Toyota Corolla Review 2024 | Top Gear

It’s a Toyota Corolla. It’s the car in front of you at the traffic light. It’s behind you. It’s next to you. It’s the car you see everywhere.

Really, why is that?

Doing the math, this is the most budget-friendly car made by an automaker known for building cars that last.

The math is right. So what is this latest thing?

The current Corolla is still going strong, having been given a mid-life makeover a few years ago that brought about significant improvements both mechanically and in the exterior design. The standard model comes in three trims and is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 169 horsepower and 150 lb ft of torque. This engine sends power to the front wheels via a CVT transmission.

There’s also a Hybrid model, which is powered by a 1.8-liter engine and pairs it with two electric motors to produce a net output of 138 horsepower. Naturally, this model is also paired with a CVT, but it’s a bit surprising that the Hybrid has an AWD option thanks to an extra motor mounted at the rear.

So AWD is really awesome, right?

Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t really improve the Corolla’s dynamic performance: this is more of an “on-demand AWD” setup, with the front axle doing most of the work and the rear electric motor stepping in to help in low-traction situations, which is a good thing, by the way.

How is the ride?

Once again, the Corolla falls into the trap of being a “just okay” car that does little to really impress. In its primary role as a means of transportation, it’s pretty inoffensive. The ride isn’t unpleasant, but it’s not exactly comfortable if you follow it. There’s a firmness to the Toyota’s steps that makes you think they might have a bit of spring in them, but they’re not really springy except for sudden lane changes and hard braking. Both of these are ideal for the monotony of commuting traffic, where this car will likely spend the majority of its mileage.

What do you like most about this car?

There are a few things about the Corolla that are especially appealing, like its fuel economy and reasonable bottom line, but it’s its updated styling that’s most impressive. The Corolla looks a lot more attractive than it actually is, which is a bit of a disappointment. We were hoping that, like its Camry big brother, upgrades would lift this budget car above expectations, but it just didn’t live up to that standard.

What is the competition like?

The Toyota Corolla’s rivals are other classic entry-level cars. You can’t go wrong with the Honda Civic, which has a more mature look these days, especially in contrast to previous models. The Honda is agile and fun to handle, as is the Mazda 3, another rival, but we think the Corolla looks a little better. So is the Hyundai Elantra, with its impressive N Sport model. It’s a little more expensive than any of the Corolla models, but it might be worth paying the extra money to get something that’s at least memorable.

While much of Toyota’s current lineup is undergoing a wave of overhauls, the Corolla seems to be the car that has benefited the least recently. We like the look of the Corolla, and are pleased with the other mechanical improvements, but they don’t do enough to mitigate the fact that this car is primarily a budget-friendly small commuter car.

It’s nice to have a car like this, but there’s little opportunity for even the simple pleasures here, especially in the current climate of exorbitant pricing.Despite its admittedly sharp looks, the Corolla’s front fascia cuts a check the engine can’t cover, and it feels oddly aggressive and lethargic at the same time, regardless of which of the two powertrains it’s fitted with.

When the engine isn’t running, the car is generally mellow, toeing the line between “bad” and “good,” but thankfully leaning more toward the latter.

Given this, it’s hard to write the Corolla off as it offers performance for what you pay for it, not inoffensively, but not simply great – in fact, it’s almost a catch-22 in that it has an affordable hybrid model.

It may not be the most exhilarating or luxurious car, but it is highly practical and comes with a host of welcome standard features, both in terms of safety and convenience. Still, you could do a lot worse than the Corolla, but for a bit more money you could get a lot better.