Upcoming Posts

Whats going to be happening next?

So whats in store for the near future of New Budget Cars, 101? Well, obviously more car reviews, but I have some news about that. I seem to be running out of budget cars to review, so I may be expanding the blog into 2, which will allow me to review upper and larger class cars as well. 

But for now I still have more to review and write about so don't worry, even though I would never know you were worried as there is no feedback from the readers...

I am starting work on the monster comparison charts that will give people the ability to quickly compare cars in the same category rather than go through all the websites themselves. Ill do that work for you. I will split it up into hatchback and sedan charts and maybe even between subcompacts and compacts depending on how it starts to turn out.

So that's whats to come, keep reading and spreading the word!

Happy Halloween!

J.K.

2012-15 Toyota Yaris Review

Toyota's smallest car, the Yaris, may be just what many people need.

It also may not offer enough for many others...

The Toyota Yaris is now in its 3rd generation and the current model was available in North America starting in 2012. Unlike previous versions, for North America only a hatchback is available. The Yaris is Toyota's smallest car here and it is also the most budget-friendly. It is very popular for this reason by many, but it is also disliked for this same reason by others. It has received a face-lift for the 2015 model year.

Lets take a look:

Different Styles:

The Yaris comes in only two styles now in North America (previous generations had a sedan, a 3-door hatch and a 5-door hatch): a 3-door hatchback and a 5-door hatchback. This is probably for the best. As I have stated before, once you get to these small sub-compacts (micro compact?) it really only makes sense to get a hatchback. They only come with a 1.5L 4 cylinder engine and either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed auto, which is way too old of a system to use in a car like this. Once again though, the 4 speed auto is used over more gears due to its ruggedness and cheap maintenance. 

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

The Toyota Yaris is actually a pretty nice looking car from the outside. The face-lift also helps add a somewhat aggressive look to it. Though this appearance isn't backed up, by anything. It looks quite similar to the Prius C, and seeing how they share the same basic platform its no surprise. In some aspects I actually don't like how sporty it looks as after driving, it I found there to be no connection between the looks and the performance (much like the Toyota Matrix). But none the less, the wheels in each corner, the open-mouth grill, and the addition of some chrome in the face-lift looks good.

Going inside, the sporty and aggressive looks disappear a bit but it's not too bad. I'd say the best word to describe the interior is "clean". I could also use "boring" but that just doesn't fit as well. There aren't many cool things to look at (which could be a good thing while driving) and the whole front is condensed into a small spot. 

Take a look:

It might be hard to tell in the pictures but the front console is relatively blank besides the radio and then 3 knobs for the air controls; that's about it. In a way I like this simple set up, it seems to fit well in a budget economy car like this. The sound system is actually quite good despite only 4 standard speakers - you can get an optional 2 more in the upper trim. The front seats are a bit firm but nicely supportive. The materials used may not be top quality but they don't look or feel cheap either so overall it's a well put together interior. Due to it being a hatchback, I fit decently well both in the front and the back with upright sitting positions. While the headroom is good in the front and the back the knee space is limited sitting behind myself, but not uncomfortably so. 

Visibility is pretty good in most directions but the rear view is severely obstructed by unnecessarily huge head rests. 

Finally, what about the trunk space? Well, with all the seats up there isn't much, just like close competitors like the Chevy Sonic, Hyundai Accent, and Kia Rio. There is maybe enough room for a few carry-on suitcases, but once the seats are folded down the space becomes much larger, thanks to a tall body as well. The back seats do not fold completely flat.

Driving Impressions:

I had mixed feelings about how the Yaris drove. It seemed to contradict itself while driving. The engine is very under-powered, especially with the auto transmission. It is somewhat loud and buzzy under acceleration, of almost any type. It runs out of steam on the highway which makes passing complicated. There is a noticeable amount of wind and road noise at high speeds. However, at the same time the Yaris is one of the most "go kart" feeling cars I have driven. The steering and overall handling is quite direct and due to the wheels being in each corner the car feels planted when changing direction. Also, unlike many other small cars, the suspension isn't softened too much to make it more comfortable. If they came out with a turbo version this has the potential to be a very fun little car. Visibility while driving is ok except for the rear view due to those headrests. The sound system is ok, not the best, but not the worst in the class.

