2014 TOYOTA COROLLA S: Low-end luxury

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This article was published 14/02/2014 (4433 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The all-new-for-2014 Toyota Corolla is the 11th generation of the world’s best-selling nameplate. Introduced in 1966, the Corolla reached a mind-boggling 40 million units sold worldwide by mid-2013.

In Canada, compact sedans are the biggest sellers, so the Corolla is the bread and butter of Toyota dealerships. That means Toyota’s got a lot riding on this new model’s success.

There’s a long list of changes for 2014 — wheelbase and overall length are increased, styling is new and the body is aerodynamically slipperier (the coefficient of drag is reported to be 0.28, the same as the new Porsche 911 Carrera), and a CVT is available for the first time to help squeeze out that extra little bit of fuel economy. (Just say no to the archaic four-speed automatic that can still be had in the CE base model.)

Visually, the most striking feature of the 2014 Corolla is its face, with a surprisingly aggressive, gaping maw dominating the front. There’s a resemblance to the spindle grille of the upscale Lexus side of the corporate family, and that’s a good thing. A pair of round fog lights (standard on our S tester) are housed in wedge-shaped recesses sculpted in the style of air dams on race cars.

The side profile remains typical Corolla — plain, with only a bulging front fender and signal lights integrated into the side mirrors to offer visual interest. The side view will offend nobody. A small spoiler on the trunk is a reminder that the “S” is the sporty Corolla.

Viewed from the front, the style is courageously bold for the conservative company that Toyota is. The new Corolla looks fresh and attractive, but pales when compared to the swoopy, drop-dead-gorgeous,new 2014 Mazda3.

Our test unit was a very nicely equipped Corolla S with the optional CVT and $2,350 premium package, with an MSRP of $22,250.

The premium package includes (among other things) power moon roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, and SofTex, a lush, synthetic material that’s virtually indistinguishable from leather and contributes immeasurably to the Corolla’s outstanding cabin. Without the benefit of having tested the all-new Mazda3, the 2014 Corolla S has the absolute best interior in class. It has the look and feel of luxury that could easily have come from a Lexus.

That incredible Lexus feeling of quality doesn’t stop in the cabin. Driving the Corolla S feels like you’re driving a small luxury car. Controlling noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) is a big challenge in designing small cars, but NVH is well controlled in the Corolla. The cabin is best-in-class quiet with a suspension that does a marvellous job of insulating passengers from road imperfections while delivering a comfortable ride. Get the Corolla S up to highway speed and wind and road noise is minimal.

The Corolla’s handling dynamics are pleasingly solid. The S is supposed to be the sportiest in the model range. It drives brilliantly, but again, more like a small luxury car than your run-of-the-mill compact.

The new-for-2014 CVT is a technology that’s controversial among auto journalists. Ignore the complaints of those auto writers who whine about missing the sound and feel of gears changing in a conventional automatic transmission. The CVT is more efficient and delivers much better fuel economy than a conventional automatic gearbox, so it saves you money. What’s not to like about that? (We managed a very good 9.4 L/100 km of regular unleaded fuel consumption in city driving.)

There are a lot of features of the new Corolla S I like: heated seats that don’t have to be re-engaged when starting the vehicle, one-touch lane-change signal, a bright backup camera display, remote unlocking trunk and the exceptional fuel economy.

My complaints are few — the automatic headlights turn on later than I prefer and having more power would be nice. The Ford Focus (160 horsepower, 2.0-litre) and Mazda3 (155 horsepower, 2.0-litre) both stomp the Corolla’s 132-horsepower, 1.8-litre engine, and they have comparable fuel economy ratings.

Overall, the 2014 Toyota Corolla S stands out as a gem in the compact segment. It’s not the most value-packed choice — look to Hyundai and Kia as the class value leaders. It’s not the sportiest choice — the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Mazda3 beat the new Toyota in the fun-to-drive category.

Already renowned for building top-drawer cars in quality and reliability, the new 2014 Corolla S is a giant leap forward in the compact class. The 2014 Corolla S now tops the compact class as a luxury car. Swap out the badges and this Corolla could easily be sold as a Lexus. It’s really that good, and that makes it one of my favourite cars tested this year. Highly recommended.

— Postmedia Network Inc. 2014