2007 Toyota Corolla Overview
May 16, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
The new Toyota Corolla is now officially out and about, and Car Advice have put together a Corolla Overview to help potential buyers find out more about the new Corolla.
2007 Toyota Corolla Overview:
- All New Toyota Corolla
- 2007 Toyota Corolla First Steer (Review)
- 2007 Toyota Corolla Ascent, Conquest, Levin SX Levin ZR & Ultima Specification Levels & Pricing
- Toyota Corolla Six-Speed Manual & Four Speed Auto
- Toyota Corolla Safety Rating & Features
- Toyota Corolla Service Plan (Toyota Advantage)
- Toyota Corolla – What do we really think?
- Toyota Corolla – First Recall, Quality Concerns
- Toyota Corolla Crash Test Video
- Toyota Corolla Gallery
2007 Toyota Corolla Specifications:
The reason for our excitement? The Corolla is the biggest-selling car of all time, with more than 32.5 million sold since it was introduced in 1966. The Corollla is so successful, that Toyota have sold roughly one corolla every 40 seconds (world-wide) in the last forty odd years. Nonetheless, So far we have found a few thing we don’t like.
Firstly the style, whilst its new and its modern, its still screams Corolla, in other words, it still screams BORING (although the ZR hatch is a nice improvement). Its hard to believe that after all this time Toyota are still making such uninspiring cars. Nonetheless, we understand this car is aimed at the masses, and hence it has to appeal to everyone.
Print it: 
Are we looking at the *perhaps* overall #1 selling vehicle in Australia?
The Corolla was #1 seller for a few months beating the Commodore a few times, if anybody can do it, BigT would be it!
One thing, where is this Corolla made?
Cheers
O/A
Boring is one word i would use for sure and if it is the number one selling car its sure not for its looks more the price i think!
Car is made in Japan
True, I’d like to know where it’s made. My mate’s girl friend’s is a Poo-box. CD’s stuck in the player, Electric windows have jammed, after being fixed they have opened and closed on their own at random. The list goes on.
When I first drove it, and I have been a fan of older Corolla’s. This thing (I’m referring to last years model) was as vague as a plank of wood in a pool of jelly.
I was sadly disappointed that one of the best car manufacturers in the world could make such a vague, boring and scary car to drive. I was scared to drive it because I couldn’t feel the brake pedal. I wasn’t sure how I was stopping. Just that the speedo needle was heading towards the 0.
The clutch was so light, it was clearly made for little girls. The steering was so over assisted that I ended up over-compensating for everything.
Maybe I was just use to a heavier car. Older technology. But that wasn’t the case, as I’ve recently started to look for my own new car (first one ever). I’ve driven quite a few…. probably enough to get my own reviews put up on this site :p
Although a lot of the cars I drove were over assisted also, a lot of them only had the assistance when parking and low speed manoeuvring. Once at speed, the vaugarity went away. It was nice to have it there for parking, then gone when you don’t need it.
I guess Holden’s previous comments elsewhere on this great site referring to “cheap” cars is what Australian’s want is spot on, if the Corolla is #1, followed by Holden, Ford, etc. Clearly we’d all rather have a dog box that cost us whatever they cost. Compared to spending an extra $2-$4K on a nicer specced European or Japanese import.
It is disappointing that these are the popular choices of cars. It just means manufacturers think they’re making something good, and continue to do so. Even though in reality it is not.
Cheers
Steve
Yeah good point Steve! When it comes down to it i couldnt give a toss how many cars Toyota have sold(as they keep banging on about)i would rather pay the extra and get something that looks good and runs well rather than buy a car because its cheap!
Steve, I am a little disapointed that you have based your opinion on your mates gf’s unfortunate experience because the corolla is a bloody good car! My gf for example is driving a 1979 corolla that is still working well today, with a couple of new door seals and a bit of body work/re-spray it would go for another 3-4 years.
These are not just a good seller becuase they are cheap look at the rentention of customer rates, people just keep going back for more (except for your mates gf). I would give the consumer more credit for buyin a car that has great reliability, good re-sale value and an exceptional fuel economy, something the aussie car makers have yet to wake up to…
I think the new hatch looks great. I’ve paid the deposit and ordered mine. Due at the end of this month (May 2007) Love the graphite colour. We already have a Corolla which is now 10 years old and over 280,000 Kms has never let us down. We’ll keep that to take the dogs out and go to te rubbish dump. A car without dog hairs will be a novelty.
