Model Update

One of the new bits to talk about in the latest Toyota Corolla line-up is the addition of the Corolla Ultima sedan. All other Corollas have a 1.8-litre engine. However, the Corolla Ultima has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine.

What you’ll find in a stylish new Corolla is style, crisp engine response, room and great build quality. ESP and four airbags are standard features, and I enjoyed a quick drive with the latest 1.8-litre version while on-route to Lake Taupo, New Zealand. The modern interior offers comfortable seats, and I was impressed with the way the car handled and put power down on the road. Swift driving did not seem to rattle the excellent fuel economy figures I was enjoying. With a six-speed manual gearbox, the corolla offered good performance and refinement.

Electric windows, a nice stereo, sculptured cloth seats, air-conditioning and a good level of safety features make a new Corolla a good buy for a reasonable price. Service back-up is second to none, and the chances are you’ll get excellent trouble-free motoring for many years when you buy new.

The newest Corolla variant is the sporty Corolla Levin SX and ZR Hatch variants.

If you asked anybody to name the most common or typical family car, there is a very good chance that they will mention the Toyota Corolla. This car has been around since the late 1960s and continues to be one of the most popular cars in Australia and New Zealand.

In ML:CurrentYear, The latest model of the Toyota Corolla comes in four main versions: the Ascent, the Conquest, the Ultima and the Levin. Most of these versions of the Toyota Corolla come in both sedan and hatchback versions, except the Toyota Corolla Levin, which comes only as a hatchback, and the Toyota Corolla Ultima, which is a sedan. The Toyota Corolla Ascent is the entry level and most popular model.

All models of the latest Toyota Corolla have certain features in common, chief of which is the sweetly revving 1.8 litre VVT-i engine which packs 100 kW of power. Other enjoyable features common to all versions of the Toyota Corolla are the six-speaker MP3 compatible CD entertainment system, the power mirrors and the driver’s side airbag. Central locking, keyless entry, power steering and air conditioning are other features common to all versions of the Toyota Corolla which are handy to have, even if they’re not completely remarkable these days.

Let’s take a closer look at one version of the Toyota Corolla and review the Toyota Corolla Conquest Sedan. To look at, the designers seem to be shaking off the “bland and boring” looks of past Toyota Corollas and are beginning to make designs that are fresh, aerodynamic and harmonious, especially with the alloy wheels which come as standard. The interior of this version of the Toyota Corolla has a tasteful cloth trim and the bucket seats in the front add a sporty touch. The rear seats have a 60/40 split fold feature for added practicality. Cupholders in the front, engine immobiliser security and plenty of cabin storage spaces all add to the Toyota Corolla’s pragmatic and sensible design. This version of the Toyota Corolla also has satellite navigation available as an option.

Under the bonnet of the Toyota Corolla, you will find a well behaved and incredibly reliable DOHC petrol engine responding well to the driver via the five speed manual transmission. Some versions of the latest Toyota Corolla can reach a top speed of 200 km/h and can get from 0-100 km/h in under 10 seconds. The acceleration time seems a little unfair. For some reason, the car feels perkier. Perhaps its solid construction adds to the overall weight.

As it targets the family car market, the Toyota Corolla has plenty of safety features. The Conquest sedan version of the Toyota Corolla has ABS braking with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Toyota’s Safe-T-Cell has been provided in the Conquest version of the Corolla, as have pretensioner seatbelts for the driver and front passenger.

Some reviewers have described the performance of the Toyota Corolla as being straightforward and a little on the dull side. However, the Toyota Corolla has been and continues to be a safe, straightforward and reliable vehicle that deserves the popularity it has. In short, the Toyota Corolla looks like it will take it place beside Weetbix, Vegemite and Levi jeans as an icon of everyday trustworthiness and familiarity.

Current model series include:

• Corolla Ascent Hatch
• Corolla Ascent Sport Hatch
• Corolla Ascent Sedan
• Corolla Ascent Sport Sedan
• Corolla Conquest Hatch
• Corolla Conquest Sedan
• Corolla Levin SX Hatch
• Corolla Levin ZR Hatch
• Corolla Ultima Sedan

For any more information on the Toyota Corolla, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Toyota dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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