COROLLA TOYOTA

COROLLA TOYOTA

 INTRODUCTION

The 2010 Toyota Corolla is a car with two different personalities: There's the base model for budget-conscious buyers and the sporty Corolla XRS for those after a little flair. Comparing both models with their prime rival. 

The base Corolla falls a little short in the performance and styling departments. The XRS does a better job, especially when it comes to power and handling, but loses out to the competition on price.

While the current Corolla is much more attractive than previous generations, one of the car's biggest drawbacks remains its inability to excite the visual senses. The Corolla lacks the sporty and modern panache of many of its rivals, but this may be ideal for those who don't want to stand out from the crowd.

Inside, base Corollas can feel a little cheap, but moving up to the LE adds features such as power windows, while the XLE gets wood grain trim. The XRS range-topper adds some leather trim and comfy sports bucket seats.

BOTTOM LINE

 Upgrade to the premium XRS model and you get a 2.4-liter four-banger with 158 horsepower on tap. This engine is happy to rev, and a sweet shifting six-speed automatic is available as an option. When matched with the standard five-speed manual, the Corolla XRS will sprint from 0-60 mph in around eight seconds—not exactly scintillating performance but enough to raise the heart rate. Fuel economy is hardly impressive, at 22/30 mpg.

The 2010 Toyota Corolla has two different personalities: a bare-basic entry-level model and the sporty—but pricey—Corolla XRS.

SPECIFICATION

 

The Standard, LE and XLE models will be equipped with an all-new 1.8-liter engine. The 16-valve, DOHC four-cylinder engine with Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence), produces 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Corolla models equipped with the 1.8-liter engine will achieve preliminary EPA city/highway fuel economy ratings of 27/35 mpg.

A five-speed manual transmission is standard with the 1.8-liter engine, and a four-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission (ECT) will also be available. For those who crave just a bit more horsepower and torque, there is the 2.4-liter engine. This engine is completely redesigned for use in the new Corolla XRS grade. The 16-valve DOHC engine with VVT-i produces 158 hp at 6,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Preliminary EPA city/highway fuel economy for the 2.4-liter engine is 22/30 mpg. The 2.4-liter engine will be paired with standard five-speed manual and optional five-speed automatic transmissions.