Video: Driving Northwest: Corolla delivers good fuel economy

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Perception. It's crucial in marketing, especially the beleaguered auto industry these days. Domestics are seen as gas guzzlers and imports viewed as sippers. These days it's not always the case but hey, perception can be more powerful than the truth. With the Prius as their halo, Toyota has successfully etched a fuel efficiency image into the brains of American shoppers. Don't want or can't find a Prius? Step to the other side of the showroom for the Coke Classic of compact sedans, Corolla.

Corolla was born in 1966 and came to American shores two years later. Ever since then we've thought of it as a small vehicle. But like many other cars and baby boomers, it has become larger. This newest model is bigger than the first and second generation Camry. So check your perception at the door, these days the small Toyota is a Yaris.

I’m testing an S model. With that badge and visual cues like side skirts and an optional deck lid spoiler, there's the expectation that it means Sport. Well, not so much Speed Racer. The smooth 132 horse 4-cylinder gets no bump in power over the standard Corolla, no throaty engine sound either. A standard 5-speed manual could be sporty though I'm driving the optional 4-speed automatic. No manual shift mode is offered here. On S models the rear brakes are drums, not as effective as discs brakes all around.

All this means that the Corolla S is much like Corollas of the past. That's not a bad thing; buyers have loved theirs for generations. Acceleration is fine for an economy car; freeway on-ramps are not a white knuckle event. The body doesn't wallow and suspension won't fold up during moderate cornering. But while it's going from Curve A to Corner B the electric power steering offers up no advice as to what the tires are actually doing. Long distance road trippers will find the on-center feel is not completely locked down, requiring small adjustments here and there. In the end, those looking for satisfaction in the twisties will go for more athletic cars like Mazda3, Jetta, Astra and Civic. Drivers that gravitate to performance rides may call Corolla "appliance-like" but many folks just want a comfortable trip in a moderately quiet cabin. In that category Corolla fills the bill. 

Important these days, I'm averaging 30 miles to the gallon using regular fuel. FYI, EPA numbers for the auto tranny Corolla are 26 city, 35 highway. For quick comparison, Honda Civic scores 25/36, Ford Focus 24/35, Hyundai Elantra 25/33, Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 22/31, Mazda3 22/29 and VW Jetta 21/29. Remember folks, fuel economy numbers don't tell the whole story. For example, Mazda3 and Jetta are geared toward performance. They're similar to the more powerful Corolla XRS with 2.4-liter 158 hp engine and 5-speed automatic which dips down 22/30.  

Inside, it's easy to find the right position behind the wheel in the dark conservative cabin. Six airbags are along for the ride and traction control is available across the board for that warm and fuzzy safety feeling. There are some clever storage cubbies including two, count 'em, two glove boxes. The moment you sit down in the comfortable chairs, the controls are crystal clear but the tactile feel of the heat and AC knobs is average. Hard plastic on the Corolla's instrument panel is fine since the driver doesn't paw it much, but elbows won't care much for the solid armrests on the door and center console.

The carpool gang will appreciate the decent sized backseat that's larger than Mazda3's. Demerits include no folding center armrest and no map pockets on the seat backs. The floor is very flat so the passenger without a window gets some foot room. In a three-month real-world smackdown with a couple of kindergartners, I would expect the folding cup holders to lose. 

The trunk is a good-sized space; it easily swallows six packs of Costco bath tissue, which is the same as a larger midsized sedan. There's a plastic tray that's good for keeping gallons of milk from rolling around. Hinge arms are the type that can squish stuff if you're not careful. The folding seatbacks split 60/40 for those really big Costco runs.

Corolla starts at around $16,000 with destination. That matches up with the expectation that this Toyota is a value priced sedan. A closer look reveals it's a 5-speed manual model with crank windows. To get power glass, a $1,845 option package needs to checked on my S tester. At 22 grand as equipped, the S is hardly the cheapest car in its class. That kind of coin will buy you a Honda Civic EX-L with a 5-speed automatic, heated cowhide seats and $600 in change. 

Still Toyota has built a durability reputation and is currently selling every Corolla they can make. True to perceptions, Corolla delivers good fuel economy and a friendly demeanor all done up in a pleasant wrapper. The reality is that it has competition these days.