Overall:

The Toyota Yaris is a good car, plain and simple. It looks good on the outside, it is sort of boring on the inside but not too much so. The simpleness of the inside is acceptable in a subcompact budget car like this. This is a good car for people that just need a car that will last them a long time that can get them from point A to B. While it is under powered and somewhat loud on the highway, many people won't mind considering their alternatives are usually more expensive. I would recommend the Yaris for people on a tight budget that need their car to last and don't really care about performance, or for families looking for a small 2nd or 3rd car for short drives around the city or for a car the kids can use. I do like it for its surprisingly good handling and exterior looks, but I would rather pick the Ford Fiesta or Kia Rio for better performance or if I'm going for budget, maybe the Hyundai Accent or the Mitsubishi Mirage.

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $19,000+

FWD

Max HP: 106

Max Torque lb/ft: 103

MPG (approx*): 29 city. 36 highway.

Cargo room (approx*): 15.6/ ( Toyota wont say) CuFt

Length: 156"

Width: 67"

Tank Size (gal): 11.1

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 355

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

**No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken from Google images and their rightful owners should get any credit for them. This review featured all pictures from the manufacturer's website.

Links:
Toyota Canada

Toyota USA

Enjoy!

Please leave a comment or follow me.

J.K.

2014-15 Kia Forte and Forte5 Review

Kia's Forte is bigger and better with distinctive styling

Many people should like the changes, for the most part

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2014 model year with a completely new look and larger dimensions. Kia is continuing its goal to truly separate itself from Hyundai by being considered the "sportier" of the two Korean brands. The Forte is Kia's compact car that now comes in more than just a sedan. One cannot simply ignore that even though Kia and Hyundai are separate brands, they still have basically all the same competing cars. So how does the new Forte stack up? I was not able to try the 2-door coup so I will just focus on the sedan and hatchbacks. I am also going to try to condense the review a bit as some of my more recent ones are getting too long to be considered "quick and to the point".

Let's take a look:

 

Different Styles:

The Kia Forte now comes in 3 different styles. A sedan, a 2-door coup, and a 5-door hatchback. I will mostly cover the sedan and hatchback in the actual review as I have not had a chance to drive the coup. There are 3 engine choices depending on which style and trim you choose. The sedan has either a 1.8L 4 cylinder or a 2.0L 4 cylinder with transmission choices of a 6 speed manual or 6 speed auto. The coup (called the "Koup") has either the 2.0L or a 1.6L 4 cylinder turbo and they have either a 6 speed manual or 6 speed auto. Finally, the hatchback has the same choices as the Koup.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

The styling is a great improvement over the previous generation's -with larger wheel options and very aggressive angles and lights- giving the car a much sportier look. The hatchback looks surprisingly larger than the sedan even though it is technically shorter but all styles look sporty and good from all angles. 

Going inside is a bit of a mixed bag. In some senses it looks cool and sporty as well, but in other aspects it feels a bit cheap. The seats look and feel great with good support, but lack a good amount of colour choices. The sides and front look good with nice sculpted parts but the front dash its self looks cheap. There is no flare or cool shape and design. Its almost like the radio and climate controls were an afterthought. They try to spice it up with some fake carbon fiber trim, but it doesn't do much. It doesn't look bad, but its a bit of a let down from the rest of the car. A nice touch,though, is the sliding center armrest. Another cool feature is that on the upper trims you can get the drivers seat heated AND cooled (a must have for black leather in the summer) andyou can also get the back seats heated.

Take a look:

One thing that I really like about the new Forte are the rear seat vents, something that is almost unheard of in this class segment. Since the car is in the compact class, it isn't uncommon for there to at least be 4 people in the car. During the middle of summer or winter these people clearly are forgotten about by most auto manufacturers and are left to sweat or freeze while the front passengers are comfortable. So good job Kia for thinking of the back seat! It also seems like it would be wide enough for 3 small adults to sit in relative comfort. 
Finally we get to the overall comfort of the car and the other important bits. The seats are comfortable front and back and you have plenty of head and legroom front and back, this is a decently large car on the inside. The sound systems in them are very good with loud and deep speakers. The only downsides of the inside (besides the radio styling) is the visibility. Due to its sporty stance and angle the back is much higher than the front and all the windows are much higher. While the hatchback is a bit better than the sedan, they all could be better. The trunk space is good in both the sedan and hatchback and the seats fold mostly flat. However, the pass through for the sedan is somewhat short and both trunks have a shape in the floor that make it seem like there is a spare tire, but don't be fooled, there isn't. A huge blunder on Kia's part as they believe that their roadside assistance program and tire repair kit are an adequate replacement for a proper spare, all in the name of weight savings...

