Base price: CE, $13,855; S, $15,000; LE, $15,165
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-drive; 4-door 5-passenger sedan
Interior volume, F/R/cargo (cu ft) 51/37/12
Wheelbase 102.4 in
Length/width/height 178.3/66.9/57.4–57.7 in
Turning circle 35.2 ft
Curb weight 2500–2600 lb
EPA city/hwy mpg 30–32/38–40
Fuel-tank capacity/range 13.2 gal/396–422 mi
Passive restraints driver and passenger front and side (opt) airbags
POWERTRAIN
1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-in-line, 130 hp; 5-sp man, 4-sp auto
SUSPENSION
F ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
R rigid axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
F/R vented disc/ drum
ABS optional
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TOYOTA COROLLA
The Corolla is the world’s all-time, top-selling car. More than 25 million have been built over its long life, and in recent years the biggest share of annual production (39 percent in 2000) has gone to North America.
Despite the numbers, Corollas face stiff competition in the small-car segment these days, especially from the Korean entries. So, for 2003, Toyota has responded with a fresh, new, ninth-generation Corolla with higher equipment levels, luxury-car exterior accents, and interior ambience. As is the usual trend with these things, the new Corolla is longer, taller, and wider than the 2002 version. It also has more head and hip room and higher seats for easier access.
With styling that bears a resemblance to some Lexus models and quality standards for panel alignment and gap widths that match Lexus, the Corolla’s fit and finish are nothing short of remarkable.
The 2003 Corolla still uses the 1ZZ-FE 1.8-liter engine found in earlier models, but it has five more horsepower and a broader torque band. The transmissions are also carry-overs from 2002, but the final-drive ratio is lower, promising equal acceleration despite a weight increase of about 200 pounds. The automatic works as well as anything you’ll find in much costlier cars, and the manual slides smoothly from gear to gear.
Inside, the Corolla offers all the comforts of a bigger car, and its interior has the simple elegance of a more expensive car, with full instrumentation, multiple storage spaces, and a center console box that will hold 14 compact discs.
Toyota claims that considerable care went into crash performance design and impact energy distribution through the body structure. Dual-stage airbags—with variable deployment rates dependent on seat position and crash severity—are standard for front-seat passengers, as are seatbelt pretensioners. Side airbags are available as an option.
Three trim levels are available: CE, S, and LE. The base CE model comes with a five-speed manual transmission, steel wheels, a tachometer, rear-window defogger, an outside-temperature gauge, power mirrors, and an AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers (air conditioning is optional). The mid-level S gets standard air conditioning along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a sport shift knob, and other features. The luxo LE adds power windows and locks. Options include leather on the LE, alloy wheels on both S and LE models, a tilt-and-slide sunroof, cruise control, and anti-lock brakes.
Bolted together as if to last an eternity, Corollas fulfill a need for inoffensive transportation like no other car.
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