 2007 Toyota Corolla LE. Click image to enlarge |
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By Chris Chase; photos by Jil McIntosh
According to the dictionary, a Corolla is the outer part of a flower. You needn’t be a botanist, however, to know what the word means to Toyota – their definition would be something like “big-time money maker.”
The Corolla nameplate goes way back to 1966, which probably makes it one of the longest-lasting nameplates, at least among cars that have undergone as many redesigns as the Corolla has: the generation that debuted in 2003 is the ninth distinct body style to wear the highly-respected Corolla badge.
Compared to the eighth generation car, and every other Corolla before it, the ninth iteration of this insanely popular small car looked more substantial, standing taller, longer tip-to-tail and riding on a longer wheelbase. The result was a roomier interior, and the car as a whole had a much more solid feel on the road.
  2007 Toyota Corolla LE. Click image to enlarge |
The 2003 Corolla was also the most powerful ever. It was powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder, just as the outgoing 2002 model was, but the new car was more powerful, with 130 horsepower. The VVT-i variable valve timing system (which first appeared in the Corolla in 2000) made for an engine with good low-end torque, considering its relatively small displacement. Transmission choices were a five-speed manual (standard across the range) and a four-speed automatic as the optional gearbox.
In 2005, Toyota added a high-performance XRS model to the line-up, featuring a 170-horsepower engine (this was the same motor that powered top-end Celica and Matrix models – basically the same 1.8-litre engine but tuned to produce more power at higher revs). XRS models got a six-speed manual as the only transmission choice as well as 16-inch wheels, stiffer suspension and a body kit. The XRS is not to be confused with the Corolla Sport, which wore the same tacky body add-ons as the XRS, but used the 130-hp engine, a softer suspension, smaller wheels and was available with an automatic transmission.
Two things Toyota is known for – fuel economy and reliability – are to be found in spades in the ninth-generation Corolla. According to Natural Resources Canada, a Corolla equipped with the automatic transmission uses about 8 L/100 km in the city and 5.7 L/100 km on the highway. Manual-transmission cars use a little less, at about 7 L/100 km (city) and 5.3 L/100 km (hwy). The hi-po XRS uses more, owing to its high-strung engine, consuming 9.2 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 L/100 km on the highway.