Driving Impressions:

One thing that should be pointed out right away is that there is almost no reason to get the Forte with the 1.8L engine as the 2.0L is more powerful and just as fuel efficient. I have not had a chance to drive the 1.6L turbo models but as they start in the mid - $20's they aren't really a budget car, and they aren't as fuel efficient. I have tried the 1.8L and trust me, you might as well get the 2.0L. With the 2.0L the Forte is a powerful, smooth, and quiet car. The engine is quiet during idle and cruising. Only during hard acceleration does it make a noticeable amount of noise, but even then, it sounds good, somewhat sporty even. The engine has plenty of power and you are able to pull away from stop lights and pass easily on the highway. There isn't much wind or road noise but I would advise to stay away from the larger 17 inch and 18 inch wheels as the ride does get rough. The steering has 3 modes that change the feeling from comfortable (sorta squishy) normal, and sporty (more effort to turn but better response). As it is a larger compact the turning radius could be better but 3-point turns are no problem and parking isn't too bad, especially with the rear view camera.

Overall:

Kia is once again stepping up to compete with their major competitor and it once again is producing a great car. Depending on your need you should find a Forte that fits your lifestyle. the 1.8L engine is a bit under-powered so you should look for the 2.0L. It looks good inside and out, it is comfortable and it offers optional features that are a nice surprise. Comparing it to its major competitors like the Ford Focus, the Hyundai Elantra, and even its younger brother, the Rio, it has its pros and cons. If I was to choose I would definitely take the Forte over the Rio and the Focus, but I personally like the look of the Elantra and the Elantra GT over the Forte, so they would get my vote, but its all about personal tastes once you get down to the top picks.
These reviews are meant to just give you ideas of which cars you can easily narrow down your top picks to. But I would say that for anyone looking to buy a new car, you absolutely need to test drive at least 5 different top picks before making your decision, as this isn't a cheap purchase.

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $22,000+

FWD

Max HP: 1.8L 148. (2.0L 173) 1.6L turbo 201

Max Torque lb/ft: 131, 154, 195

MPG (approx*): 24, (24), 20 city. 36, (34), 29 highway

Cargo room (approx*): 14.9 (23/( Kia wont say...) CuFt

Length: 179'' (171")

Width: 70'' (70")

Tank Size (gal): 13.2

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 382, 316

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $21,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

**No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken from Google images and their rightful owners should get any credit for them. This review featured all pictures from the manufacturer's website.

Links:
Kia Canada

Kia USA

Enjoy!

Please leave a comment or follow me.

J.K.

Over 1,000+ Views!

The blog now has over 1,000 views!

Thank you anonymous internet viewers for consistently coming back and reading the new posts.

I see that most of my audience ( about 95%) is from North America. As I only have access to the North American models of each car I can only accurately describe those versions and I wouldn't want to make any assumptions for the rest of the countries just to gain more possible views. But I do appreciate the readers from around the world!

I still would really like to see some sort of comments or feedback on any post so I can know what to keep doing and what to improve on. It literally would only take you about 30 seconds...

Keep up the reading and thank you for the views once again!

J.K.

Review Length, and Trip.

Should they stay the same, get longer, or shorter?

I really need some feedback from anyone that does read these reviews. It would only take you 30 seconds to write a quick comment.

I need to know, are the reviews too short, just right, or too long?

Do they need more or less pictures?

Do they need more detail, or should it just be more summary?

Also, I will be gone on a trip until October the 21st. I may be able to write one post while I am away, but maybe not.

Please leave a comment and or follow.

J.K.

2011-15 Ford Focus Review

The Focus is Ford's most popular car worldwide

Is it all that its cracked up to be?

The Focus is a relatively new car name only being around since the late 90's, compared to many other popular small cars out there like the Corolla and Civic, which have been around since the 70's. Despite this, the Focus is apparently ( since 2012) the best selling "car nameplate" in the world. It is Ford's second smallest car in North America, but it is in no way small. The Focus used to be a very simple car for everyday driving, but through the generations it has grown in size and has many new features. It is receiving a face lift for 2015 so I will show pictures of both the pre and post face lift.

Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Focus was offered in a number of different styles in previous generations around the world. Now the Focus is considered a global model and the same styles are sold in every country (except for a special wagon model in the UK and New Zealand). So, the styles that are being sold are a 4 door sedan and a 5 door hatchback. All North American Focus's have a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine. However the sporty ST trim has a high-output, turbo "EcoBoost" tuned version and is usually just available as the hatchback, but starting in 2015 that may change. There is also an all-electric version to compete against the Nissan Leaf. Available transmissions before 2013 were either a 5 speed manual, 6 speed auto, dual clutch 6 speed auto, and a 6 speed manual for the ST trim. Now all auto transmissions are the 6 speed dual clutch.

Here are what the hatchback versions look like before and after face lift:

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

Im going to say, I think I like the look of the preface lift Focus better. Sometimes when a Car company makes all their cars look similar it looks good, but for some reason I don't like their Fusion-looking front on the Focus. It works on the Fiesta, but for me, not on the Focus. It makes it look too large. I can, of course see why many people will much rather like the new look as it does look more aggressive and powerful. The outside, no matter if its before or after the face lift, has distinctive styling that sets it apart from other cars in the segment. The Focus is a rather large compact car and the new face lift makes it seem even larger. The windows are somewhat small and high up. There is also a number of different wheel designs and sizes from 15 inch to 18 inch. The Focus are somewhat low to the ground and are actually shorter (height-wise) than the smaller Fiesta. The hatchback seems to have a bit higher roof-line in the back. The cars look smart in any trim and absolutely cool in the ST trim, take a look:

Now for the inside, the design may not be for everyone, it looks smart but it could be better. There are no real changes on the inside before and after the exterior face lift. I have not driven the ST or the Electric versions so I will mostly be talking about the regular sedan and hatchbacks. Another reason I will only be talking about the regular Focus is because the ST and Electric version are either not "economy" cars or "budget" cars. Besides the very basic base trim level, the front dash to me, looks way too crowded and busy. There are just too many buttons and they are arranged in a way that makes them harder to read, locate and use quickly. 

Take a look:

This is maybe the only time when I would recommend upgrading to the large touch screen media system as it may actually be simpler to use than all those buttons. The Focus of course has Ford's "Sync" system combined with what it calleds "My Ford". The system allows almost all media and air controls to be controlled by your voice. I did not get a chance to use the new system, but from what I have read and heard from others, the system sometimes doesn't work the best. The system also has a feature called "MyKey" which allows you to set and lock certain settings both for the media and driving dynamics of the car when other people are using it, like teenage children learning to drive. It also comes in a number of different colours inside and out. A cool one is a white a black interior.

So that is the dash system, how comfortable is it? Well, I was a little disappointed with the overall comfort and fit of the Focus, especially compared to the smaller Fiesta. The Focus might be significantly larger on the outside, but It sure doesn't feel that way on the inside. While the Fiesta is shorter, it has a higher roof-line, providing much better head room. The Focus is lower but longer, unfortunately this doesn't equal better overall room, let alone better legroom. In one that I drove, it had the optional sunroof package, which meant that I only had enough headroom if I lowered the chair all the way down. I prefer a more upright driving position. The Focus also has pretty high windows and front dash, so when you are forced that far down you don't have very good visibility at all, in any direction. At least the steering wheel had enough different positions to work with the situation. Now, don't get me wrong, the seats are very comfortable, but because I had to have my chair low and pushed back pretty far this also meant that I did not fit in the backseat behind myself well either. While the hatchback has a higher roof line in the rear, there still wasn't significant headroom, and especially not in the sedan. This is quite disappointing for a car of this overall size. 

Take a look at the back:

While it did seem wide enough for 2 average size adults and one child to sit comfortably, 3 adults would be tight. The visibility out the back window is good and bad. The good are the small windows in the rear corners aiding blind spot visibility. The bad, the windows are still quite high and the rear window is somewhat blocked by large head rests. Visibility is slightly better in the sedan out the back as the window starts higher up, while in the hatchback it is more of an oval shape that starts lower down. Finally for the trunk. It is quite large. Clearly all that extra size wasn't for extra legroom, but for more trunk space. It isn't the largest in the class but its a good shape and size. In both the hatchback and sedan the seat backs fold flat as the rear seat bottoms fold up and the pass through in the sedan is large and square-ish. In the upper trim levels a sub-woofer may take up a bit of the space on one side. 