It cost the same as a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus. No ESP which is available in the Mazda 3 and will be available in the Focus in July. And only one engine ATM, very average standard features. Very disappointing from the richest car company in the world.
i dont mind it, but yeah no ESP is a dissapointment in this day and age
CJ,
Your comments are totally valid. Why do I agree with you, yet bang on about how shit my mate’s g/f’s was? Because her’s wasn’t a 1979 model. It wasn’t even a 2000 model. It’s last years model. My mate himself has an 89 model which is great fun to drive. Handles beautifully (for a jap-box), and goes like a stinker.
I just can’t believe Toyota is the same company that has made Supras, Truenos and other high performance stompin’ engines and great, fast cars.
Yet year after year they churn out this coffins on wheels that just manage to get people from point A. to point B. as boringly as possible.
When I was referring to the vaugarity of the car, I was referring to the 2006 model. Above in this same post, I am referring to my mates 89 model. Chalk and cheese I say. Toyota needs to make exciting cars again….
But then again, my original comment comes to mind from my first post on this story… they’re selling these cars like there’s no tomorrow…. to them that’s a sure sign to not change a thing.
I guess the simple fact is, most of “us” people appear to be “drivers” rather then the people that buy these cars who buy them because they need a car, not because they want one.
There’s a difference. You buy a car you need because you need it. You don’t generally care about the engine and handling. You care about the Air-con, ABS. You take it for a test drive, and nothing surprises you. BOOM! sold!
I buy cars differently, I like things that surprise me, I like things that stand out and make me say “hmm, someone thought about this before they put it through the design team”. “A driver designed this car, not a bean counter”.
I think I’ve vented enough about crap cars. I’m sure the Corolla is a high quality car. It is after all, a Toyota. But I don’t think it’s anything special, I wouldn’t buy one, I wouldn’t drive one ever again.
I will be test driving the Mazda 6 turbo diesel this weekend. Ooh baby, 360Nm of torque.
Steve
What fantastic little cars are Corolla’s. Name me another little machine that is as bulletproof / steadfast and prides itself on quality, reliability, dependability and durability as the humble Toyota Corolla.
Admittedly, the sedan does nothing for me but the hatch is funcky enough. I’m all for it !!
man i remember my mates 89 corolla, that thing got effing THRASHED! we used it purely as a fwd drift car, maccas trays on the back. got stuck in a flood, took out a stop sign, was enough to live upto the carnage we gave it, and even today its still going, apart from the rooted CV joints from our drifting. in comparison my mates VN commodore had half the milage, got an occasional thrashing and had an endless (i stress the word ENDLESS) amount of repairs.
Wonder if it’s better in the flesh than in the photo’s?
Looks awkward especially at the front although the interior and dash looks quite attractive.
Pricing is interesting though. No longer is the Corolla the cheapest in the market and it really doesnt offer much for the money … still only a high revving 1.8 litre that has only average torque for the class at 4400 rpm!! In comparison, Golf has 200Nm @ 3500 and Focus 185Nm @ 4500. Power also compared to both the VW and Golf are off the pace as well. The fact that its Euro IV compliant is its one strength (for fleet and government buyers).
6 speed manual is a bit of a fantasy … a 0.725 ratio with a 4.529 final drive ratio is nothing more than extra gear to shift into compared to its competitors more traditional 5 gears. And the Golf kills it for a engine transmission combo …. power, torque and 6 speed manual.
Also no one has talked about the simple and basic torsion bar rear suspension that is not even an IRS! Typically, Toyota tries to hide the fact by claiming its semi independent but you can either be pregnant or not, can’t you? What other small car in the class doesn’t have an IRS especially the Euro’s that have the Corolla covered in spades for ride and handling with true IRS’s especially in the more interesting sportier versions.
Nah its a typical Toyota offering … its unsophisticated simple and effective engineering that serves the market it appeals to VERY well and that’s why Toyota does so well. But as a car of interest in technical terms (and I still question the styling) its a non event.
