Test Drive: 2016 Toyota Corolla

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 2, 2016

Has it really been 50 years since Toyota first introduced the Corolla, the best selling car in the world and the model that paved the way for Japanese automakers to challenge Detroit head-to-head in America? That must be the case because Toyota has released a limited production version of the 2016 Corolla — the S trim level Special Edition — to commemorate the anniversary.

The S Special Edition looks sporty in a variety of special colors, with unique gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels, and an all-black interior with red contrast stitching and red accents on the instrument panel. It also has more supportive front bucket seats and rear disc brakes instead of the drums found on most other models.

The S Special Edition has the same 1.8-liter inline four cylinder engine as all other Corollas, except the high-mileage L Eco. But it comes with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that includes two distinctly different driving modes — Eco for those who want to maximize mile and Sport, which significantly increases acceleration. The transmission can also be shifted manually with the shift lever or by steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for those who want even better performance.

All Corollas benefit from recent exterior and interior styling changes, which have finally replaced the generic looks of the last few generations with crisp body lines and a much more contemporary dash. The 2016 version now looks like it deserves to compete directly against such eye catching compacts as the redesigned Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra.

With a handful of exceptions, Corollas have mostly been designed as basic bread and butter transportation, which is why they have been so successful. Although introduced in japan in 1966, the first Corollas didn’t reach these shores for another two years. With a low price and good mileage compared to American cars, they became the second best-selling import within another two years. But they really took off during the Gas Crisis of the 1970s, when U.S. consumers came to appreciate their economy, reliability and value.

A few performance-oriented models were introduced over the years, including coupe and hatchback GTS versions, but most were and are understood to be affordable and economical daily drivers. Other compacts may be faster or handle better, but the Corolla is known to be a well balanced, dependable package. That helps explain why Corollas became the best-selling cars in the world by 1997, with over 43 million of them rolling out factory doors by now.

The current version is the 11th generation. On the plus size, it has a smooth ride, a relatively spacious interior, a large back seat for a compact, and decent trunk space. In government crash testing, the 2016 Corolla also earned the top overall rating of five stars, including five stars for frontal impacts and five stars for side impacts. But some of the most advanced safety system, such as blind spot monitoring, are not available on any trim levels.

On the other hand, like almost all Corollas, the current version has little personality. It goes about its work in a businesslike manner, but doesn’t encourage aggressive driving. Even in the Sport mode, the steering gives little feedback from the road.

But that should not discourage most Corolla buyers, who are looking for value, not thrills. Base models start at under $18,000 and our S Special Edition — which included all the 50th Anniversary features plus an optional sunroof — was under $23,000 and beat the EPA average 32 miles per gallon in a week of mixed driving.

2016 Toyota Corolla

Base price: $17,300

Price as tested: $22,320

Type: Compact sedan

Engine: 1.8-liter inline 4 (132 hp, 126 lbs-ft)

Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 4-speed automatic; Continuously Variable Transmission (as tested)

EPA estimated mileage: 29/37 as tested

Overall length: 182.6 to 183.1 inches

Weight: 2,800 to 2,875 pounds