Driving Impressions:

The Focus impressed me with how it handled and drove. Like I've said, this isn't that small of a car. Yet it only has a 2.0L engine. The engine is very quiet once started up. It is quiet and smooth around town, even under acceleration it doesn't make much more noise than a low growl. The automatic is quite peppy and shifts through gears quickly and smoothly. This car would actually be quite fun around town if it didn't feel so large and heavy. The normal Focus does not have sport tuned suspension so it does roll a bit in corners. Combine that with the slightly more confined feeling due to the small windows and this car really does feel huge. That extra size I guess also means more room for sound insulation because it is also very quiet both in the city and the highway, almost no road or wind noise. However, that is with the more normal sized 15 and 16 inch wheels. The 17 and 18 inch ones might make a bit of noise. The engine is quiet and smooth again on the highway and only makes a bit of a fuss when trying to pass, but you still have plenty of power. The sound system is quite impressive and I can only assume is even better with the optional sub-woofer. The ride is comfy and not too soft. I have read and been told that the ST version is very fun to drive but also a bit on the rough side. Visibility while driving is ok out the front and the front sides but the back row's windows are noticeably higher and the high trunk or somewhat small back window on the trunk means that straight back visibility isn't the best. The turning radius is acceptable but, other cars in the class can turn sharper. 

Overall:

Once again, Ford is surprising me with very nicely put together cars. Now, the only two I have driven from them recently are their "global" models, the Fiesta and the Focus, so I cant really make judgement on their other new cars. The Focus is a nice small-ish car with great looks on the outside, but a somewhat busy and confusing interior. It is a bit disappointing that even though it is a good bit larger than the Fiesta, it doesn't feel it inside. It has a nice performance and has a trim level that should fit everyone. The fact that it comes in either a sedan or hatchback version mean that it will satisfy many different people and their needs. This car would work as someone's only car, or possibly a family's second car. If I had a choice though I would still pick the Fiesta over the Focus for its smaller dimensions but better interior space. 

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for low-mid trim level): $22,000+

FWD

Max HP: 160

Max Torque lb/ft: 146

MPG (approx*): 25 city, 36 highway

Cargo room (approx*): 13 (24/45) CuFt

Length: 178'' (172")

Width: 72'' (72")

Tank Size (gal): 12.4

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 372

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken from Google images and their rightful owners should get any credit for them.

Links:
Ford Canada

Ford USA

Enjoy!

Please leave a comment or follow me.

J.K.

Car Talk 101 Driving Systems

Difference between driving wheel systems

There are a number of different ways an engine can move s car forward.  What do they all mean and what system is good for where?

Front Wheel Drive (FWD)

This is the most common setup for almost all cars. It simply means that the engine is powering the front wheels and the front wheels only. FWD cars have an advantage with space saving and good performance (i.e. grip) in wet or snowy conditions. Due to the engine, the transmission and the driving mechanics all being up front, more space can be saved under the car and in the rear for passenger and cargo room. With a thick solid engine and transmission in front of the driver, it also means in a head-on crash there is something quite sturdy between the driver and the impact to take some of the blow. Also, with all the weight from the major parts being over the wheels to drive and steer the car, it just means that FWD cars have better traction.

Examples: Honda Fit, Civic, Accord; Toyota Yaris, Corolla, Prius; Ford Fiesta, Focus, Fusion; VW Golf, Jetta...

However, due to the placement of the engine and the driving wheels, and therefore the weight distribution, these cars will almost never be able to compete performance-wise against a comparable car with All Wheel Drive or Rear Wheel Drive.

Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)

RWD can be set up in a few different ways. It can have: an engine up front, a mid-mounted engine, or a rear-mounted engine. For most large cars, trucks, and buses, the engine will be up front and the rear wheels will be connected by a drive shaft. RWD systems tend to be more robust and sturdy as the system does not have to deal with both delivering power and steering the wheels at the same time. RWD vehicles usually have a better weight distribution which means brakes and rotors will wear out more equally. RWD systems can handle and deal with higher power outputs better than FWD cars as when a car accelerates the weight is shifted to the rear of the car. This means that the driving tires will have more pressure on them and therefore will have more grip. 

Examples: Ford F-150; Lexus IS; Hyundai Genesis Coup; F-1 cars; Dodge Challenger...