Toyota have never really been the cheapest in class for the Corolla. In good old Toyota fashion the cars have a low RRP, but have bugger all equipment. By the time you option it up to the equvilent of others in the class, it costs quite a bit more. We noticed that when we were shopping for a new small car in 2002. We went with the TS Astra CD as it was so much better equipped than the equivillent Corolla. Not as boring to drive either. The price for Toyota ‘reliability’. Whilst Toyota make great cars, they are mostly “whitegoods on wheels” with hardly any models in their enitre range you would want to drive for the sake of driving. Highly dependable, but hardly exciting.
Go the old Rollers. It was the first choice when our first son got his license. He gave it hell!!! Poor thing but he loved it .Hubby not happy he became a ricer but when the next son is due to get his licence he too will get an old Corolla .Even though he wants a REX .Nice choice would be mine too but not as a mother!!!
I think some people need to realise that unlike their Commodore or Falcon cars like the Camry, Aurion and Corolla are international cars (yes they sell some Commodores overseas but hardly any). For this reason, they have to be relatively conservative to suit their international customers who have varying tastes.
I have no real issue with Toyota going with the conservative looks, but it doesn’t stop them from making them more exciting to drive. Look at the Mazdas from the late 90s. They were as plain looking as you could get, but they were still fun to drive with a depth of handling that belied their looks and rather ordinary specification. There is no excuse for that. Come on Toyota, now that you have started to make cars that look quite good, make them fun to drive as well…
That is poor quality control they are lucky, that is toyota that a truck driver picked up this problem you wonder if there is any quality control anymore.The corolla is and always been a bland car, there is not much offering in the engine department as well.It seem you toyota fans have your noses to high up i will let in on secret check the new FIAT BRAVO OR RITMO as it will be called in oz it is a much better vehicle than the corolla all round.
I don’t know about that johnl. It has been universally acknowledged that the 1.8 Corolla engine is a great engine looking for a decent chassis. It has always been up the pointy end for straight line performance, it just doesn’t go around corners all that well. For years it was easily the most powerful in class, until the Mazda 3 came along, as well as the most economical. It may not be the most refined in class, but it sure gives you it’s best. I do agree with quality control though, it is slipping.
If you think Toyota quality control is bad, I would hate to know what you would call Fiat’s. Also we all know what Fiat stands for, First In Any Trouble…
To mr devils advocate,sure sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me unfortunately people like yourself live in the past thats why you like toyotas if you can see past your nose you know and every person like yourself knows that fiat is much better brand that you give it credit for and also since you live in past fiat has always had better models than what toyota has ever made.
Um, johnl, I DON’T own a Toyota and never have, they are white goods on wheels that are boring to drive. However I HAVE owned a Fiat and it was nothing but trouble. I don’t know where you get this ‘living in the past’ rubbish, I was merely stating that the current engine in the Corolla is not a bad engine that is up to current spec and not an unexciting POS you mentioned. I even agreed with you WRT quality control and the fact that the rest of the Corolla is WAY behind in everything else and ‘in the past’.
Look at Fiat’s CURRENT line up, the Punto. Good to see they have a nice TD that makes it a great little run-about that looks great, but look at the petrol. If the twin cam 16 valve engine in the Corolla is ‘not much to offer’, then what would you call the 8V engine in the Punto, even the TD in the Punto is a 16V unit, WTF. They have some good technology WRT transmissions though. Compare the Punto to the Toyota Yaris (fair comparison). Punto 1.4 8V engine. Yaris 1.3 or 1.5 16V, DOHC, Variable valve timing. Who is ‘living in the past’ there? Although the Yaris is not totally out of the woods as it has rear drums as well. You can also delete Yaris and put in Mazda 2, or Honda Jazz etc. Also don’t forget that the Yaris is European and not Japanese. The TD is another story all together though.
Then the clincher, is the extra cost over the others really worth it. $28,000+ORC is a huge amount of coin for a small 3 door TD hatch in the compact class. You could nearly buy a Mazda 3 SP23 for that. I know which would be better value for money… Who would want to pay $28,000+ for a car with DRUM rear brakes? Where is that ‘living in the past’ again?
