2014 toyota Corolla S Plus

2014 Toyota Corolla S Plus: If you're shopping in the compact-car class, gas performance and also price are most definitely amongst your leading priorities. Toyota's redesigned portable car supplies both-- as long as you're OKAY with a few tradeoffs in comfort.

The 2014 Toyota Corolla is a large renovation, however it ranks merely midpack against other compacts, specifically in terms of cabin sound as well as ride high quality.

Together with an outside styling remodeling, the 11th-generation Corolla gets a revised engine and also an extra high end interior for 2014.

This is a big, active course with lots of solid contenders as well as a near-constant redesign timetable. The Corolla's major opponents include the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus.


2014 Toyota Corolla S Plus


Exterior & Designing

For 2014, the Corolla pulled an automobile Miley Cyrus: Toyota took the car's exterior from Hannah Montana traditional to attention-grabbing starlet (unfortunately, Robin Thicke had not been involved). Its typical LED-accented headlights, chiseled body lines and pumped-up grille make it one of the most dramatic-looking Corolla yet. In reality, however, any type of upgrade would certainly've raised the 2013 version from the midsts of its drabness.

Instantly evident are hints Toyota obtained from the Avalon large car (the grille and fronts lights especially look acquainted), and although words "big car" do not generally share enjoyment in the designing department, the impact services the Corolla. The car's fresh looks can't match the hostile, sporty stance of the Kia Specialty or the sweeping beauty of the Hyundai Elantra, however it can get rid of "uninteresting" from its listing of issues.

Exactly how It Drives

Although the old Corolla's dull appearances are gone, a polished outside can't hide an unfinished driving experience.

Initially, the hits: Toyota did a terrific work with the constantly variable transmission. It feels even more natural as well as polished compared to the systems in the Subaru Impreza and Nissan Sentra. I drove the Corolla LE Eco design, and also power shipment from the 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder was additionally quicker than the other 2. Some CVTs in the class take their time building power and create their engines to whine loudly, yet Toyota's is both receptive as well as relatively quiet. It could obtain loud when pushed, however it's far from the biggest culprit.

Various other models (L, LE and S trims) use a variation of the 1.8-liter that benefits 132 hp. Standard on the base L is a six-speed manual transmission, as well as an old four-speed automated is optional; the CVT is typical on all various other trims.

The LE Eco version's powertrain is the most effective. Throughout my 200-mile expedition in the city and on the highway, the Corolla returned outstanding gas mileage: 38.3 mpg, which is far better than the EPA's score of 30/42/35 mpg city/highway/combined. Base versions with the manual are still impressive, with a 28/37/31 mpg ranking, which is midpack compared to base versions of the Civic (28/36/31 mpg), Focus (26/36/30 mpg) and Elantra (28/38/32 mpg).

Now the misses out on: Although respectable pep puts it at the top in terms of power, unreasonable noise degrees go down the Corolla to the bottom of the segment. Noise pours in from almost everywhere. The mirrors reason a fair bit of wind commotion, and also road noise will certainly have you examining to see if all the windows are closed, leaving the powertrain's unrefined note complementing circus-like levels of volume. This was a trouble with the previous version, also, and also the redesign hasn't place a damage in it.

Though on the solid side, an even bigger issue with the car's ride quality is a lack of seclusion. Way too much of the road enters into the cabin, so uneasy levels of vibration and also harshness are constant, unwanted guests. The trip itself usually approaches edgy, with a bit too much jump over bigger bumps. Like the Honda Civic, the firmness is tolerable in the beginning but becomes greatly uneasy as the drive wears on. The Kia Strength as well as Ford Emphasis, nevertheless, ace ride top quality; both maintain a comfy level of composure over bumps.

The Corolla scores better in regards to handling, with natural-feeling guiding and positive roadholding capacities. It doesn't really feel flashy, however the sedan takes corners without sloppiness.

Inside

The transformation is no less severe within. Toyota changed the previous generation's dull style and materials with an appealing mix of shade and also texture, together with an extra straight control format.

The Corolla I drove integrated a dark environment-friendly exterior with camel-colored tones inside and was really inviting. It's a renovation over in 2014's budget-grade motif, but the cabin still can't match the Elantra's blend of high-quality products as well as advanced design. It does, nevertheless, use more top quality and also design compared to the cabins of the squeak-and-rattle-prone Emphasis and traditional Forte.

