Test Drive: 2007 Toyota Corolla LE

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Oshawa, Ontario – In automotive circles, it’s common to dismiss vehicles as “driving appliances” when they fail to ignite a driver’s passion. In reality, the vast majority of cars are purchased solely to be appliances – conveyances to get from A to B with a minimum of fuss, at a reasonable price – and it’s a term that really should be applied with more respect.

Given that, then, the Toyota Corolla is a driving appliance of high caliber, earning its perpetual spot near the top of Canadian sales lists for its good performance, crisp handling and the simplicity of its controls.

The 2007 version comes in three flavours: the base CE, midline Sport and my top-of-the-line LE tester; the three start at $15,785, $21,135 and $21,900, respectively. All of them share a 1.8-litre four-cylinder, rated at 126 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque; the CE and Sport start with a five-speed manual that can be optioned to a four-speed automatic that’s the only transmission available in the LE.

2007 Toyota Corolla LE. Click image to enlarge

The powerplant is gutsy but quiet, becoming raspy only on very hard acceleration, when the smooth-shifting autobox drops into a lower gear to get you out of any traffic problems. Even with the relatively snappy performance, I managed to stay right within the fuel economy figures, finishing my week of combined driving at 6.8 L/100 km, to the automatic’s published figure of 6.7, on regular-grade fuel.

“Entry level” used to mean a car that generally went where you pointed it, but that was then, and this is now; like its main competitors Honda Civic and Mazda3, the Corolla has sharp handling you’d expect in something much more expensive. It doesn’t have the go-kart tossability of the smaller Yaris, but it has good on-centre feel, and returns smoothly on switchbacks, even if the vast majority of owners never take it near winding roads. It’ll be more likely found in mall parking lots, where its tight turning circle helped nose it into spots I was sure would require backing up and taking a second run at it.

2007 Toyota Corolla LE. Click image to enlarge

This is a slick runner for the city, with its small footprint, but it’s also comfortable on longer runs, with nicely padded seats and a back seat that’s roomy for the car’s size; a three-hour trek that might have been very hard on the butt in some other compacts didn’t present any problem once I got out at the other end. The package feels very solid and tight, with no rattles or wind noise.

On the outside, while the Corolla is far from ugly, it certainly doesn’t stir the blood; you’d better remember your license number, because you’re going to lose this car in a parking lot. But that’s the gearhead in me talking; when you’ve got gasoline in your veins, it’s easy to forget that the vast majority of drivers simply want a car with the least amount of fuss, and not only do they not care what it looks like, but many are happiest when they’re blending in. That’s not a slag, and I think it helps to explain the Corolla’s popularity: cutting-edge has the potential to wear thin, and ugly is ugly, but plain simplicity, like a little black dress, goes anywhere and lasts a long time.

The base CE is exactly that, lacking amenities such as a/c, power windows or cruise control, although those can be added via option packages; surprisingly, while ABS is standard on the Sport and LE, it can’t be added even as an extra-charge item to the CE. The LE trim line includes air, CD stereo with six speakers, power windows and locks, keyless entry, cruise control, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and variable intermittent wipers, along with the anti-lock binders; this highest trim line can be topped out with an additional option package of side and curtain airbags, leather seats, power sunroof, chrome inner door handles and an anti-theft system.

2007 Toyota Corolla LE. Click image to enlarge

I love the simplicity of the controls in the centre stack, and the gauges are big and easy to see; the cupholders are out of the way, and there are numerous cubbies, along with door pockets that could be a little bigger to make them truly useful. But I was very disappointed in the way it was all put together, which wasn’t up to what we’ve come to expect from Japanese automakers. There was flashing left on several of the dash pieces, the glove-box door had irregular gaps, and most noticeable of all, the passenger side airbag cover looked like an old vinyl record left out in the sun: it was warped and had huge gaps at the edges. I’ve noticed that the difference in interiors between domestic and import manufacturers has lessened considerably, with imports cutting costs while domestics, especially GM, have really pulled up their socks. Still, my Corolla was the most extreme example I’ve seen.

2007 Toyota Corolla LE. Click image to enlarge

Along with the big back seat, the Corolla also offers up a trunk that’ll swallow cargo: it’s 106 cm long, lengthening to 181 cm when the rear seats are folded, although they don’t fall completely flat. It’ll get all your groceries home, and then hold enough duffel bags that you can take three friends away for the weekend and no one will feel the worse for riding in a compact.

That, in a nutshell, is what makes a fine driving appliance: ease of use, good performance, plenty of space and a reasonable price. The Corolla earns the moniker on its attributes, and although it has some serious competition from the Honda Civic and the Mazda3, it’s earned its spot in that trifecta. It’s an honest car, reasonably outfitted and priced, although Toyota needs to ensure that its value doesn’t come from cost-cutting in the interior. This is a tough market to play, and for the most part, the Corolla plays it very well.