MARK JONES

The current Toyota Corolla has been around three years and it had come time to freshen the car up a bit.

For this the team at Toyota SA took us out onto the stunning mountain passes of Mpumalanga. Why?

I am known for saying what other people think, and this mostly gets me into trouble. But at least you get to hear the truth.

The Corolla is not South Africa’s top selling sedan for the past 26 years for nothing. It is seriously good at getting you from A to B in a relaxed to brisk fashion.

MOUNTAIN PASSES

Attacking mountain passes is not what this car enjoys doing. I doubt an owner would enjoy it either.

It is not that the car does not handle well. The suspension does a fine job of absorbing all that our varied roads can throw at it.

Turn into a corner that is tighter than you thought, and a simple lift of the accelerator brings the front back into line with no fuss.

It is just that twisty roads that undulate up and down as well as left and right, require power – and more importantly, power when you want it.

And here the two models we drove in the existing 1.6 litre that makes 90 kW / 154 Nm, and the new 2.0 litre that produces 102 kW / 189 Nm have the numbers on paper and against the competition. But they are horribly let down in this fast paced environment by their old school four-speed auto boxes.

Fuel consumption climbs well above claimed, the box is forever trying to decide which gear it should be in – and then simply decides to hold a gear and not kick down when you want it to.

Not pleasant. But drive the Corolla like most owners will, and like we did on the second day of the launch, and then this car comes into its own.

Consumption falls easily below 7.0 litres / 100 kilometres even for the 2.0 litre auto, and the car becomes a pleasure to travel on short or long distances.

The manual versions of the two were better in terms of trying to go fast but, sticking to what this car does best, choosing between a manual or an auto for commuting will all be about personal preference.

But getting to what has actually changed on the car, besides the 2.0 litre motor, you have a new headlamp design, squared off front bumper, longer fog light bezels and a bolder front grille up front.

Moving past the new alloy wheels and side mirrors, with integrated turn signals, to the back of the car you get wider rear tail lights with chrome detailing.

CHROME GARNISH

There is also a wide chrome number plate garnish which I don’t think makes the new car look any better.

Inside it is Toyota class and functionality as per usual. For me this car certainly has one of the more modern and less boring facias and instrumentation packages in the segment.

It has gone up a step, too, in my book with a new thicker, flat bottomed sports steering wheel, and the Optitron instrumentation panel that now features a new white illumination.

Standard spec levels on the range are also rather good with the mid level cars getting air conditioning, speed-sensing automatic door locks, a radio/CD player with full iPod, USB and MP3 connectivity.

There are at least two airbags, an adjustable steering wheel, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and braking assist (BAS), a high mounted LED stop lamp down to front electric windows on the most affordable Corolla.

The top of the range Exclusive trim 2.0 litre petrol and turbodiesel models come with luxury specifications.

DOOR TRIM

These include keyless access, rain sensing wipers, automatic air conditioning, leather seat and door trim, self-levelling high impact discharge (HID) lights, cruise control and front airbags and side airbags for driver and front passenger.

But what is not available on any of the models, except the 2.0 litre, and then it is an option of R4 400, is electronic vehicle stability control.

So although Toyota SA says the Corolla is the proud recipient of a five star rating in the stringent European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) crash test assessment, this will not be the case for any of the Corollas coming here – unless they have this vital little piece of life saving equipment fitted.

Ironically, overseas all the models come standard with VSC. But in SA, one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to drive, the number one selling sedan does not get to save lives.

It would seem VSC is deemed too expensive by manufacturer and buyer alike, within a highly price sensitive market.

But be that as it may, Toyota are not guilty of this on their own. Most of our other manufacturers in this segment do exactly the same.

The facelifted Corolla is still a good, solid and reliable everyday car in terms of drive and perceived long term investment.

Pricing:

1.3 Impact R177 700; 1.3 Professional R185 800; 1.3 Advanced R201 800; 1.6 Professional R207 400; 1.6 Advanced R222 800; 1.6 Advanced 4 A/T R233 300; 2.0 Exclusive wo VSC R258 500; 2.0 Exclusive 4 A/T wo VSC R268 800; 2.0 Exclusive with VSC R262 900; 2.0 Exclusive 4 A/T with VSC R273 200; 2.0D Advanced R253 500; 2.0D Exclusive R282 000.