I am NOT knocking Fiats, they are an awesome looking car with real character and design depth that the Japs etc just don’t understand. Their TD engines and transmissions are right up to date, but you must admit the petrol engines are using technology that was old in the 80s. I can just take the ‘European snob blinkers’ (most cars I have owned are/were Euros) off once in a while and give a car, or engine in the Corolla’s case, credit for what it is…
Um,devils advocate,you cant judge a whole range of cars by one bad experience.I have owned fiats and i have had a better run then most other brands i have owned,The new fiat punto is much better vehicle then the yaris, as is the new bravo-ritmo over the corolla thats my opinion for a person who has not owened a toyota,make sure you buy one first before you start knocking other brands.I have worked on all types of cars toyotas included they have the same problems if not more.As you have said fiat has always had the technology they might have had used their motors to long, thats because their engines were to advanced for their period of time.So you should next time adress somebody who owns a FIAT as,
FIRST
IN
AUTOMOBILE
TECHNOLOGY
(NUMER-UNO FIAT)
Well then why are you knocking Toyota when you haven’t owned one? Hello pot, this is kettle calling!! Better than the Yaris based on what? Have you driven/lived with the Yaris or are you just basing it on you ignorant hatred of Toyota? It may look better, but I wouldn’t say the Punto is worth an extra $5,000 to $12,000 more than a Yaris. I didn’t know the Punto had an old 8V, what a joke, thanks Devils. You seem to be judging the Corolla without trying it first and basing it off the last model which the new one shares nothing with, not even engines. Also the Corolla can’t be that much of a POS, it is afterall the BIGGEST selling car in the WORLD.
It goes both ways John. Make sure you buy one first before you start knocking brands. As ‘anyone’ said, hello pot! It is good to be passionate about your preferred brand or brands, mine is BMW and Mazda (BTW the most reliable mainstream manufacturer selling cars in this country in the latest leaked survey), but don’t be so blind as to let it cloud your judgement and make you look like a knobber, which I am sure you are not. It is pretty simple, anyone who would have something like a Fiat Punto et al on their shopping list generally wouldn’t think of looking at a Toyota and Vice Versa. They are for a completely different demographic. Some people may just want a simple, reliable car to get them from A to B and the Corolla suits that to a T. For people like myself who love to drive in unique cars, I would go for something else like a Fiat etc if it fitted my requirements. That is why I like BMW and Mazda. They are both fun to drive, handle well and are a little bit left of centre than the other brands from their country, almost quirky you could say.
Yes I have only had one Fiat, but I know a few peole who have had them over the years with mostly similar results. WRT the Punto engine being ahead of it’s time years ago, well the Punto has only been around since the 90s, now how does a 80s or older engine tech fit into that? Why have such a high tech, brilliant TD, but have such an old tech petrol? What a waste.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree mate, it has been a fun debate!! Enjoy your Italian cut price Ferraris. They have more style than just about any other sub $100K car on the road. :-)
Again your are contradicting yourself again your talking about a brand thats been out of the market for at least 20 years.Where talking about now not then get it through your head or you may be the knobber your looking for,that explains alot you own a bmw. (BIG MONEY WAISTERS)forget the punto as i have mentioned fiat have made more than one model in their 108 years of service they had better motors than toyota has ever had and will ever have .Also dont you forget the mothership of ferrari is fiat so yes i would rather own a poor mans ferrari than a basic toyota or bmw.
What I find funny is that, as a current theme throughout all you posts, you ASSUMED I owned a BMW. I only said I liked them. I never once said I currently OWN one. I used to own one, but that was many years ago. They are nice cars, but like Fiats and many other Euros, not really great value for money. You give a very cedible argument, you should get a job for A Current Affair or Today Tonight. They would jump at your skill of bias and contradiction.
You are the one that is contradicting oneself the most most, I was just living up to my handle and you fell for it hook, line and sinker. Maybe you need to do a google on what “deveil’s advocate” really means…LOL
I though you were not a knobber and was someone who was passionate about their favourite marque, however now you have proven that you truely are a ‘grade A’ knobber. Go ahead and live in your own fairy land with your arrogant, snobby blinkers on and put EVERYTHING/ONE else down if it doesn’t come under the Fiat group. With that kind of belief, you are only selling yourself short on the fantastic cars that are available. EVERY manufacturer have their good cars and bad cars, even your beloved Fiat. You seem to be even worse than most of the Holden/Ford yobbos who think theirs is the only brand. It is fantastic to be fanatical for your favourite brand, but you show VERY poor character by not respecting other people’s beliefs/intrests that is different to yours.
