Author Topic: Test Drive: 2018 Toyota Corolla XSE (Read 8175 times)

AutoTrader.ca · « **on:** March 20, 2018, 06:46:39 am »

Sporting pretense
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Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2018, 09:29:18 am »

Quote

This is the 2018 Toyota Corolla XSE, and it’s theoretically the zippiest Toyota product on the market

I think the Camry V6 and its 301hp V6 have something to say about that.

johngenx · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2018, 10:04:30 am »

GT86 is less "zippy?" I suppose it depends on your idea of "zippy."

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2018, 10:52:47 am »

Quote from: johngenx on March 20, 2018, 10:04:30 am

GT86 is less "zippy?" I suppose it depends on your idea of "zippy."

I snipped that part out, but the article did say,

Quote

not including the 86 (which is actually a Subaru)

Noto · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2018, 11:04:41 am »

Quote from: autoTRADER.ca on March 20, 2018, 06:46:39 am

If you crave both reliability and a bit of driving pizzazz, then have I got a Toyota for you! Sorry, that’s meant to be a question: Have I got a Toyota for you? The answer is no. No, I don’t.

^^

dkaz · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2018, 11:39:54 am »

The Corolla iM is a bit better in terms of driving dynamics thanks to the rear multi link suspension. It does seem to be pulled straight from the Asian/European market, is it just me or is the iM smaller than the Corolla sedan?

Robin2 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2018, 12:47:28 pm »

Sporty / Fun are two words i'd put with a Toyota corolla.... reliable and miser (good on fuel) would be 2 i'd use.

ChaosphereIX · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2018, 04:05:21 pm »

nothing sporty about it - reliable and sensible yes, sporty no

"sporty" is such a general term these days it could mean anything to different people - some found a Windstar with a spoiler "sporty"

johngenx · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2018, 04:40:32 pm »

None of the regular FWD compact sedans are at all sporting. They're all transportation devices. You can get some fun versions of them, but the regular ones that are sold in large numbers are not fun. Great on fuel and cheap to operate? Yuppers. Want a compact car that will deliver near-hybrid fuel economy, cost close to $20K flat, and cost the least to run over the next 10, 15, or 20 years? Corolla.

The Gen 11 Corolla moved more towards the comfort end of things with a nicer interior and slightly cushier ride and more luxury features, and is now easily one of the best values. And even though the ride is a bit better, the chassis is more responsive than the Gen 10, it's still not a sporting machine in the least.

Fobroader · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2018, 04:45:51 pm »

Corolla hasn't been fun since a brief time in the 80s

Now its just a solid, reliable, fuel miser compact that I would recommend to anyone as a 2nd car/daily driver.

ChaosphereIX · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2018, 05:59:29 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on March 20, 2018, 04:40:32 pm

None of the regular FWD compact sedans are at all sporting. They're all transportation devices. You can get some fun versions of them, but the regular ones that are sold in large numbers are not fun. Great on fuel and cheap to operate? Yuppers. Want a compact car that will deliver near-hybrid fuel economy, cost close to $20K flat, and cost the least to run over the next 10, 15, or 20 years? Corolla.

The Gen 11 Corolla moved more towards the comfort end of things with a nicer interior and slightly cushier ride and more luxury features, and is now easily one of the best values. And even though the ride is a bit better, the chassis is more responsive than the Gen 10, it's still not a sporting machine in the least.

if Toyota offered a Corolla "R" variant, yeah it would be on equal ground...but if you want a hot Focus, you can have one. Hot Civic? Yep. Subaru? You bet. Toyota? Nope. They are the king of reliable vanilla transportation for the masses, even better than Honda in that regard IMO. They never go wrong, are easy to operate, and are far from exciting. There is a reason they are everywhere for the "a to b" crowd that makes up 95% of the buyers out there.

dkaz · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2018, 06:12:29 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on March 20, 2018, 04:45:51 pm

Corolla hasn't been fun since a brief time in the 80s

Now its just a solid, reliable, fuel miser compact that I would recommend to anyone as a 2nd car/daily driver.

