2016 Toyota Corolla

It comes with a 1.8L four-cylinder engine that produces two different states of tune, ranging from 132 hp to 140 hp. The 2016 version is largely unchanged over the 2015 version and is a very well-equipped car even in the base trim. For this year, the prices for Toyota Corolla start at an MSRP of $17,300, and it competes against the Nissan Sentra, Kia Forte, and the Honda Civic in the segment.

The Toyota Corolla sedan is offered in five trim levels, all five of which are reviewed here. It starts with the L trim level, which comes with the manual transmission and is pitched at a price point much lesser than any of its rivals. However, its features only include 15-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, adjustable steering wheel, power accessories, air-conditioning, six-way adjustable driver seat, 6.1-inch touchscreen, and so on. The complete distribution of features across the five trims is given in the table below.

Which trim should you buy?

The base trim is rather well-equipped, even though it is generally one that does not get too much attention. However, the definite highlight of the line-up is the S trim which comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension tuning, rear disc brakes, sport instrumentation and trip computer, and more. For all these reasons, at the price point of just $19,365, the S is definitely our pick.

Powering the Toyota Corolla sedan is a 1.8L Inline four-cylinder engine that generates 132 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. On the LE Eco trim level, however, it generates 140 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque while also being a little more efficient. Even though this should be good enough for most people in a car that is as light as the Corolla sedan, some people do have complaints about the power.

The transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a CVT automatic transmission. There is also a four-speed automatic available as an option. When it comes to acceleration figures, the base engine has the lethargic 8.5 seconds 0 to 60 mph time as well as a 16.6-second quarter-mile time. This does not improve much no matter what transmission you get.

One can see that the Kia and the Nissan Sentra definitely undercut the prices of the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, and that is very important in the segment. However, when you look at the performance of all the cars, you begin to understand that Honda and Toyota provide much more well-rounded options. The Honda Civic is definitely the fastest car in the segment and also the most fun to drive. 

It is hard to escape the fact that small light cars with small engines are very fuel-efficient. The uninspiring motor inside the Toyota Corolla returns 27 MPG in the city, 14 MPG on the highway, and 31 MPG combined. The fuel tank capacity is 12.4 gallons, which is a bit small even in this class, however, it is good enough for a range of 334 miles in the city and 496 miles on the highway.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, we can see that the Honda Civic is the most impressive as it delivers 29 MPG in the city, 41 MPG on the highway, and 32 MPG combined, which is slightly better than the Toyota Corolla. It also has a bigger fuel tank, and hence, offers a class-leading range. However, one can see that the Kia Forte and Nissan Sentra also offer the same level of competitiveness here.

The interior of the 2016 Corolla is the most stylish one that has ever appeared in the car. The controls are very easy to use and the material quality is also definitely okay. There are few hard plastics, but the material quality is generally very nice and the aesthetic inside the cabin is pleasant. It also performs decently in terms of cargo capacity with 13 ft.³ of storage. It also offers excellent features right from the base trim level. The car is also very pleasant for people with a larger frame due to the space inside.

The interior space of all the cars in this category is pretty much on par, but the Corolla is the one with the most spacious rear legroom. However, all the other cars in this category can seat five people with ease, and the interior design is also very nice in all of them. When comparing the cargo capacity, both Honda and Nissan stand at the very top with 15.1 cubic feet of space. Some standard interior features include:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats
• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Optional Heated steering wheel
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Toyota Corolla has a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface but does not come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It is nice and well-integrated into the dashboard and comes with a decent number of features. The optional features list is also pleasantly populated with excellent options. There is the Entune app which integrates smartphone-connected services as well as social media. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• 6.1-inch infotainment screen
• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• MP3 Player
• Wireless Cell Phone Hookup
• USB port
• Bluetooth

In terms of looks, the Corolla is not a car that is designed to look dramatic or very pleasant. However, it has to suit the tastes of many people and hence has very non-controversial styling. This is not a bad thing as the car does manage to look fairly modern and neat overall. It has LED headlights right from the base trim and looks a bit premium because of that.

Both in terms of weight as well as size, all these cars are exactly on par with each other. With the wheelbase of the Corolla being extended for the current generation, all the sedans have the exact same wheelbase as well at 106.3 inches. The Corolla offers 5.3 inches of ground clearance, which is on par with the Kia and is the lowest in the segment. Some standout exterior features include:

• LED low-beam headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Color-keyed outside door handles and mirrors
• Alloy wheels
• Fog Lamps (optional)
• Sunroof/moonroof (optional)

The 2016 version of the Toyota Corolla has good ratings by the IIHS, which is a testament to how safe the car is. It has also earned a five-star safety rating from NHTSA, which is the governmental organization responsible for crash testing. We are very much impressed with the car offering lots of safety features like airbags, rearview camera, whiplash protection, and so on. Some of the standout safety features include: 

• Rear-view camera
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control

The 2016 Toyota Corolla sedan is a great buy for the price it is offered at. It has slightly uninspiring styling and performance but is a great car for mundane everyday situations. It is also an extremely reliable car and one that is available with a lot of aftermarket support and serviceability. Overall it is not a car you can ever go wrong with and hence makes for a good buy.