BMW have been more cutting edge with technology than Fiat. I actually like Fiat, but if most Fiat lovers (they aren’t thank god) are idiots like you I may have to re-consider. You hate other cars because they are not Fiats, so then it is fine for me to hate Fiats because of twats like you. I would be using the same shallow philosophy as you. I will still like Fiats though because they are a very stylish car that have a place in the market, plus I can appreciate, not necessarily like, other marques and their achivements. Sure, you don’t have to love the Corolla, I don’t, but I give it credit for being reliable, cheap transport for people who don’t want big/fast/expensive (insert apllicable)car but just one somthing simple to go to the shops etc. They have found a market and have made a car to suit, just like Fiat market their car to the Latte set.
I only used the Punto as an example as currently it is the ONLY Fiat road car you can buy in this country. Until the new model comes out, the comparisons still stand.
Playing the Devil’s Adcocate has sure brought out the kobber/shallow character in you!!! I have had a ball. Thanks for the fun and entertainment. I await your most likely colourful retort. I’m sure it will be a beauty. I would love to ‘kiss and make up’, but obviously you don’t have a sense of humour and can’t step back and smell the coffee to what this really is. Kind regards. ;-)
QUOTE = I have no real issue with Toyota going with the conservative looks, but it doesn’t stop them from making them more exciting to drive. Look at the Mazdas from the late 90s. They were as plain looking as you could get, but they were still fun to drive with a depth of handling that belied their looks and rather ordinary specification. There is no excuse for that. Come on Toyota, now that you have started to make cars that look quite good, make them fun to drive as well…
Its called the TRD Corolla. It wouldnt make much sense making the standard Corolla a really great handling car… it would mean the TRD version wouldnt be differentiated and people who dont even need its handling etc aspects are paying for things they dont want.
To devils advocate,I find that their must be something wrong with you,you tend to like something and then criticize it.I think you are totally confused,people like yourself confuse the world.The problem is you read to many story books and judge all people the same but everybody is different.So before you carry on like an idiot,save yourself you have won the gold knobber award, right from the start, it cant be given out twice.
Definition of “Devil’s Advocate”: “someone who takes position for the sake of an argument”. That says it all really, and you couldn’t handle someone saying something constructive about your beloved Fiat.
You are the judgemental one, hating something/someone for no other reason than the badge/not liking what you like. You are the one turning around compliments into critisim. I have mentioned many times that Fiat make great, stylish cars for the Latte set. I just found it strange and dissapointing that they offer an ordinary petrol engine in the only car they currently offer in this country. I am sure you have owned an item and said, gee I like this except for this one little thing. Same thing. I was initially trying to make this subjective, but you got personal so I though I would join in! Yes, I know it is childish, but I wanted to have some fun!
Why don’t you follow your own advice for once and acknowledge all people are different. Saying Toyota lovers have their noses too high up when it seems yours is so high that it has rotted your brain and made you so blind as to see that not everyone is like you and think that Fiat is ONLY car manufacturer that makes good cars. You carry on like if you don’t like Fiat, you don’t know squat. Now THAT is not acknowledging peoples differences.
I respect your love of Fiat, but not how you think your way is the ONLY way. As you said, people are different.
End of rant, over. :-)
Not quite actually.
It is people like you Johnl who don’t accept/respect other peoples point of view that is turning this world into the craphole it is becoming.
Now end of rant, over. :-)
After what seemed forever waiting for full details of the new Corolla release and planning of my new vehicle purchase, what a let down with the exterior colours. Drab dull colours, no bright red or blues and 3 silver/grey type colours that are not that far apart at quick glance. On top of that 7 of the 8 colours available are at extra cost to the customer because they are mica/metallic.Shame they have updated many features of the new car, but very uninspiring exterior colours I must say.
Disappointing also that the new Corolla has no door protection mouldings, those doors will look like they have had hail damage after a few trips to the shopping centre carparks.
No doubt they will still sell like hot cakes though….
johnl, your a fuckwit.
thats all
“Its called the TRD Corolla. It wouldnt make much sense making the standard Corolla a really great handling car… it would mean the TRD version wouldnt be differentiated and people who dont even need its handling etc aspects are paying for things they dont want”
What a stupid thing to say, I think the fact that the Corolla TRD has upgraded power, sports suspension/brakes, sports bodykit, bigger wheels and sports interior, is enough to make you tell the difference b/w the normal Corolla and the TRD.