They had the Corolla XRS in 2005 and 06 with the high revving valve lifting 170 HP 1.8L engine. 0-60 was in the low 6s, not the high 5s the WRX was known for but decent for a small naturally aspirated engine. This same engine was in Matrix XRS from 03 to 06 (180 HP), Celica GTS from 00 to 05 (180 HP), as well as the Lotus Exige and Elise (190 HP).

Jaeger · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2018, 06:12:49 pm »

Quote from: No-san on March 20, 2018, 11:04:41 am

Quote from: autoTRADER.ca on March 20, 2018, 06:46:39 am
If you crave both reliability and a bit of driving pizzazz, then have I got a Toyota for you! Sorry, that’s meant to be a question: Have I got a Toyota for you? The answer is no. No, I don’t.
^^

Lol! Great line.

quadzilla · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2018, 06:44:57 pm »

Quote from: DKaz on March 20, 2018, 11:39:54 am

is it just me or is the iM smaller than the Corolla sedan?

Not just you as I'm sure it is smaller than the sedan. Only if Toyota would give us a wagon version.

johngenx · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2018, 07:21:20 pm »

I like that.

EV-Light · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2018, 10:12:57 pm »

The last Corolla I drove was a 2016 rental...it wasn’t the worst car I’ve ever driven but it was darn close. Pure vanilla and lacking power...

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pi314 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2018, 10:14:35 pm »

Quote from: quadzilla on March 20, 2018, 06:44:57 pm

Quote from: DKaz on March 20, 2018, 11:39:54 am
is it just me or is the iM smaller than the Corolla sedan?

Not just you as I'm sure it is smaller than the sedan. Only if Toyota would give us a wagon version.

I would have been all over that. The iM is quite nice but it didn't make shortlist to replace my fit due to the drop in cargo versatility; station wagons are not quite as well packaged as the fit, but they offer the room. And I just love the way they look (I know I'm in the general minority)

I test drove the Corolla when shopping recently, and it's a great car. Biggest thing that kept me away was the transmission; I still like the third pedal and the Corolla makes stickshift driving a chore. Not a huge loss for Toyota I know when about 1% of sales are manual transmissions.

tooscoops · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2018, 11:00:06 am »

that colour, angle and option package make that auris look better than most images i have seen... it is just a wagon with an odd nose in most packages/colour combos.

anyways, while it's not sporty in a race scenario, it is sporty compared to most compacts that the potential buyers know. at a light, if you stomp on it, will it jump pretty quick? sporty! when i glance over my shoulder on an on ramp and see a big rig, if i push down, will it zoom up leaving the truck way back? real world sport. when i look at it, is it "sharp" looking and not covered in fake chrome? sporty.

they aren't calling it tuned, they aren't calling it a race car or performance machine. they are saying it's sporty. that's like saying a girl is "cute"... you can assume it means beautiful, but it really doesn't. but it's still a good thing.

Noto · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2018, 11:24:37 am »

Quote from: Tauri13 on March 20, 2018, 10:12:57 pm

The last Corolla I drove was a 2016 rental...it wasn’t the worst car I’ve ever driven but it was darn close. Pure vanilla and lacking power...

If those are the criteria for "darn close to the worst car ever", I suggest you stay far clear from the Mitsu Mirage, Nissan Sentra, and a slew of CUVs that are similar. God forbid you ever come into contact with a Honda HR-V.

Seafoam · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2018, 03:24:34 pm »

Quote from: No-san on March 21, 2018, 11:24:37 am

Quote from: Tauri13 on March 20, 2018, 10:12:57 pm
The last Corolla I drove was a 2016 rental...it wasn’t the worst car I’ve ever driven but it was darn close. Pure vanilla and lacking power...
If those are the criteria for "darn close to the worst car ever", I suggest you stay far clear from the Mitsu Mirage, Nissan Sentra, and a slew of CUVs that are similar. God forbid you ever come into contact with a Honda HR-V.

He only likes Fords.