There’s only so much to say about a mundane rental car, so I’ll throw in some photos of last weekend’s St Patrick’s Day shenanigans.
I sent my Saab to my specialist for transmission maintenance and cruise control service, and because it was taking a few days I booked a rental car. [I recently sold my Cadillac Seville, whittling myself down to one vehicle in case I need to move away for work or school opportunities.]
Thanks to an special from Enterprise, $34 scored a 2011 Toyota Corolla LE from Friday through Monday ($9.99/day weekend deal) and they picked me up at home. If not for cruise control, an MP3 stereo, and 4-speed automatic transmission I would have assumed it was a stripper model.
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It looks like a brand new ten year old used car. The door sticker confirmed that it rolled off the assembly line in June of 2011.
The outdoor temperature display is a nice feature, although a fuel consumption readout would have been more useful (available as an option). The gauges and displays are otherwise as plain as ever, a trip back to the 90s.
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Really, the entire car looks and feels like it came from the Clinton era, not an entirely bad thing when you consider that the Corolla’s steady dependability [partly due to its lack of technology] has helped it earn the title of best-selling automobile in the world. Every 40 seconds, someone on this planet is buying a new Corolla.
In Bangkok they use them as taxi cabs, subjecting them to brutal climate conditions and poorly paved streets, brutalizing the torsion beam suspension. Here in America, decade-old examples fall into the hands of careless high schoolers who can’t be bothered to change the oil, but they start and run everyday without complaint.
Indisputably, the Corolla deserves praise for its role as a global workhorse, as it has been for decades. Unfortunately, working hard doesn’t necessarily translate into high marks for style, comfort, or performance.
THE BODY
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Toyota’s designers recently sculpted the headlights, tail lights, and hood to give it a more Camry-like appearance, lending the Corolla a slightly more expensive but somewhat awkward look. The unusually high ground clearance, tall fenders, and high ceiling combined with a short wheelbase give it a stubby, compromised stance.
![Image]()
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A decade ago, styling could be cast aside as a low priority as buyers of compacts cared more about ownership costs than curbside appeal.
In recent years, the new Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze, and Hyundai Elantra have surpassed the Corolla (and the Honda Civic) in comfort, performance, style, and standard features. As Americans downsize in response to high fuel costs, compacts have emerged as the new standard, and the downsizing public expects the same creature comforts they enjoyed in the larger and more expensive vehicles they traded in.
This poses quite a problem for a stodgy car determined to stay in a pre-9/11 world.
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THE INTERIOR
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Inside, the cabin extensively uses durable but hard plastics. A few swaths of padded fabric add a bit of comfort and well-fitted panels give the impression of quality until you touch the harsh surfaces.
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There are a total of EIGHT cupholders: two in the front center console, one in each door, and two in the rear. Stay thirsty, my friends.
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There’s a front door pocket and cup holder.
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This rear door also has a pocket and cup holder.
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Rear center cup holders fold out from the back of the front center console. They feel quite flimsy.
![Image]()
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Two generously sized glove boxes built into the passenger side dashboard provide space for documents and sunglasses. An additional storage compartment is in the center console under a small lid.
![Image]()
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With a few exceptions, the panel gaps are tight and even. It presents well compared to past Corollas but against the competition it looks tired, cheap, and dated.
![Image]()
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Rear seat passengers are treated to hard seating that feels a bit like a park bench. Cushioning is too firm and the seating position is unusually straight and upright. Thanks to the Corolla’s tall roof, head room is more than adequate.
![Image]()
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I suppose a typical Corolla owner would put his or her school books here, or cases of Natural Light.
![Image]()
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The center stack is laid out logically except for the clock, rendered useless by forcing the driver to take his eyes off the road to read the time. Knobs and switchgear feel reasonably durable and precise.
The inside of a Corolla is a drab place to be, like hanging out at the DMV.
I sent my Saab to my specialist for transmission maintenance and cruise control service, and because it was taking a few days I booked a rental car. [I recently sold my Cadillac Seville, whittling myself down to one vehicle in case I need to move away for work or school opportunities.]
Thanks to an special from Enterprise, $34 scored a 2011 Toyota Corolla LE from Friday through Monday ($9.99/day weekend deal) and they picked me up at home. If not for cruise control, an MP3 stereo, and 4-speed automatic transmission I would have assumed it was a stripper model.
It looks like a brand new ten year old used car. The door sticker confirmed that it rolled off the assembly line in June of 2011.
The outdoor temperature display is a nice feature, although a fuel consumption readout would have been more useful (available as an option). The gauges and displays are otherwise as plain as ever, a trip back to the 90s.
Really, the entire car looks and feels like it came from the Clinton era, not an entirely bad thing when you consider that the Corolla’s steady dependability [partly due to its lack of technology] has helped it earn the title of best-selling automobile in the world. Every 40 seconds, someone on this planet is buying a new Corolla.
In Bangkok they use them as taxi cabs, subjecting them to brutal climate conditions and poorly paved streets, brutalizing the torsion beam suspension. Here in America, decade-old examples fall into the hands of careless high schoolers who can’t be bothered to change the oil, but they start and run everyday without complaint.
Indisputably, the Corolla deserves praise for its role as a global workhorse, as it has been for decades. Unfortunately, working hard doesn’t necessarily translate into high marks for style, comfort, or performance.
THE BODY
Toyota’s designers recently sculpted the headlights, tail lights, and hood to give it a more Camry-like appearance, lending the Corolla a slightly more expensive but somewhat awkward look. The unusually high ground clearance, tall fenders, and high ceiling combined with a short wheelbase give it a stubby, compromised stance.
A decade ago, styling could be cast aside as a low priority as buyers of compacts cared more about ownership costs than curbside appeal.
In recent years, the new Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze, and Hyundai Elantra have surpassed the Corolla (and the Honda Civic) in comfort, performance, style, and standard features. As Americans downsize in response to high fuel costs, compacts have emerged as the new standard, and the downsizing public expects the same creature comforts they enjoyed in the larger and more expensive vehicles they traded in.
This poses quite a problem for a stodgy car determined to stay in a pre-9/11 world.
----------
THE INTERIOR
Inside, the cabin extensively uses durable but hard plastics. A few swaths of padded fabric add a bit of comfort and well-fitted panels give the impression of quality until you touch the harsh surfaces.
There are a total of EIGHT cupholders: two in the front center console, one in each door, and two in the rear. Stay thirsty, my friends.
There’s a front door pocket and cup holder.
This rear door also has a pocket and cup holder.
Rear center cup holders fold out from the back of the front center console. They feel quite flimsy.
Two generously sized glove boxes built into the passenger side dashboard provide space for documents and sunglasses. An additional storage compartment is in the center console under a small lid.
With a few exceptions, the panel gaps are tight and even. It presents well compared to past Corollas but against the competition it looks tired, cheap, and dated.
Rear seat passengers are treated to hard seating that feels a bit like a park bench. Cushioning is too firm and the seating position is unusually straight and upright. Thanks to the Corolla’s tall roof, head room is more than adequate.
I suppose a typical Corolla owner would put his or her school books here, or cases of Natural Light.
The center stack is laid out logically except for the clock, rendered useless by forcing the driver to take his eyes off the road to read the time. Knobs and switchgear feel reasonably durable and precise.
The inside of a Corolla is a drab place to be, like hanging out at the DMV.
