Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Cruising on the highway

2012 Corolla offers reliability, safety and comfort

By Lisa Goudy

The 2012 Corolla S offers a sportier look. Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

The 2012 Toyota Corolla rides smoothly and comfortably, with good gas mileage and other options to maximize safety, accessibility and fuel economy at a reasonable price.

“With the Toyota Corolla, everything’s easy to get to,” said Fraser Tolmie, a product advisor at Taylor Toyota Moose Jaw. “There’s no hidden switches or dials. You’ve got your cruise control at your fingertips.”

Tolmie said Corollas come in four packages — the CE model, which is the base model, the LE model, which has aluminum rims, the S model, which is the sport package and the XRS, which is more of a performance car because of its larger engine.

He added the focus is on the CE, LE and S packages because those models have 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder engine with “variable valve timing with an intelligence engine.” He said the prices for a mid-range car like the CE start at approximately $21,000.

“It’s a proven engine that is very reliable and the feedback we get from our clients is that they’re extremely happy with the Toyota Corollas,” said Tolmie.

The interior. Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

He said for maintenance under the hood, all the necessary features are easily accessible to do regular maintenance. For instance, Tomlie said it’s easy to change the battery without having to move a lot around and to get a boost if needed. Accessing the radiator fluid, washer fluid and brakes are equally as simple.

The Corolla is rated on the highway by the Canadian government for 15 miles per gallon for speeds between 77 and 97 kilometres per hour, said Tomlie, which attests to its good mileage and fuel economy.

The S package is the sport package and includes several luxurious extras. The sport features a wind spoiler on the back of the car with lower skirting, aluminum rims and a sun roof included in the aerodynamic package. The sport model also has a leather wrapped steering wheel.

Corollas come complete with a six-inch audio system with AM/FM, CD/MP3/WMA player and six speakers. They also offer an outlet so that an iPod or iPhone can be plugged into the car to play music, as well as being Bluetooth compatible. The Bluetooth can also be used to stream music. All of those can be controlled with buttons on the steering wheel.

Other accessories include all-season mats secured onto the floor of the vehicle. The Corollas are designed for acceleration so it’s easy to pass someone on the highway if necessary.

For more information, see the May 19 edition of the Times-Herald. 

The Specs

The engine. Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

Corolla S

• 132 hp, 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder

• DOHC, 16-valve, dual VVT-i-engine

• Standard 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission

• Ventilated front disc and rear drum brakes

• AM/FM CD/MP3/WMA player, 6 speakers, auxiliary input jack

• Active front headrests

• Front bucket seats• Rear spoiler, full skirt package

• 60/40 split rear bench seat with fold-down seat back

• Illuminated entry with fade-out dome lamp

• Dual heated power adjustable mirrors

• Available leather seat surfaces and heated driver and front passenger seats

• Star Safety System

• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST)7.4 city/5.6 highway fuel consumption (L/100 km)