Oppo Review: 2010 Toyota Corolla

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 08/15/2014 at 16:21 • Filed to: Oppo Review, oppositelock, Toyota, corolla

2

10

Okay, so this isn't the latest model of the Corolla (2010), however, there are many of these on the used market going for good prices, wouldn't you like to know what you're getting into beforehand?

Oh, and before you grab your pitchforks, this review is being told with the perspective of an average car buyer in mind. Some who is just looking for a good car for life, not exactly a star performer.

So, I present: The 2010 Toyota Corolla, from a techie's perspective...A techie that usually drives this:

( Full Disclosure: This car is owned by a friend of mine that now is my co-worker. She hates driving and knows I love driving, so in exchange for a free carpool, I just have to make her Corolla become my daily commuter. Unfortunately, as it isn't my car, nor do we work anywhere scenic, I'll be using photos from Netcarshow.com for this review. This is also Take Two at posting this. Oh Kinja... )

In most online car enthusiasts' eyes, Toyotas are sin. They're often described as the "King of Beige" as well as "Sleep Inducing". See, but I think the Corolla is simply misunderstood.

The Corolla is not a driver's car, nor is it an enthusiast's car, it's an everyman's car. The Corolla is a car designed for the masses, rather than for those of us who lace our morning bowls of cereal with 100 octane petrol.

So, with that thought in mind, I writing this review with an open mind. I'm not expecting earth shattering performance, Mercedes-shaming quality, or even an experience so fun that it makes driving a Miata look painful. No, I'm looking out for what the average car buyer looks for: Features, Safety, Economy, Practicality, Price, and an overall package that people come to expect for their next family hauler, daily driver, or commuter car.

Exterior 6/10

To be honest, there's nothing to really write home about with the exterior. The Corolla is one of the most inoffensive designs of the past decade. There isn't much to fall in love with, yet there isn't much to hate either.

It's a small sedan that blends in well everywhere you go. I mean, even if you put a fire-spitting V8 in the engine bay and gave the car a cool flame paint job (I'm kidding, don't put flames on your Toyota), the car would be just as anonymous as every cookie-cutter house in those new subdivisions popping up all over the Chicago suburban area.

Speaking of houses, a Corolla won't raise or lower the kerb appeal of your residence...again, it's anonymous...

The car is well deserving of its grade though. What's there is well designed. The lines all flow end to end well and everything seems well thought out, which is something that's seemingly hard to get in many of today's designs.

Interior 8/10

The car I'm driving is a base model Corolla...And to be honest, I'm pretty impressed. The interior is decorated with a mixture of hard plastics and very soft fabric. The plastics feel of pretty good quality, even the buttons and knobs in the interior work and feel like something that belongs in a good car.

Speaking of those buttons, what you see in that picture is what you get. Buttons are laid out in familiar order and all appropriate knobs are arranged into a row and are very easily reached. Nothing about this car's interior will invoke stress or confusion. You can just hop right in, adjust what's needed, and set off.

Now, not all is happy in paradise. The steering wheel feels great. It's shaped in a way that entices to grab hold and rip the little thing around a curve. Though, I think it's just a little too thin.

The silver accents are also pretty nice, but I think the car would benefit from some colour...

Acceleration 5/10

You push the accelerator down, the car moves. You push it down further, the car moves faster.

The car will definitely beat several cars in a sprint to sixty, you just won't feel like the car is going fast when you do it.

For example: The only car on the market slower to sixty than my own is the Chevy Spark. Interestingly enough, even though my sprint to speed is glacial, it feels like I've strapped a rocket to the roof.

That sensation is absent in the Corolla. You put your foot down, you reach your desired speed, and that's all.

Although, one pleasing thing is that the car will easily exceed the speed limit, whether you like it or not!

Braking 7/10

Now this car has a party trick up its sleeve.

Usually when you stop a car hard, you feel like your eyeballs are going to pop out and splatter on the instrument panel. This is not true in the Corolla.

No, the brakes are good. The car will lose speed faster than I would've ever expected it to. That is good for emergency situations.

However, due to some sick perversion in physics or by some other black magic, stopping a Corolla (even at full force) feels just as gentle as fully accelerating one.

If you like stopping without the feeling of stopping, this could be the car for you...

Ride 7/10

This car doesn't have any sporting pretenses and you get what you expect.

The car rolls over imperfections and absorbs bumps acceptably. You can take a nap in this car with a pretty bad driver and you won't wake up.

It's not nearly as soft as an old American land barge, but it's comfortable enough that you can drive it across the country with little fatigue.

The only major knock is road noise. While general outside noise is well filtered, you can hear wind and tyres pretty clear, which can detract from comfort on long journeys.

Handling 5/10

The majority of buyers for this car aren't going to care for skidpad numbers or how fast it'll slalom. Thus, handling isn't a strong suit for this car either.

When you throw it into a curve, you're met with some considerable body roll and you can feel the tyres deform under the load. Yet strangely, the car will grip and hug the curve.