There is no excuse why the Corolla isn’t as involving as its rivals (Mazda 3 and Ford Focus) they are the same price and have a bigger engine. A car that handles better shouldn’t spike the price dramatically if at all.
To meh,how true can this be,because it takes one to know one.
Johnl,you truly are ignorant !!! Have you ever driven,or purchased any thing else but a FIAT ??? God I hate people that comment on what they have never owned!My Mother owned Fiat’s and my Husband did his apprenticeship as a Mechanic with them . They seriously are CRAP!! I thought Fiat’s owners were banned from this site?? Stop hidding behind Ferrari,they just pulled you all out of the SHIT. What were they thinking? Mate how many FIATS did they sell last year compared to Corolla’s? What you think Fiat’s are some secret no one knows about yet? Get your hippy nose out of your bong and smell the real air,no one likes FIATS!BMW are what too? Mate if you stopped sniffing stuff then maybe you could afford something good to buy!
If anybody is sniffing its you stick to your white goods on four wheels(TOYOTAS) because you dont know what your talking about.Get your facts right before you start talking.Stick to this site and keep on sniffing because you will make a fool of yourself elsewhere.
basically id just like to ask johnl where he gets off by trying to be bigger than everyone else and beating his very narrowminded point of view into everyone that reads it. mate seriously just for one second lets just step back and have a look at this conversation… im pretty sure devils advocate wasnt gonna have a go at you, ever, untill of course you insulted him for about the 24th time. i think most of the people in this forum can spot a dickhead looking for a fight when we see one. and the funny thing is im 17 and i can see it clear as day. back off mate your not impressing anyone here
Have a great day mate!
To mr gleno,If anything you should back off,and check who insulted who before you start talking,if you think by expressing your views is fighting then you must be narrow minded so dont tell me to back off,you back off mate.
LOL , ” BUT HE STARTED IT FIRST “what are you 12 years old ? No one on this thread is agreeing with you about anything you have so far said. Your dying trying to convince us FIATS are better than Toyotas. Give up!!!
your argument is well put
i do agree
toyotas make great paper weights
jesus christ who cares, both cars a fucking boring and slow!
Ok guys I got the measuring stick!!! Just give me a couple of minutes and I can tell you who won the pissing competition!!!
Honestly I was under the impression the forum was set up for CONTRSTUCTIVE debate, NOT for flaming and defamatory remarks towards others.
OK OK I admit it was funny to read, BUT seriously TAKE IT OUTSIDE!!!!!! Not everyone that visits this site (regardless of whether they post or not) needs to subjected to this rubbish.
Looks like I am out of the contest, I”m female .
my thoughts completely CJ
i think people have to realise its the internet and not a e-wang measuring competition. 2 weeks ago i was flamed profusely for merely telling people to stop stereotyping EVERYONE who owns a holden as a bogan. fortunately i won that contest thanks to my witty remarks and theyre severely opinionated bias, but quite frankly i really couldnt give a shit for who won, or for holden.
this is a wonderful website people, dont tarnish it! constructive critism!
Looks like KIA XR have borowed the Corolla”s hatches tooling. Same back and front ???
With design registration these days it makes you wonder how they get away with it.
Anyone doing BMW’s angel eyes yet on their models?
game set n match
I WON
Sorry I missed that, what is it again that you won??
respect,self pride and dignity over you.
The ability to silence a fool
and a set of steak knives
Oh, ok. Sorry, I didn’t see a huge amount of respect in here going your way. That is good then, I must not be a fool because I have not been silenced!! TVFPIC
Anyhow, back to the topic on hand. One of our neighbors has purchased the new Corolla Sedan. Doesn’t actually look that bad in the flesh. Although the tail lights bulge out a bit just like the Camry. Had to do a double take though because at a quick glance it looked a little like a Hyundai Elantra sedan.
Johnl, I can’t belive your still going on about Toyota’s . Who cares ? Can’t you go back to your Fiat post,or won’t anyone talk to you ? I thought we were trying to change the subject. Please can we move on Johnl?