 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
While its soporific driving dynamics have never made it a favorite around here, the Toyota Corolla is a competent compact sedan that remains one of the bestselling cars in the country. This year, almost 228,000 Americans have bought either a Corolla or Corolla-derived Matrix hatch. For 2011, the Corolla sees changes which are mostly confined to a new front end and minor equipment additions. We got our first look at the L.A. auto show.The car’s redesign comes just two model years after the current-generation model debuted for 2009. The 2011 wears a new front fascia, a body-color grille, and skinnier headlights, producing a look akin to—but not quite as pretty as—that of the first-generation Mazda 6. A new trunklid, rear bumper, and smaller lighting elements with chrome inserts clean up the look of the rear end. The designs of the 15-inch wheel covers and the Corolla S’s 16-inch wheels are new, and the side-view mirrors have been enlarged to aid those of us who actually bother to use them.The range-topping S replaces the standard 15-inch steel wheels with 16-inch alloys wearing marginally wider tires, and adds a “sporty” body kit, a chrome exhaust tip, metallic interior accents, fog lights, and a “sport” instrument cluster. (It makes the car faster!) The only performance-oriented changes are the new wheels and rubber, so don’t expect the car’s dynamics to wake up.One other addition: Because the country had a collective freak-out, all Corollas get a brake-override system that cuts the throttle when both the brake and accelerator pedals are depressed. ABS, stability and traction control, brake assist, and brake-force distribution all became standard for 2010.Regardless of trim, the Corolla employs a carry-over 1.8-liter inline-four engine with 132 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed auto optional on base and S trims; the slushbox remains the only transmission for Corolla LE buyers. There’s a 2-mpg increase in city mileage with the five- speed transmission; its ratings are now 28 mpg city/35 highway. The automatic’s fuel-economy ratings remain 26/34 mpg. Although the change isn’t noticeable in those numbers, Toyota says the addition of underbody trays reduces aerodynamic drag.
toyota corolla commercial