Appeal is not skin deep in this situation. Not just does the inside appearance great, but it likewise really feels good, too. The door panel armrest is padded enough, and the seats strike a great equilibrium: supportive without being also solid, easy without being also mushy. One tiny missing out on thing is a sliding sunlight visor, which many cars have as well as serve on a daily basis.

At 182.6 inches long, the Corolla is just one of the biggest cars in the class after expanding a pair inches for 2014. Extra length means included passenger room, and also legroom is generous in the front as well as rear seats. The rear seat padding, however, is rock-solid.

Ergonomics & Electronics

Many controls and also displays are in a similar area in the new-generation Corolla, however the format has actually been extended flat for 2014. It resembles Toyota was going for a more structured plan. The result is extra appealing overall, however the panel is still strained with switches. Figuring out just what they all do isn't an issue, however.

The 6.1-inch touch-screen sound system is once more standard on the LE trim degree as well as above yet unavailable on base trims. The display dimension is good for food selection legibility and also switch size. The system showcases Toyota's Entune app suite, as well as Bluetooth audio streaming with my Android phone was seamless. Connecting to my Pandora Internet radio application was likewise easy, yet I want to see more performance. You can use the touch-screen to play as well as stop a song, yet functions like missing a song or filling a new station aren't readily available.

Freight & Storage

Despite the gains in size, the Corolla's trunk is still fairly tiny, with simply 13 cubic feet of space. That's up from last year's rating of 12.3 as well as larger than the Civic's trunk (12.5 ), yet somewhat smaller than the Focus (13.2) and Elantra (14.8 ). More bothersome is the Corolla's trunk layout. Big steel hinges stick out right into the luggage room; numerous car manufacturers have actually updated to smaller, strut-like gadgets.

The rear seat folds in a 60/40 split for added cargo area-- a helpful attribute that isn't common on the Civic or Emphasis.

Up front, there's a phone-sized cubby easily situated in front of auxiliary input as well as USB ports, in addition to a small-ish center console; the Civic's is a lot larger and also consists of a comfy sliding armrest. For the backseat, there are two flimsy pop-out cupholders (they would not last a week with my household) and one bottleholder in each door.

Safety

The 2014 Toyota Corolla is an Insurance Institute for Highway Security Top Safety Choose, earning Good rankings in all areas of screening other than the tough new small-overlap frontal collision examination. The Corolla racked up Limited in this examination, only one step above the lowest score of Poor. The Strength scored Poor in this field, however the Civic, Elantra and Emphasis performed much better, making Top Safety Choose Plus status. The National Freeway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to crash-test the Corolla.

A backup electronic camera is not available on base L models yet common on each trim. The only automobile in this class with a basic camera across the lineup is the Civic, the base price of which compares with the Corolla LE. The Corolla likewise comes standard with a vehicle driver's knee air bag as well as both chauffeur and also passenger seat padding airbags that blow up under the knees-- unusual features in this class. Click here for a full list of safety and security attributes, as well as see exactly how well the Corolla fits child-safety seats in our Safety seat Check.

Value in Its Course

The 2014 Toyota Corolla begins at $17,610, making it among the most inexpensive vehicles in its class, ranking just above the Ford Focus, at $17,105 (all prices include destination fees). The Elantra begins just higher, at $17,760, as well as the Civic covers the checklist at $18,955.

Buyers planning to update to an automatic will also locate the Corolla budget-friendly. The outdated four-speed is an extra $600, lower than the added expense for the Civic's automatic ($800), the Focus' distressing automated manual ($1,095) and also the Elantra's six-speed device ($1,000).

We called the 2013 Corolla "sub-mediocre" in a section bursting with impressive lorries, so this upgraded variation has a heck of a hill to climb up. Although the Hyundai Elantra as well as Kia Forte are kings of the mountain in regards to worth, features and also convenience, the new Corolla makes some strides in regards to fuel efficiency and also indoor products.

Opportunities are, nonetheless, that few individuals will care that it still falls short. In spite of the previous Corolla's stinker condition, individuals still bought it-- lots of people. Toyota has sold greater than 40 million Corollas worldwide given that it went on sale for the 1989 model year. In the United States, the car constantly tops month-to-month record-breaker lists, trying to getting the leading compact slot with the Honda Civic. It might not be as all-round as several cars in its class, however the 2014 Corolla is definitely a step up from the previous generation and also will continue to draw in the masses.