CTC Review: 2009 Toyota Corolla S

[wing]

As a comparison, I averaged about 9.5L/100km in my Mazda3 over the course of it's life with me.

[MKII]

safristi, you are missing the point. The 2009 Corolla will sell like hotcakes all over the world. Toyota knows their market and build their product to suit it. They will sell every one they build which really isn't hard since Toyota only builds cars that dealers order.

If Europe includes your "all over the world" then I have to chime in and say "not in Europe". Toyota sales in Europe are very poor and at the moment in a downward spiral.

Toyota and selling like "hotcakes" is not happening in Euroland.

Back to the article, IMO this MY Corolla is the best Toyota has offered in North America as far as refinement and substance. Still lacking in the amount of features offered for a segment that will be the hottest segment in the next few years.

[johngenx]

Still lacking in the amount of features offered for a segment that will be the hottest segment in the next few years.

What features?  Do you mean things like power accessories?  The Corolla can be had with stuff like power wndows, keyless entry, cruise control, etc.  If you're after safety gear, it has ABS, side bags and curtain bags standard.  Yes, the US gets available leather and power seat that we don't get, but I'm not sure that is such a goof.  The Corolla LE used to be available with those things here, and so few buyers opted for it, I'm not sure it made sense to offer it.

[Mitlov]

Interesting commentary on CTC culture: comments about the Corolla S outnumber comments about the EVO MR 8-to-1.

[tpl]

safristi, you are missing the point. The 2009 Corolla will sell like hotcakes all over the world. Toyota knows their market and build their product to suit it. They will sell every one they build which really isn't hard since Toyota only builds cars that dealers order.

If Europe includes your "all over the world" then I have to chime in and say "not in Europe". Toyota sales in Europe are very poor and at the moment in a downward spiral.

Toyota and selling like "hotcakes" is not happening in Euroland.

Back to the article, IMO this MY Corolla is the best Toyota has offered in North America as far as refinement and substance. Still lacking in the amount of features offered for a segment that will be the hottest segment in the next few years.

I can see that... If one was in Euland there are Citroens, Fiats, Renaults, Focii, Seats, skodas and all kinds of cheaper ( and faster) non-loaded  VWs,  Audis, BMWs and Mercedes. Why would one buy  ANY Japanese car with those choices.

Here however, a Corolla would not be my choice but would be a very wise and sensible choice.

[carcrazy]

Plus in Europe there are plenty of fuel-efficient cars so Toyotas don't really standout like in North America on this respect.

In Europe you can have many cars that are fuel efficient AND good looking AND fun to drive. Here you still have to compromise quite a bit.

[safristi]

I have nothing against the New Corolla....being a 4 time Japanese buyer..None Toyota tho' interestingly? OR not relevant here.....but my point was that the stories i have read from US sources,seem to damn the car with faint praise..isn't that wot they need wif $4.25 gasoline..........hell Obama & McCain should mandate one in every driveway...... .....I wouldn't kick one out my carport...............

[Honda Owner]

.but my point was that the stories i have read from US sources,seem to damn the car with faint praise..isn't that wot [sic] they need wif [sic] $4.25 gasoline.

At 7.0l/100km in the real, perhaps this is the kind of car the USA indeed needs.The Corolla  posted all-time best-ever USA sales of 52,826 units in May 2008. Somebody must like it. It is all about making money and Toyota is rather good at that.

Europe limited Japanese imports for for many years, making it harder for the Japanese makers to get a foothold. These limits were finally lifted for the 2000 model year.  There are also many Toyota models that we don't get here such as the Auris and the Aygo. The 1,8 litre Corolla would be considered a large car there. The EU is also a smaller market than the USA, roughly 10m units per year vs 15m in the USA.

Still, in 2007, Toyota sold 1.24 million cars in the EU in 2007, up 10% over 2006 and 132,550 of them were of the hugely profitable Lexus line. This compares to slightly over 2.75 million units sold in the USA. Clearly, Toyota has more competition in Europe where fuel efficiency is paramount. Their lack of diesels in the past years didn't help them much in Europe.

GM would be very wise to bring the Opel Corsa 1.3 CDRI here, I drove one in Europe last year and loved it. Great car, more than adequate power, tons of torque and 4 litres/ 100 km.


 Canada is really small beans when it comes to car sales.

[MKII]

.but my point was that the stories i have read from US sources,seem to damn the car with faint praise..isn't that wot [sic] they need wif [sic] $4.25 gasoline.

The 1,8 litre Corolla would be considered a large car there. The EU is also a smaller market than the USA, roughly 10m units per year vs 15m in the USA.

Still, in 2007, Toyota sold 1.24 million cars in the EU in 2007, up 10% over 2006 and 132,550 of them were of the hugely profitable Lexus line. This compares to slightly over 2.75 million units sold in the USA. Clearly, Toyota has more competition in Europe where fuel efficiency is paramount. Their lack of diesels in the past years didn't help them much in Europe.

You need to adjust your EU sales numbers drastically. Please read http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20080604_PRPC-0712-FINAL.pdf
EU 2007 car sales was just under 16,million.
BTW Toyota sold just under 40,000 Lexus cars in EU for 2007


BTW the Corolla is not considered a large car, come on man.
We know what large cars are and C segment vehicles are not considered "large"

[vdk]

Weren't the Japanese imports heavily taxed before (~€4k for a €20k car)? And still are but to a lesser extent...

That's why some Korean and Japanese manufacturers built plants in the EU, to get rid of those taxes for non-EU made models...

[drivetillidie]

I wish i kept my toyota corolla over my nissan anyday

[joecool]

As a comparison, I averaged about 9.5L/100km in my Mazda3 over the course of it's life with me.

WHich engine? Must have been the 2.3 litre Mazda. The 2.0 litre Mazda is more efficient than the Toyota given its larger displacement.

[wing]

yes 2.3

[Juke1]

I wish i kept my toyota corolla over my nissan anyday