2012 Toyota Corolla Review

2012 Toyota Corolla Review

Bruce Sheridan

Overview

The 2012 Toyota Corolla is another rendition of the world's all time best selling car, but reputation alone is not nearly enough to keep this aging vehicle competitive. The small car market went from being Japanese dominated to becoming arguably the most competitive car class in the industry with great newcomers like the Hyundai Elantra, Chevy Cruze and Mazda 3.

The Corolla seems content on sticking to reliability and familiarity, which are really the only things it has going for it over the rest of the pack. That being said, the Corolla is still a quality car. If all you want from your car is practical, affordable and solid transportation, then the Corolla is perfect. It also retains more of its resale value than most competitors, and has always been a very low maintenance vehicle.

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There is no clear cut winner of the compact car class, so you really need to check out all the car deal options available. The Corolla is outclassed by the competition in gas mileage, performance and style, but it remains the safe bet it has always been.

2012 Toyota Corolla

Starting MSRP	Max City / Hwy MPG
$16,130	27 / 34

Pros	Cons
Reliable as ever	Low gas mileage
Smooth transportation	Outclassed performance
Very safe	Boring design

Trims

The 2012 Corolla only comes in three different trims, and each come with the exact same engine. Choosing upwards in the trim levels won't get you anything extra in terms of performance, but it will open up more technology, style and comfort options. The difference in price from the base trim to the highest is only about $1,800, so the Corolla is really one of the few cars where it actually makes financial sense to choose the most expensive trim if you want the extras.

Corolla Trims
Name	MSRP	Engine	Best MPG City / Hwy
L	$16,130	1.8L 4-cyl	27 / 34
LE	$17,910	1.8L 4-cyl	27 / 34
S	$17,990	1.8L 4-cyl	27 / 34

Performance

The 2012 Corolla only has one engine option available; the 1.8L inline 4-cyl engine. It can be mated to the standard five speed manual or optional four speed automatic. This lethargic engine is handily beaten by almost every competitor out there. The manual transmission is much better suited to this car than the sluggish but smooth automatic. The Corolla was once an industry leader in efficiency, but not this year with a mediocre EPA estimated 27 city / 34 hwy mpg.

Interior / Exterior

The Corolla got a refreshed look recently, and while it does not come close to some sportier rivals, most people could live with it. However, a lot of people take issue with almost everything about the interior. Cheap materials, bland designs and just a low quality feeling plague this commuter car. The minimalist approach does have its subtle advantages, but the quality and stylish interior of cars like the Elantra, Cruze and Focus put the Corolla to shame.

Features

The Corolla may be a snooze on the inside, but the simplicity does make its features and controls very easy to use. Power windows and keyless entry are now standard on every Corolla trim, which is an overdue addition. The base L trim now comes with a respectable amount of standard features for this class.

Along with power windows, locks and mirrors it also has air conditioning, a trip computer and a telescoping and tilting steering wheel. There's not much optional equipment to choose from, but you could get an improved infotainment and audio system with USB and iPod connectivity.

Safety

The Corolla has always been one of the safest family cars in this segment, and the 2012 edition is no different. It scored very well in its government testing but fell just short of perfection with a four out of five stars overall. However, it did ace all of its IIHS tests and was named a 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick. Every Corolla comes with standard front disc and rear drum anti lock brakes, electronic stability and traction control and front side and front curtain air bags.