Road Test – 2020 Toyota Corolla XSE Hatchback (6MT)

When we last met the Toyota Corolla hatchback, it was a welcome blast of fresh air into Toyota showrooms. The sedan had valiantly held steadfast in the compact segment for over 20 years, and is still the undisputed sales benchmark for a segment that is currently under siege by compact CUVs. But while the CVT equipped car held its own in our original review, we wanted to experience what it would be like to row through the gears ourselves, and whether it could help inject more fun into the hatchback’s game plan. To find out, we gave the Toyota an …

Keep reading

2020 Toyota Corolla SE 6-Speed Manual Sedan – Review by Ben Lewis

If I tell you there’s a 4-door compact sedan that’s got hot styling, some real attitude, and is lots of fun to drive thanks to a 6-speed manual transmission, what would you say? Civic? Mazda 3, Elantra? How about a Toyota Corolla? Yes, the Corolla. Okay, we can’t blame you if it didn’t pop in your mind. Although there have been the occasional performance versions including the hot-hatch 1988 Corolla FX16, and the 2005 Corolla XRS sedan (8,000 rpm redline!), most of the model’s reputation has been built on solid, sensible and reliable transportation over flash. And it’s been a …

Keep reading

Toyota Goes All In With 2020 Corolla, Promises To Revamp Driving Experience For Buyers

Toyota’s Corolla sedan has emerged into a powerhouse for the Japanese automaker, with over 40 million units sold since the Corolla first entered production. However, all of this success and good fortune masks a car that has always never been known for its fun mannerisms, instead, preferring to be known as a dependable albeit bland piece of transportation that aims to get the job done and not much else. With the compact car segment still a viable segment in the marketplace, Toyota couldn’t afford to sit on its heels, and has thrown everything into the 2020 Corolla to try and …

Keep reading