The Driver - Summer 2016 The Driver - Summer 2016 | Page 16

TEST DRIVE

2016 Toyota
Corolla LE:
the safe, but now good-looking choice.
by

Kanishka Sonnadara

Y

ou don’t need to reinvent the wheel. But you can
improve upon it.
When Toyota introduced the very first Corolla in 1966
the goal was to create a small, affordable, reliable car that can
comfortably carry passengers and return good fuel economy
to boot. Over the years, the Corolla has stood the test of time,
seeing improvements over 11 generation changes to become
the current best-selling car in the world.
If there’s one thing Toyota doesn’t do, it’s make rash
changes to the Corolla. The Japanese brand has tweaked it
with small evolutionary changes over four decades; keeping in
mind that its core customer base likes it for what it is. Radical
changes are not in its nature.
For some, this makes for a vehicle that’s dare I say, boring?
Playing it safe however is what makes a Corolla the popular
choice.

The 2016 Toyota Corolla is one
of the sharper looking sedans
in the segment.

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THE DRIVER

Step into the rather grey cabin and the inside is a familiar
space. Sportier, more technologically-sound and with added
premium materials than before its mid-cycle refresh for its
2014 model year, but there are components inside that have
been carried over for quite some time. Owned a Corolla in
the past? Hop in the new one and see if you can spot the
similarities. I was particularly awed by the a-la-90s digital
clock front and centre on the dash.
Criticisms aside this is the slickest cabin to grace a factory
stock Corolla. Shiny black accents, bits of metal trim, some
textural variation, there’s even an aqua blue trim piece that
runs across the doors and dash. Evolving the Corolla stepby-step is a credit to the Toyota brand without alienating its
existing clientele.
Get rolling and the 1.8-litre four-cylinder motor has you
moving without any real drama. Toyota’s use of a Continuously