Category Test Drive

Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

The latest Corolla has independent MacPherson strut front suspension, and its rear suspension is the torsion beam type. The MacPherson suspension is familiar to many people; and the torsion beam is not something that we can brag about. You can see the Corolla’s torsion beam in the rear suspension from the below photo.

The torsion beam is not a fully independent suspension, its advantage is simple cons...

Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

At a glance, it gives you an impression that the whole Corolla family only offers one sole choice of a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, for the US market. But please pay attention that there are actually two different engines, even though they both has 1.8L displacement.

The one on our LE trim test car is the Toyota 2ZR-FE engine, making 132hp at 6,000rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,400rpm; on the other hand,...

Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

For Corolla’s market position and price level, you will not find fancy features in the cabin; but it still meet customer’s expectation for those who are buying this kind of automobile.

Easy-to-read gauges, an audio system with USB input, AC are what you need in a basic car.

It may be a surprise for the consumer that the Corolla LE come with automatic air conditioning as standard, which typically is see...

Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

For customers who are buying cars like the Corolla, interior feature plays a more important role in their decision making process.

The first impression when you get into the Corolla cabin is its spacious interior volume. When you are sitting inside it, you will feel it is more roomy than many mid-size luxury sedan such as the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class etc...

Test Car Information:

2014 Toyota Corolla LE
1.8L naturally aspirated I4, 132 hp @ 6,000 RPM, 128 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM
Continuously variable transmission, front-wheel-drive
MSRP as tested: $18,300 (not including $825 S&H charge)

Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

For most of car enthusiasts (or, auto junkie, which my wife calls me), if he is given a budge of around $19,000 to shop for a new car, I believe the Toytoa Corolla will not be in ...