The Toyota Corolla remains the king of the great daily drivers
Beach Wheels
After all these years, the venerable Toyota Corolla remains America’s sweetheart of compact sedans.
After having recently spent a week with a newly refreshed Corolla XSE tester, I can say with confidence that consumer demand for this compact will only increase as consumers realize it is their perfect “go-to” daily driver.
My Corolla came dressed in beautiful Barcelona red metallic and was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine producing 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. That power plant is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that while not my favorite competently got the job done. Paddle shifters found on the steering wheel do help a bit.
Toyota has included an automatic engine stop-start feature which unfortunately does not allow the driver to independently disable. (A shame.)
The XSE comes with an eight-inch screen infotainment screen that features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The great sound system is by JBL and has no less than nine speakers plus a subwoofer and amplifier. If all of these features convinced you to purchase your own Corolla XSE, or any car for that matter, make use to process all the necessary documents such as vehicle registration, mva, etc.
My tester’s interior featured comfortable and supportive Sport Softex seats with contrast stitching and a large power/tilt moonroof.
The XSE trim also comes with redesigned headlights, sexy exterior treatments, power-adjustable and heated front seats and a host of other safety features including a blind-spot monitor, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. New rear-seat side airbags are included in the four-door model.
The back seat of the Corolla is big enough to comfortably carry two adults. While my tester came with just 13 cubic feet of trunk space that space increases when you fold down the two rear seatbacks.
Toyota revised a new suspension setup for the 2021 Corolla. New MacPherson struts front and a multi-link rear suspension serve to make the Corolla’s ride quality comfortable, even making the car a bit of fun to drive.
In terms of gas mileage, the Corolla continues to make consumers smile. I logged 31 miles per gallon in the city, 38 out on the highway and 24 mpg combined.
In the compact market segment, the Corolla continues to stand out despite heavy competition from the likes of the Kia Forte, the Mazda 3, the Hyundai Elantra and the Honda Civic.
My tester, as trimmed and optioned, had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $28,845.
Final thoughts:
Now in its 12th generation, the Corolla (the XSE being the top of its lineup) offers a ton of value for the money, and, given Toyota’s reputation for long-lasting durability and quality, cannot be beaten. I say buy with confidence and enjoy.
Jeff Mitchell is a Los Angeles-based automotive writer and reviewer. Reach him at j.edward.mitchell@gmail.com