2016 TOYOTA Corolla

42mpg with style and a big backseat

Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

After 50,000 miles I still love mine. I got an S Plus with all options except heated seats. For the price paid (21.5k) it's hard to fault this car. Cruising at 70mph will return 42mpg in a car with a huge backseat and a very comfortable and well-designed cockpit. The front seats are very comfortable and we've taken two 3,000+ mile road trips without complaint. The gauges, steering wheel and control set are tasteful and have a quality feel. I love downshifting with the flappy panels and overall really like the CVT transmission. What's not to like? The doors have kind of a cheap feel, both in hard plastic trim and a cheap tin sound when you close the door. Also, immediate pull out power is a bit lacking with the 1.8 motor/CVT combo. Under hard acceleration, the car will often lag for a moment, and you in time get used to what it can do reliably and will change your driving style to suit. That's it, but I accept both given the price and economy of the car. We've had no unscheduled maintenance, other than a failed fog lamp that was quickly replaced on warranty by our excellent Toyota dealer. After 2 years I still love the style. No regrets. Recommended without hesitation.