No one is going to accuse this car of making a wild fashion statement,
because it has the sound, functional appearance of a well-made piece of
clothing. It shines in this role. The Corolla is an unpretentious yet attractive
car that won't go out of style in the next model year, and won't look boring
or old-fashioned before its time.
It may be a more formal look than key competitors like the Dodge/Plymouth
Neon twins and the Ford Escort, with more sharply folded sheetmetal than
some trendier products. This isn't because of a shortage of artistic talent
at Toyota's design hive, but to provide a better interior peoplescape.
Corolla's formal roofline promotes head room superior to designs that slope
fashionably into the rear decklid, especially in the all-important rear
passenger seats. Consequently, the Corolla's design is well-tooled for
its family-car mission.
Changes for the '97 model are subtle. Corollas get new door trim and
enhancements to side-impact protection. Safety is a big shopping point
for family buyers, and though it's a small car, the Corolla does very well
in this area.
Three-point safety belts are provided for front seat and outboard rear
seat riders (with a lap belt for the middle rear position). Dual airbags
are standard equipment. For those interested in stepping up to the option
of anti-lock brakes, which we recommend, they are available for all three
Corolla models. Power steering is standard on CE and DX models. Certain
popular amenities, such as cruise control, split-folding rear seat, tachometer,
power sunroof and tilt wheel, are options that can only be checked for
the DX.
The three-model line includes a base or standard Corolla and a Corolla
CE, both standard-equipped with Toyota's 1.6-liter twin-cam 4-cylinder
powerplant of 100 horsepower. The uplevel engine provided in our Corolla
DX tester is a slightly larger 1.8-liter twin-cam 4-cyl. that produces
105 hp, and 117 lb.-ft. of torque versus the base engine's 105 lb.-ft.
The standard transmissions for both four-bangers are specific five-speed
manuals. The optional automatic for the base engine is a three-speed, while
the upgrade path for the larger engine features a smooth-running four-speed
automatic.
The all-independent suspension features MacPherson struts at all four
corners. With a relatively long wheelbase and its independent suspension,
the Corolla offers excellent ride quality and competent handling.
A family car must offer interior roominess, and the Corolla provides
plenty. With comfortable bucket seats in front and a three-place bench
seat in the rear, Corolla is a congenial car for families with young children.
Even your sprouting basketball stars will find enough head room in the
rear.
Interior styling is conservative and functional, yet designed for ergonomic
or operating efficiency. The climate controls and radio/tape functions
are easily read at a glance and well within reach of the driver for use.
The instrument package isn't cluttered up with what, in this purposeful
mount, would be some unnecessary gauges, so the principal read-outs of
a speedometer and tachometer (DX only) are quickly scanned for essential
information.
To our mild surprise, the Corolla's seating comfort was better than
expected. The front buckets offer adequate support at the thighs and in
the lumbar region for long-distance comfort, as we discovered during a
weekend run from Detroit to Chicago and back. Corolla shows that it's thinking
about safety in smaller ways, too, by offering standard child-protector
rear door locks on all models as well as an optional integrated rear child
restraint seat. And all Corollas come with full interior carpeting, dual
cupholders, remote hood and trunk releases, trip odometer, coinholder and
a center console box big enough to corral those give-aways from the fast-food
restaurants.
A small car has a harder time managing ride quality than a larger car,
in part because the wheelbase is comparatively short. Annoyingly, a shorter-wheelbase
car may do a rocking-horse thing over road imperfections that a larger
car would just absorb.
Corolla's 97-inch wheelbase is long enough, and its suspension so well-tuned,
that it offers the ride quality of a much larger, more expensive automobile,
which can be said for the Geo Prizm as well. The ride quality is impressively
comfortable without descending into floaty or uncontrolled motions. Steering
is crisp and linear, adding to confidence behind the wheel.
This is a relatively quiet car, too, as we found during the long road
trip. The bonus of a quieter car is reduced fatigue for the driver and
an atmosphere obviously more conducive to conversation.
Some small cars can be a chore to drive if they're more work than fun.
Not so here. Although the Corolla and Prizm aren't in the same horsepower
league as the Neons, they're surprisingly agile and enthusiastic performers,
even with an automatic transmission. The standard five-speed manual would
infuse it with more fun for some, maybe, but every person in a given household
may not want to drive a stick. This Corolla is designed to provide good
performance to all family members across multi-mission roles, and it succeeds.