2014 Toyota Corolla

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By Steve Kursar –

The 2014 Toyota Corolla has emerged from a full redesign,  and you may not recognize the sharp-looking new model. This is a new Corolla determined to throw off the reputation of the anonymous compact car that’s invisible to the stylish eye. This new Corolla will generate double-takes from drivers used to previous models that embodied the concept of “practical but, oh, so dull.”

The Toyota Corolla made its first appearance on American highways in 1968 as a tiny box of a car. It quickly captured a sizable market share of consumers that wanted a car that was less about style and more about reliability.  It did that in spades. So it’s no wonder that a fast forward to the present shows the Corolla holding the title of the world’s most popular car model.  It still continues to attract car buyers looking for a solid and dependable car that will last for years.

However, as rival carmakers got better, the Toyota Corolla needed more than boring reliability to keeping attracting buyers. So, the Toyota designers came up with the 2014 model that will certainly turn heads and bring car shoppers to the showroom. The new exterior design features a front fascia that gives the new Corolla a dynamic athletic look. Corolla is the first compact sedan to offer standard equipped LED headlamps, which were adopted to both reduce weight and size, and in turn, help accentuate the Corolla’s tapered design. The interior is significantly better as well with upgraded materials and a much quieter cabin.  Rear passengers especially will be happier in the new Corolla that adds almost five inches of legroom over the outgoing model.

With a starting MSRP of $16,800, the standard 2014 Corolla is powered by a 132 hp, 1.8-liter aluminum four-cylinder engine that delivers EPA estimated fuel economy numbers of 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. For about $2,000 more, you can choose the new LE Eco trim level, which is equipped with a 1.8-liter engine featuring Toyota’s Valvematic technology. Along with enhanced ae-

rodynamics and an efficient CVT transmission, the LE Eco will get you an estimated 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. For just a little more money than the LE Eco, you can pick up the S trim that’s equipped with a Sport mode to provide a more energetic driving experience. It’s just another reason to add the Corolla to your shopping list if you’re in the market for a new compact sedan.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.