- The redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla looks to regain stature in the compact sedan class. Crisper styling, better fuel economy, more rear-seat room and a highly functional interior design should help it remain a big seller.
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Pros
Roomy rear seat; comfortable ride; simple controls; extra fuel-efficient LE Eco model.
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Cons
Modest horsepower and acceleration; usefulness of available Entune system is diminished by a cumbersome setup process.
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What’s New for 2014
The 2014 Toyota Corolla is fully redesigned.
Driving Impressions
We’ve only had a short amount of time behind the wheel of the 2014 Toyota Corolla. So far, the Corolla has struck us as an agreeable, if uninspired, small sedan to drive. The new CVT works well by the standards of CVTs. There’s some drone during acceleration, but it’s not particularly irritating. Ultimately, the latest Corolla drives much like the previous one. That means the steering is precise but rather numb (and not the least bit sporty), while the suspension provides a comfortable ride, though you’d never describe it as luxurious or coddling. Similarly, the four-cylinder engine tries hard but begins to feel winded during aggressive passing maneuvers or when climbing mountain grades.
The best thing about the new Toyota Corolla is that it never feels as if it’s straining to keep up with traffic or unable to deal with the unexpected. In place of inspiring performance, the redesigned Corolla offers unpretentiousness that expresses itself as character, and that coupled with its legendary reputation for reliability should ensure that the latest version of Toyota’s compact sedan finds a home in plenty of garages.
