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Toyota's compact will remain a mini-Camry in nearly every way. |
What It Is: A next-generation Toyota
Corolla sedan covered in heavy black camouflage. The Corolla is the
smallest four-door in Toyota’s U.S. lineup, now that the Yaris sedan was
dropped for 2012. The current-generation Corolla has been around in
largely the same form since 2009—it was lightly updated for 2011 with a new face and some fresh features—but it’s time for a redesign.
Why It Matters:
Toyota has dutifully updated the volume-generating sedan every few
years, but no recent model has excited anyone outside of the company’s
accountants. Now that the Corolla’s competition includes reloaded
efforts from Ford with its new Focus and Dodge with the Dart—in addition
to the competent Chevy Cruze, the stylish Hyundai Elantra, and the
fine-driving Mazda 3—it looks even more dated than it did before.
Sky-high
mpg is perhaps more important than ever, but the Corolla will need to
offer more than just good EPA numbers to properly compete. Compact-car
buyers today expect mid-size features and technology in a reasonably
priced package. Doodads such as navigation, heated seats, and even
self-parking systems are becoming prevalent in the segment. The current
Corolla offers neither upmarket features nor an appropriately low price
to overcome its lack of modern amenities.
Platform: From the look of the
prototype in these spy photos, the Corolla likely will follow in the
footsteps of the larger Camry and use an updated version of the current
platform. Besides aping the Camry’s evolutionary platform strategy, the
Corolla also will borrow heavily from that sedan’s styling. The
taillights on this test car look nearly identical to the latest Camry’s
units, while the Corolla’s front end incorporates several angular cues
cribbed straight from its big brother. The car seen here shares its
relatively high beltline with the current model, but manages to not
appear dowdy and tall for it, at least in this armored look.
Powertrain: As did the recently redesigned Camry, we suspect the Corolla will carry over most of its powertrain stuff. The
Corolla currently offers but a single engine—a 132-hp, 1.8-liter
four—paired with either a five-speed manual or an outdated four-speed
automatic. We wouldn’t be surprised if Toyota muscles the engine up a
bit with some more power, although we hope that both transmissions
benefit from more gears. A six-speed manual or automatic would bring the
Corolla’s gearswappers into this century, and would help improve upon
its already admirable fuel economy. The EPA rates the current
stick-shift Corolla at 27 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway; the
automatic is good for the same highway number, but sacrifices 1 mpg in
the city. Not terribly shabby stuff for technology seemingly borrowed
from 1983, but we expect Toyota will shoot for the magic 40-mpg mark with the 2014 Corolla.
Competition: Chevrolet Cruze, Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Jetta.
Source (with more pix);
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