However, due to the driving wheels being different than the steering wheels, under heavy acceleration and around corners the car may not have the best steering as the front wheels will have less grip.

4 Wheel Drive (4WD)

Many people get this and All Wheel Drive mixed up, but they are quite different. 4WD is simple: the vehicle usually drives in RWD but when needed, the driver can select the 4WD option which then "locks" all four wheels together so they are turning at the same speed. This has some advantages but many disadvantages. The main advantage is that in very slippery conditions such as deep snow, mud, sand, or loose rocks, all four wheels will be trying to move the car forward, and there is a good chance that at least 1 wheel will have traction. The disadvantages are: it can and should only be used during low speed driving, it can and should only be used when the conditions are very slippery (wet pavement does not count) and when you do not need to be turning excessively. This is because all 4 wheels are turning at the same rate. However, when a car turns, the wheels do not all go the same distance, which means they need to turn at different speeds. If 4WD is kept on during not slippery conditions, with a lot of turning, either the wheels will start to tear themselves apart, or something in the driving system will. 

Usually only large vehicles will have the 4WD option like: army vehicles, trucks, and large SUVs.

Examples: Honda Pilot; Ford Explorer; Almost every Jeep...

Unfortunately many companies are mixing the term 4WD and AWD which is a bad thing as they are very different and people may be thinking they are getting one type of system when in fact they have the other and they inadvertently wreck their new vehicle.

All Wheel Drive (AWD)

AWD really is like a mix of all of the systems. The AWD system is similar to 4WD system in that all the wheels have power going to them, but the main differences are that with AWD, there are certain parts to the system that allow for each wheel to spin at a different speed, and AWD can be used at any speed. Most AWD vehicles have the system working all the time however, to save on fuel, during most diving conditions most power is being sent to the front wheels instead of being split up fully. Once the system detects wheel slip it will automatically send power to the appropriate wheel, sometimes up to 80% of the power. In some modern vehicles with AWD, there is also a setting to lock the system into a 4WD set-up that may or may not unlock itsself once higher speeds are reached. AWD systems are usually seen as the safest system as they work well in all conditions except the very worst snow or mud/ sand. 

Subaru has been a pioneer in offering high quality AWD systems in their entire lineup for decades. 

Some examples of AWD vehicles are: Every Subaru; Honda CRV; Toyota Rav 4; Ford Edge; any Audi with their "Quattro" system....

The only downside the vehicles with AWD systems have is that they tend to be quite heavy and due to the power being split to all 4 wheels, use more fuel than their FWD or RWD brothers.

Individual Wheel Drive (IWD)

This is a relatively new term that is mostly used for electric vehicles. These cars can actually use a small electric motor for each wheel instead of one large one. In this case they each power their own wheel differently and can work like any of the other systems. They also have the advantage of an electric motor's superior torque abilities. Most vehicles with IWD have what is called a "hub motor" which means the motor is actually inside the wheel and can be protected from the elements.

Current examples: the Mars rovers.



*no pictures featured in my blogs are my own, they are just found on Google images and their owners/ websites get the credit for taking them*


I hope you have enjoyed reading this and have learnt something if you didn't already know it.

J,K.

2013-15 Toyota Corolla Review

One of Toyota's best selling cars is finally cool

The Corolla has long been seen by many as a boring car. Toyota wanted to do something about that.

The Toyota Corolla has been sold internationally almost from the very beginning of Toyota, and now the North American model is in its 11th generation. It was redesigned and started to sell here in 2013. The Corolla has always followed in the steps of its bigger brother, the Camry. Since the Camry was revised recently, the Corolla was sure to follow. This is Toyota's compact car that for many years  people would say that one of the only reasons why they owned one was that "they needed a car". Previous generation Corollas have been pretty boring, so Toyota decided to finally change how people would  view the new Corolla, and they did not disappoint.

Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Toyota Corolla only is available as a sedan. It has two 1.8L 4 cylinder engines available; the only difference between them is about 8 HP. While the regular one produces 132HP, the "Eco" one produces 140HP. There are 3 different transmissions available. A 4 speed automatic is available only on the lowest base trim while all the rest have either a 6 speed manual or a CVT.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

This new Corolla does look quite a bit better on the outside than the old model. The front looks more aggressive with its pointed down nose and wide mouth, while the back looks a little less "fat". I don't know why, but the back reminds me of a carry on suitcase, albeit a nice one. The proportions look right on this new Corolla as well with classy rim designs. While the windows in the Corolla and its main competitor the Honda Civic have always been relatively large, they seem to have shrunk a good amount in this new generation. 

