has something offered with the Eco prefix in its name, even premium brands like BMW, but all too often press that dreaded button and all the fun gets sapped out of an otherwise sporty experience. Not so for the 2014 Toyota Corolla Eco, however. It actually adds more power to its fuel-friendly, ultra-green 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine.
That Eco-tuned engine includes Toyota’s state-of-the-art Valvematic variable valve opening process that varies the lift of the intake valves to control air intake, freeing up airflow past the throttle valve into the cylinders. The innovative system saves on fuel and adds performance, my favourite combination, but strangely it can’t be had with the sportiest Corolla of them all, the S. Altogether it makes 140 horsepower, eight more ponies than the standard Corolla engine, although it gives up a smidge in thrust, the engine’s torque rated at 126 lb-ft instead of 128.
nominal knock for sure, especially considering the Eco’s fuel economy gains. It’s good for a claimed 6.5 L/100km in the city and 4.6 on the highway compared to the Corolla S’s 6.9 city and 5.2 highway rating when mated to the same CVTi-S transmission that comes standard in the Eco. The Corolla’s standard six-speed manual, which gets an EnerGuide rating of 7.1 city and 5.2 highway with the six-speed manual or 7.4 and 5.4 when mated to the base model’s optional four-speed automatic, would no doubt be fun with the extra power of the Eco upgrade, but no dice.
to as a CVTi-S due to its Intelligent Shift technology. It offers the usual smoothness of a CVT, although the S tacked on to the tail end of the new name is actually there for a very sporty reason. The transmission includes seven stepped “gears” for a bit more fun from the driver’s seat, although steering wheel-mounted paddles are left off the Eco menu, only available in the aforementioned Corolla S.
The previous Corolla never got enough credit for being a nicely balanced little car, much better through the corners than some of its sportier looking competitors. The new Corolla builds on this performance with even greater feel and responsiveness, best experienced via S trim thanks to that model’s 17-inch alloy wheels, although the Eco’s optional 16s provided adequate grip when pushed through the curves.
Eco can only be had in top-line LE trim, so opt for the most fuel efficient drivetrain and you’ll also get premium fabric upholstery on the seats and door trim, heated front seats, chrome interior door handles, a standard backup camera system viewable from a new full-colour 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, voice recognition, a six-speaker audio upgrade, automatic headlamps, variable intermittent wipers, cruise control, keyless entry, and a padded centre armrest/console bin lid, although unlike the LE the Eco doesn’t come standard with 16-inch steel wheels, but rather the same 15-inch rims on 195/65 rubber as the base CE. Specific to the Eco, the standard feature set is expanded to include automatic air conditioning, a rear lip spoiler, tire pressure monitoring, and an Eco driving indicator to help you eke out as much from a tank of gas as possible.
fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels on 205/55 all-seasons, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power tilt and slide glass sunroof, which altogether upped the luxury experience considerably.
Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST), plus much more. Capping off the safety menu are all the expected airbags plus one for the driver’s knees.
is unlike anything else in the compact class. It’s a great looking horizontal layout that bucks against the longstanding vertical approach to car design, the primary gauge package and centre stack nicely tied together to form a totally cohesive look. If you can’t tell already, I really like it.
You can get into a base Corolla CE for as little as $15,995 plus $1,520 for freight and pre-delivery prep, while my top-line LE Eco tester with the Upgrade package retails at a very reasonable $22,200; the LE Eco without the extra equipment priced at $20,250.
Consider the attractive new Corolla’s easily attainable price and low running costs, factor in its long list of standard and optional features, then weigh its strong acceleration and enjoyable handling. All of this gets added to a car that’s legendary in reliability, making the 2014 Corolla a sure bet in the compact segment.