2010 toyota Corolla S

2010 Toyota Corolla S: Next to the larger Camry, the Corolla is one of the most essential automobile in Toyota's lineup, however its redesign in 2014 left the majority of us here at Cars.com level. The outside is beyond traditional, the inside does not contrast well to opponents from Honda and Mazda, and also its base engine is anemic.

Enter the a lot more powerful XRS trim degree. The last generation of the XRS was a fun-to-drive favorite of mine. Some of that pleasure is really felt below, but with a $18,860 starting cost-- my examination cars and truck's sticker label floated near $23,000, and that really did not consist of navigating-- it does not come close to the experience of driving a performance-oriented version like the Honda Civic Si or Mazda3 s, as well as it barely handles to hold its own against its rivals' non-performance base versions.

The examination auto was a 2009, yet the 2010-- already on sale-- features no significant adjustments. Many rates is also unchanged.


2010 Toyota Corolla S


Performance

The greatest upgrade to this more pricey trim includes the engine. The base Corolla's 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder is replaced with a 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder, as well as the larger engine can be teamed with a smoother five-speed automatic transmission rather than the base design's somewhat-outdated four-speed. A five-speed handbook is common for both engines. The brand-new engine equates to a far more satisfying driving experience compared with the remainder of the Corolla schedule, however that resembles claiming a Huge Mac is extra outstanding than a 59-cent hamburger. It should be.

What shoppers need to consider is exactly how the XRS compares to the competition. I 'd rank it much behind the 197-hp Honda Civic Si in regards to delights, and also behind the redesigned 167-hp Mazda3 s in regards to well-rounded performance. I 'd likewise claim the base Mazda3 sedan, with its smaller sized 148-hp engine, gets on par with the XRS. Even a base Civic and also its hallmark high-revving, 140-hp engine would certainly prosper against the more expensive XRS.

The XRS' braking is likewise much improved over the basic Corolla, however once again, that's due to the fact that the standard is so insufficient.

Gas mileage undoubtedly takes a hit because of the updated power. The XRS obtains 22/30 mpg city/highway, compared to an incredibly economical 26/35 mpg for the base model with the manual transmission. The Civic Si obtains 21/29 mpg however has virtually 40 hp greater than the XRS.

Outside

An emphasize of the XRS trim is its appearance. The rather monotonous look of the standard Corolla is tarted up right here with even more hostile body moldings, bigger wheels-- 17-inchers replace typical 15-inch wheels-- and also a back looter. My red test car did without a doubt look sharp, and also a little less like the economic climate box it is than does the base Corolla.

Inside

My XRS tester had an optional Leather Plan. The seats themselves were quite comfortable, wrapped in rather premium black leather. However that's where the highlights end. One of the Corolla's large disappointments is its boring, somewhat roughshod interior. While Toyota has actually always been one of the leaders in regards to indoor top quality no matter the segment, the Corolla's plastics look inexpensive, and also the controls are awkward. In other words, nothing satisfied.

The XRS does not obtain a modified inside, although my examination auto's all-black indoor hid a few of the flaws I observed in various other Corollas. Quality isn't really on par with the Civic, as well as the new Mazda3 has both beat in terms of interior decoration, with its jumping lines and cutting-edge places for display screens and controls.

The Corolla's backseat is likewise limited. Even though rear legroom and clearance numbers are close to the competition, hip space in back is considerably less than in the Civic or Mazda3. I really did not have a problem positioning a convertible child seat in the Civic or the last-generation Mazda3, yet in the Corolla my 15-month-old kid's feet were dangling between the pail seats, quite near to the front passengers.

At 12.3 cubic feet, the trunk is more than appropriate; it's larger than the Honda's and Mazda's.

Functions

Toyota offers a variety of a la carte choices, which theoretically lets you choose the ones you desire. A lot of dealers, though, only order cars that have the bundles with one of the most popular alternatives. My test car's warmed leather seats were $1,490, a Power Bundle was $635 and the transmission was $1,190, bringing the total amount with location charge to $22,925.

Corolla XRS on the market
With its substantial cost, it's clear that the XRS drops well behind in the competitive small sector. I would certainly compare it closely with Nissan's SE-R, but also that cars and truck includes extra taking care of prowess.

However, the XRS was never created to be the very best performance compact; it's just a step up from the base Corolla. Because it does well, yet when you consider all the fun-to-drive compacts with premium insides that can be had for the exact same money-- like a Civic, Subaru Impreza or Mazda3-- the Corolla promptly becomes an afterthought.

None of this appears to have actually deterred cars and truck buyers, however. The Corolla continues to be one of the most preferred portable vehicle in the nation and also is consistently among the very popular automobiles of any kind.