2018 Toyota Corolla Sport Review: Performance and Features
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2018 Toyota Corolla Sport Review
Introduction
44 million – this isn’t the population of a particular country, but rather the number of Toyota Corollas sold worldwide since its debut in 1966 until 2016. By the time the number surpassed 40 million in 2013, the Corolla became the best-selling car in the world, outpacing the Volkswagen Beetle.
The Success of the Corolla
To grasp the enormity of this number, imagine lining up all those Corollas one after another; they could circle the Earth at the equator five times. Simply put, a Toyota Corolla is sold globally every 15 seconds.
This is a testament to the success and popularity the Corolla has achieved over the past 52 years and through 11 generations. It has dominated its segment despite fierce competition over the years from models like the Nissan Sunny, Honda Civic, and Mitsubishi Lancer.
Driving Experience of the 2018 Toyota Corolla Sport
Today, we are experiencing a distinctive version of the 2018 Corolla – the Corolla Sport, priced at 100,000 AED. Let me share my thoughts on whether this price tag can convince me to buy a Toyota Corolla.
Exterior Design
The Sport variant of the Corolla features some body kits and enhancements that distinguish it from other versions. It comes equipped with LED headlights and taillights, LED daytime running lights, and fog lights. I wish these lights operated automatically, especially at this price. The Corolla I’m reviewing today has 16-inch alloy wheels and sports the "Sport" badge at the rear. I also hoped for more distinctive features like clear exhaust outlets or a small spoiler to truly set apart this sporty version.
Interior Design
Here lies my biggest criticism of this version of the Corolla. The game has changed significantly in this segment, with manufacturers aiming for a younger audience through modern designs and well-equipped features while keeping prices low. However, the most notable features of the Corolla Sport seem to be a small touchscreen for the infotainment system, which only allows you to control audio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rearview camera with sensors, along with cruise control.
Additionally, we get manually adjustable seats covered in a light beige fabric that leans towards yellow, which is an attempt at a unique touch, but it was uncomfortable for the eyes, especially when driving in daylight. The Corolla also boasts a small information display in the instrument cluster and buttons for audio and Bluetooth controls on the steering wheel, while the air conditioning system is standard, not climate control. This version does not come with a sunroof or automatic wipers or lighting.
Of course, the Corolla continues to excel in passenger comfort and space, but it lacks rear air conditioning vents.
Driving Performance
Historically, the Corolla has given a strong sense of lightness in previous models, especially at highway speeds. However, during my drive in this generation, I found it to be more stable on the road, instilling greater confidence.
The Sport version of the Corolla comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is the largest engine option available for the Corolla, with a smaller 1.6-liter engine also offered. The power difference between the two engines is 22 horsepower. The larger engine generates 143 horsepower and 187 Nm of torque. Don’t expect any sporty or thrilling performance from this Corolla version, despite its name, but it is sufficient to make driving easier.
Final Verdict
At the end of my experience with the Corolla Sport, I arrived at two conclusions: first, Toyota needs to innovate what it offers with vehicles at this price point, observing how its competitors have managed to provide more at similar prices. Second, if you are seriously considering purchasing this Sport version, please test drive the Toyota Camry 2.5 SE, as it offers higher specifications, a larger engine, and is priced similarly.
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