rivals for the first in a series of Carsguide title fights.Picking the top four for this punch-up is - relatively - easy. We might like the idea of an Alfa Romeo, or the patriotism of a Holden Cruze, or the space in a Mitsubishi Lancer, but we would not recommend one of those to our best friend.And, apart from personal preferences and bias, that's what car choice really comes down to. Which car would you choose to drive away if it was your life and your money?The Mazda3 is an automatic choice since it's the reigning champion, and the Toyota Corolla gets an automatic spot as the number one contender. We also have to take the Volkswagen Golf because it's the best car in the small-car class - if not the best value - and the final spot goes to the Ford Focus because it's the sweetest drive and was a finalist in last year's Carsguide Car of the Year award.VALUEYou can spend just over $20,000 to put a quality small car on the road, but it's easy to go much higher with high-performance models such as the $39,490 Mazda3 MPS and $52,490 Golf R. So we settled in the midrange, where most private buyers spend their own cash, with four fighters with prices covered by only $2000. The Corolla Levin ZR comes in at $29,990 and the Golf 118TSI Comfortline is $31,990.All come with a host of creature features that just five years ago were standard only in luxury cars. Apart from being the cheapest, the popular Corolla is also a valued asset because it is easier to sell at trade-in and is the only one here with the security of capped-price service costs. It also doesn't scrimp on features with a totally keyless entry and start system that detects when you approach the car and automatically unlocks, Bluetooth, an MP3 compatible CD player, front fog lights, cruise control, moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, auto-on HID headlights and climate control airconditioning.Our Mazda comes with much the same gear, but this luxury version adds $3000 to the $27,990 price for Bi-Xenon headlamps, a sliding centre armrest console, leather seat trim and a 10-speaker Bose 242-watt sound system. The Focus Sport includes a spoiler, sports seats, auto wipers, Sony sound, leather steering wheel, dual-zone airconditioning and, since December, satnav as standard.The Golf is the only one here with daytime running lights. It also has an optional park assist system at $1400 and rearview camera at $500.TECHNOLOGYThe newest engine here is the Mazda Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre with an auto stop-start system called i-stop. It's not the most powerful unit at 113 kiloWatts, well down on the 125kW Focus However, Mazda's engine is married to a new Skyactiv six-speed transmission which is not only silky smooth but, together with the i-stop function, helps the vehicle achieve the best fuel figures of 6.1-6.2L/100km.It is marginally lighter on fuel than the VW which has the smallest 1.4 engine, but boosted to 118kW with a turbo. It manages 6.2L/100km due also to the transmission, a seven-speed DSG auto. Toyota's ageing 1.8-litre engine is the weakest with only 100kW and is relatively thirsty at 7.3L/100km because it only has a four-speed auto.On the electronics side, the Mazda and Ford have voice recognition and satnav, although the high-mounted screen in the Mazda is almost impossible to see in direct sunlight or for anyone over 50. On the low-tech side, the Corolla is the only vehicle with a full-size spare.SAFETYCarsguide takes safety seriously and all four cars have a five-star ANCAP rating. The Toyota and VW lead the pack with seven airbags, adding knee protection for the driver, while the Mazda and Ford have six airbags each. All have parking sensors to avoid carpark bingles, but the Focus and Golf have an optional self-parking feature which is a real show-stopper.DRIVINGJumping back into the cars is a reminder that small-car buyers have never had better choices than they do today. All four of the so-called babies have plenty of space, good performance and the sort of equipment that used to make time in a Mercedes-Benz special. But there are significant differences.Looking first at the champion, the Mazda's cabin feels surprisingly cramped and dark, there is lots of noise from the tyres, and there is also bumping and thumping on poor surfaces. The Focus is a nicely sporty drive, but the cabin controls are complicated and confusing and it doesn't seem all that big.The Corolla has the roomiest feel and update work last year has made the cabin a nice place, while the suspension is great. It's just a pity about the four-speed gearbox. And the Golf? We expected to drive best and it goes, but the cabin is dark and not particularly inviting, and the DSG gearbox - once a first choice with Carsguide testers - now has us worried. We get lots of owner complaints and poor feedback, and that's not good.VERDICTNo drum roll, no fanfare, just the bottom line: it's the Toyota Corolla. The world's favourite small car is my choice - back at the top again, after a long run down the field - as the best small car in showrooms today.The Mazda3 is still the people's choice, and consistently Australia's favourite, while the Volkswagen Golf is the class of the field and the Ford Focus is the most fun. But picking a winner in a very tight contest means I have no friends and must consider everything.The Golf is quality but you pay the price, the cabin is like a cave, and I cannot help wondering and worrying - after a string of owner questions and complaints - about the DSG transmission. It's a lovely car, and one I love to drive, but I could not buy one. The Mazda3 is, plain and simple, showing its age. The cabin is cheap, there is too much road noise and suspension thump, the engine is nothing special, and - even though it's a little thing - the satnav screen is tiny. It's nice, but not as good as I remembered. And the Focus, a COTY contender last year? The thing it does best, corners, is the one thing most Australians don't care about. It's a good car, but not a great car. And the messy dashboard and confusing switches drive me batty.In a field of four, the Corolla is ordinary but extraordinary. It sneaks up on you with surprising strengths that reflect a deep and long-term understanding of the real needs of small-car buyers. It's only got a four-speed automatic, but that is easily offset by capped-price servicing through the warranty period. The Corolla is the car I would be happiest to drive away and own, and that makes it my winner.Paul Gover Rating1. Toyota Corolla2. Volkswagen Golf3. Mazda34. Ford FocusToyota Corolla Levin ZRPrice: $29,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000kmService: capped-price for 3 years or 60,000kmSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 7 airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, EBD and BAEngine: 1.8L 4-cylinder 100kW/175NmBody: 5-door, 5-seater hatchDimensions: 4245mm (L), 1760mm (W), 1515mm (H), 2600mm (WB)Weight: 1280kgTransmission: 4-speed auto, FWDEconomy: 7.3L/100kmVW Golf 118 TSI ComfortlinePrice: $31,990Warratny: 3 years, unlimited kmService: 15,000kmSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 7 airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, EBD, BA and hill startEngine: 1.4L, turbo 4-cylinder, 118kW/240NmBody: 5-door, 5-seater hatchDimensions: 4199mm (L), 1785mm (W), 1479mm (H), 2574mm (WB)Weight: 1330kgTransmission: 7-speed auto DSG, FWDEconomy: 6.2L/100km, 144g/kmMazda3 SP20 Skyactiv luxuryPrice: $30,990Warranty: 3 years / unlimited kmsService: 6mths/10,000kmSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 6 airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, EBD and BAEngine: 2-litre 4-cylinder, 113kW/194NmBody: 5-door hatchDimensions: 4460mm (L), 1755mm (W), 1470mm (H), 2640mm (WB)Weight: 1346kgTransmission: 6-speed Skyactiv auto, FWDEconomy: 6.1-6.2L/100km Ford Focus SportPrice: $30,190Warranty: 3 years, 100,000kmService: 15,000km/annualSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 6 airbags, stability and traction control, hill launch, ABS, EBD and BAEngine: 2.0L 4-cylinder, 125kW/202NmBody: 5-door, 5-seater hatchDimensions: 4538-4362mm (L), 2010mm (W), 1451-1484mm (H), 2648mm (WB)Weight: 1900kgTransmission: 6-speed auto, FWDEconomy: 6.6L/100km, 154g/km