Going inside I am once again very impressed. The entire top of the dash looks like a piece of leather stitched on. It isn't, as its just a soft touch plastic, but it looks really nice and upscale. The radio and shifter are surrounded by very shiny or matte black plastic with chrome accents that look very good. The radio and air options are either a simple set up with 3 large knobs controlling air and the radio having its normal setup. Or upgrade to the large touch screen multimedia unit and you also get automated climate controls that also look very nicely put together. Once again, somewhat reminding me of the new Civic's front set up. The only complaint I have with the front dash is that it is like the side of a cliff. It's very flat and also not angled toward the driver at all. This is obviously done to give the impression of it being larger and more luxurious, but for a tall driver that does not like to look away from the road while driving, this makes it more difficult to use. However, it still looks very good. It also comes in a variety or different colours depending on the trim level you choose.

Lets take a look:

The interior is great not only for the colour choices but also for how its all put together as well. The sound system is great. Visibility is OK -not the greatest due to smallish windows and a high rear trunk- but definitely better than the Toyota Yaris (which will be reviewed soon) and on-par with cars in its class. The seats are comfortable and supportive. The head room and legroom upfront is OK, at the furthest back it would go, but the weird thing is that the back seats have tonnes of leg room. They very easily could have added another click or two for the front seats to go back and the rear seat passengers would still have plenty of leg room; headroom is tight for taller passengers.

Take a look:

Those pictures are with the front seats basically all the way back. I like the combo of dark green and clay brown, very earth-like, that is for the "Eco" trim level. Finally the trunk. It's large, but not huge. Also, the trunk pass-through to the back seat is smaller than others in its class due to the rounded corners.

Driving Impressions:

Traditionally, Corollas have been the type of car that people just use to get from point A to B. They are reliable and worry free. But at the same time they don't provide a lot of excitement. Does this new Corolla back up its new styling with a fun to drive experience? No, not really, but it's not all bad. First off, the engine is very quiet in almost all situations. Starting up, going around the city and on the highway, the engine is barely noticeable. Only under hard acceleration is the engine really heard but it's not too loud or rough. This brings me to the next plus point for the Corolla: it is very smooth. This isn't exactly a small car anymore and it is noticed in the ride. It soaks up bumps well and does not vibrate or rattle going over abrupt surface changes. For every trim level besides the "S" trim the ride could also be called soft as it does roll a bit in corners and doesn't seem to feel very solid changing direction. So the engine is quiet most of the time; this does not mean it has an abundance of power, but it does have enough for most of the Corollas. I did not feel like it was under-powered at any moment, even on the highway, but obviously if it had a bit extra that would be nice as well. I would like to see a different engine or at least a differently tuned engine for the "S" trim but there is not. You can, however, get a slightly more sporty performance out of the Corolla by putting the shifter into the "S" spot. This essentially stands for sport and on the trims with the CVT they have this spot that just holds "gear ratios" longer for better acceleration and they also have a "B" slot for engine braking. This "S" selection on the shifter actually does change the performance considerably for the better. Visibility while driving is OK but like I stated earlier, the trunk is decently high and the windows are somewhat small with wide rear pillars. 

Overall:

I must say good job to Toyota for making the new Corolla a great looking car that can be somewhat fun to drive. It now means that people can defend why they have purchased a Corolla "because it looks nice" or "because it's comfortable" or "because it drives well" or many other answers. They still, however, can't respond with "because it's super fun to drive". Maybe one day... The new Corolla is definitely a car that can please many different types of people. It can comfortably seat 4 -5 if the last person is small. It looks good, has a good sound system and of course is very reliable. If it's a second family car or someone's only car, it should be good for anyone. I would buy one, as a second or 3rd family vehicle.

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $24,000+

FWD

Max HP: 132.  Eco: 140

Max Torque lb/ft: 128.  Eco: 126

MPG (approx*): 28 city, 37 highway. "Eco": 29 / 41

Cargo room (approx*): 14 CuFt

Length: 183'' 

Width: 70''

Tank Size (gal): 13.2

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 422 "Eco": 462

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Toyota Canada

Toyota USA

Enjoy!

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J.K.