With over 45-million units sold worldwide since 1966, the Toyota Corolla is easily the best-selling car ever – and yes, I do mean the best-selling car ever. The third generation Toyota Corolla was the first to be sold in South Africa being introduced in 1973 and for 45 years now, it has been a prominent part of this country’s automotive market.
The C-segment sedan as a whole has been experiencing a decline in demand as more and more buyers are opting for compact SUVs instead. Despite this, the Toyota Corolla is experiencing healthy sales and is currently the second best-selling car in the segment, only beat by a version of its predecessor (that being the Toyota Corolla Quest) and it vastly defeats the likes of Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta and Ford Focus. It is also the most popular car of choice for Uber drivers, ever wondered why that is? Perhaps these drivers are onto something.
Well there are three main trims available as of January 2017, the Esteem, Prestige and Exclusive. For this test, I had the 1.6 Prestige (which I reckon is the sweet spot for the range) and well after driving it around, it is easily apparent how comfortable the car is. This 2017 facelifted version received larger shock absorbers and revised, better sound insulation. The engine is positioned in front of the front axle – a significant distance away from the cabin – and along with the sound insulation, it makes for a very quiet cabin that experiences minimal to no vibrations at all from the engine. Factor in the leather seats (not available on the Esteem trim though), leather steering wheel, leather dashboard stitching, the piano-black dashboard centre, the 7-inch infotainment screen and the Toyota Corolla actually has a premium feel to it.
There are four engines available, three petrol engines – 1.3-litre, 1.6-litre, 1.8-litre – and one 1.4-litre turbodiesel. All except one of these engines, the 1.8-litre, are fairly efficient. The 1.6-litre test vehicle boasted a reasonable figure of 6.6L/100Km and I was able to average a figure lower than 6L/100Km. With abundant rear leg room, 452 litres of boot space and folding rear seats, it is a very practical car, not to mention that every Toyota Corolla comes with a 3-year 100 000 Km warranty and a 5-year 90 000 Km service plan.
With its mature styling, comfortable ride, good fuel efficiency and practicality, it is no wonder the Toyota Corolla is a favourite amongst Uber drivers and generally, South Africans looking for a spacious reliable family car and good value for their buck.
Pricing
| 1.3 Esteem | R 273 200 | |||
| 1.6 Esteem | R 293 100 | |||
| 1.3 Prestige | R 294 100 | |||
| 1.4D-4D Esteem | R 307 400 | |||
| 1.6 Prestige | R 313 700 | |||
| 1.6 Prestige+ | R 318 500 | |||
| 1.4D-4D Prestige | R 321 300 | |||
| 1.8 Prestige | R 328 000 | |||
| 1.6 Prestige auto | R 328 400 | |||
| 1.6 Prestige+ auto | R 333 000 | |||
| 1.8 Exclusive | R 351 900 | |||
| 1.8 Exclusive auto | R 365 300 |
