Toyota Corolla: The Next Generation

By Jenny Wensley

Toyota is now the largest automaker in the United States, overtaking General Motors earlier this year in sales, and the Toyota Corolla has played a large part in the success of the automaker in North America.

It's hard to believe, but the Toyota Corolla has been around for 40 years now. The Japanese automaker recently unveiled the 10th generation of its wildly popular Corolla model in Tokyo. The newest generation of Corolla comes in both sedan and wagon versions, and includes several new Toyota technology breakthroughs.

For example, the c will ship with Toyota's intelligent parking-assist system, a technology first developed on the Lexus LS line. The intelligent parking assist system takes the hassle out of parallel parking and navigating into smaller standard parking spaces. The system will also detect an impending collision while driving, automatically applying the brakes and activating seatbelts if necessary.

The newest Corolla is also equipped with Toyota's new 1.8 L engine, combined with a Super CVT-i transmission. The new engine provides increased fuel efficiency, while the super CVT-i transmission ensures a smooth ride and superb handling on the road.

As you would expect from a modern Toyota, environmental performance is taken seriously, and the new Corolla engine reduces CO2 emissions, while maintaining robust acceleration and torque.

With Toyota now the largest car manufacturer in North America, the new 10th generation Corolla is sure to continue the company's success in the midsize vehicle market. Amazingly, when the Corolla first debuted in 1966, its style and engineering were considered practically avant-garde. It's ironic that the new Corolla is steadfastly conservative in its design, and exterior changes from previous models are subtle and hard to spot at first glance.

Toyota calls the newest Corolla "groundbreaking," but at least appearance-wise, there's not a lot to distinguish the new Corolla from previous versions. But it is in the details and engineering where the new Corolla is set apart from its predecessors, such as the new Toyota rearview monitor and one touch double-folding rear seats.

Fuel economy is listed at 41 miles per gallon for highway driving, and a very respectable 32 miles per gallon in the city. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, though an automatic four-speed transmission with overdrive is available as an option.

The Interior continues the same well thought out ergonomic design as previous Corollas, and has a decidedly spacious feel to it. In fact, while seated in the car, you never really feel cramped -- front leg room and headspace are all abundant, making the interior feel more like a midsize luxury car that a small economy car.

The door openings have also been redesigned and are wider than previous Corolla models, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle without fear of bumping your head. There is also an optional tinted sunroof that really helps "open up" the interior of the Corolla, giving the feel of a car much larger than the Corolla's actual size.

With a stellar reputation among North American car buyers, the 10th generation Toyota Corolla is a likely to continue the automaker's commercial success. And while the new Toyota Corolla doesn't veer far from its predecessors in design characteristics, its engineering, solid fuel efficiency and detailed interior are bound to be a big hit with car buyers.