Review: 2014 Toyota Corolla S – Great, but not that Sporty

2014 toyota corolla sport review

The 2014 Toyota Corolla is all new and is here to fight for compact sedan supremacy.  It obviously looks different, but is it really improved inside and out?  It has been one of the top sold nameplates of all time, yet it does not have the top sales spot of its segment in United States this year?  Can it get to the top in the coming months?  Read on to find out.

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Toyota Corolla S $20,400 $23,570 132 / 128
EPA Rating MPG As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT! 29 / 37 Combined 32  39.1

First Impressions

The new Corolla is a significant departure from its somewhat mundane predecessor.  It looks grown up and and stylish.  The 17-inch rims on this Sport model catch a lot of attention, as does the Blue Crush metallic paint.

2014 toyota corolla dash interior

Styling/Design:

The 2014 Toyota Corolla has a strong family resemblance to the big Avalon in the front, and it’s a good thing.  The style calms down a bit by the time you get to the rear, but still finishes up with good looking tail lamps.  There is more good news on the inside.  Everything you can see and touch has been upgraded a notch or two, and the overall layout of the dash is functional and the piano-black trim makes it feel upscale.

It wasn’t all roses.  I am a little over 6’2” and could not find a comfortable position in the driver’s seat.  Actually, it started out fine, but after a few miles the bottom cushion felt a little hard and my legs were not getting enough support.  My wife, who is almost six-foot, did not have the same issue in the passenger seat.   Also, there was plenty of leg room in the back for the kids to swing their legs.  The all-new Corolla steps up the design in and out and makes the car more fun.  This characteristic will likely attract new customers to the Corolla.

2014 toyota corolla engine

Powertrain:

The Corolla is powered by a 1.8-liter four cylinder and in the “S” model is good for 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft.  Actually, the power output in the sporty model is identical to the other trims (sans the Eco model).  The power is delivered via Toyota’s updated CVT with intelligence and Shift mode.  A 6-speed manual is available in the base “S” model, but not in this S Premium tester.   The CVT does not quiet convey a sporty feeling, even with manual shift option.  I wish this tester came with a manual.

The “S” has Normal and Sport driving modes.  This setting affects the mapping on the transmission, with the sport holding higher rpms for longer.  This is needed to get the best out of the engine as maximum power and torque come in at 6,000 and 4,400 rpm respectively.  Where this setup may lack in sporty performance, it shines in economy.  This Corolla blew me away with a 39.1 MPG average after 190 miles of driving.  This was about 90% highway cruising, but this is way better than EPA rating of 32 MPG combined and 37 highway suggests.  If the sport model can do this, I wonder what the “Eco” model can do?

Handling/Ride:

The steering on the new Corolla is well sorted.  It has good weight and feel for the economy sedan segment.  The suspension setup is comfortable and compliant, but allows for a little too much body roll in the corners.  It’s a great little car for running errands, but it does not have enough sporty characteristics to instill confidence on your next canyon carving trip.

2014 toyota corolla rear tail

Competitors:

The compact sedan market is probably the hottest contested segment of them all.  Check out this sales report.  The Honda Civic has taken a narrow lead over the Corolla in United Stated sales.  This redesigned 2014 model could not come soon enough.  It’s updated styling should bring  new buyers into the showroom, and it may still have a chance to get back to number one spot on the charts.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2014 Toyota Corolla a Buy It!

This test car stickered at $23,570 after adding the Driver Convenience package and a sunroof.  This is still good value for an efficient and stylish compact sedan with nearly every available option.  As far as daily runabouts go, this Corolla is the new standard.

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Andre Smirnov

Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFL since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.