Unfortunately, Toyota didn't match this car's strange potential with confidence inspiring equipment. The steering wheel has very limited feel. It's not "point and click" like some FCA and GM vehicles, but it's still pretty dead and numb.

I'm certain you can get it to whip fast around a corner, but there's also another thing stopping you, the seat. With absolutely no support, you'll slide out of the seat long before the tyres reach their limits.

Gearbox 9/10

The car tested here has Toyota's automatic box. I have few comments on it.

You engage your desired gear and it does all the work, no questions asked. Gearshifts are seemingly seamless and are all at the appropriate points.

If you plop down the accelerator, it downshifts and gives you that power.

Other than the possible addition of paddle shifters, I have no complaints about the automatic transmission. It does exactly what it sets out to do: Shift gears for you.

Toys 7/10

The car I'm driving is a base model car that follows the old recipe for base model cars: Everything is manual.

However, not everything is manual, just the least important things. The car still has power mirrors, a CD player (with AUX input), and power steering.

In exchange for that lower base price, you get manual locks, manual windows, and an array of blank buttons.

I like that, bare bones cars should be bare bones.

Audio 4/10

It has an engine, it makes noise...

It has a stereo, it also makes noise...

Neither of which make pleasurable noise. The radio handles music worse than a boombox from the dollar store. Though, talk radio is pretty exceptional.

I'd say the stereo is even worse than a base model smart fortwo of the same year...And the smart fortwo's base stereo was widely regarded as one of the worst on the market!

The engine sounds like an old vacuum. Wait, no. It sounds like the generic engine tones you get in Gran Turismo. While accelerating, it makes a basic four cylinder engine tone. I don't know, even if I wasn't looking for a sporty car, I'd at least like the engine to sound better than a Maytag (and that's no insult to Maytag). That, is something the Corolla does not do.

That said, the engine is something else that got good sound deadening, so once you're off the throttle and cruising, you won't hear it anymore.

Value 6/10

Now here's the thing about the Corolla, it doesn't depreciate quickly.

While you can find them in all trim levels for under $15,000, most are still over $10,000.

That means you can set your sights on a used, late model Corolla (that's already 4 years old), or spend a little more and get a smaller new car that will likely have more features, a fresh warranty, and might be a more enjoyable car.

However, if you're in the market for a reliable used car (the driven car here has 50,000 miles and has only been to the dealer for regular maintenance) that has plenty of usable space, gets fairly decent fuel economy, and are not really looking for any sporting credentials, then maybe the Corolla is your future ride...

64/100 - Slightly Above Average (my own scale).

(Photo Credits: Toyota, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )

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Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Mercedes Streeter 08/15/2014 at 16:31

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Gearbox should get a much lower rating? It's a 4 speed in 2010, let me repeat, a 4 speed in 2010. Sure it works, but look at the competition form the same m/y.

404usernotfound > Mercedes Streeter 08/15/2014 at 16:33

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I'm not chalenging your score, but I feel like cars like this should be an automatic 50 on the Jalopisitelock review scale, as a calibration point. If it is better than a Civic or Corolla, it gets a 6 or higher , if worse, 5 or less. Just a thought.

Mercedes Streeter > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 08/15/2014 at 16:39

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That is true! Though, would the average Toyota buyer care? The thing does exactly what it sets out to do. In my time driving it (and I'll be driving it indefinitely), I really can't say there's anything wrong with it...I wish it could be a Manual (or an automated setup like my smart) but for an autobox, it seems to work just fine...

Mercedes Streeter > 404usernotfound 08/15/2014 at 16:42

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Agreed! However (with that note of "my own scale") I kinda wrote this with the perspective of a non-gearhead buyer in mind. Someone who just wants A-B transport and not much else.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Mercedes Streeter 08/15/2014 at 16:58

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Yeah, it probably doesn't really need 4 speeds, but it angers me the competition is offering 6 forward gears, but at that time, I believe the Corolla was the best selling car in the world. I imagine in many parts of the world it isn't cost effective to put a 6spd in. But anyways, it's crazy here in the US that it sells at all with its lack of gears.

Mercedes Streeter > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 08/15/2014 at 17:05

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And I totally agree too! Mechanically, the Corolla is the most outdated of its competition. But Toyota knows its market. They can sell a car with dated mechanicals and still make a killing.

Cé hé sin > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 08/15/2014 at 17:23

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Most of the world of course gets five gears which you need to change by yourself.

burpbeepburp > Mercedes Streeter 08/15/2014 at 23:04

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I actually like Corollas, they're a nice honest car. Like an air-cooled Beetle.

1. If it has manual windows, why do the interior shots show power window switches on the drivers armrest?

2. Was it the Corolla S? Remember, the S stands for "SSSSSSSSSSSS"!

claramag, Mustaco Master > Mercedes Streeter 08/15/2014 at 23:19

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That is the exact same center console my '04 had. Not complaining, if it's not broke...

Mercedes Streeter > burpbeepburp 08/16/2014 at 12:12

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It was a base model Corolla. I used stock images since it isn't exactly my car (it's a friend's). And yes, that's what I liked about the Corolla! It doesn't set itself out to be anything than what it actually is.