2017 Toyota Corolla Review: Cautiously Evolutionary With Handful Of Helpful Updates

Oct 20, 2016 08:53 AM EDT | Mariechris Felipe

The Toyota Corolla has been dominating the US sales chart as the top-selling compact sedan for more than a decade now, selling more than 350,000 units for years in North America alone. Thus, the 2017 Toyota Corolla is cautiously evolutionary adding only minor styling tweaks, a handful of interior and multimedia updates, as well as a strengthen safety system

Here's our full review on the 2017 Toyota Corolla.

Same Old Reliable Corolla With Awesome Additions

Now on its fifth year of production, which already sold more than 40 million units worldwide, one would think Toyota would choose to put a revolutionary change to their Corolla. But base on the stats, the Toyota Corolla is doing something right and still continues to dominate, thus the reason why the Japanese automaker isn’t really looking to fix something that ain’t broke.

The result is the same old reliable Corolla for 2017 with slight styling tweaks, update in the interior and multimedia system and the biggest upgrade is in the safety department, where the Corolla now boasts a raft of upgraded technology as standard across the line.

The basic engine stays the same as a four-cylinder 1.8-liter that can produce 132 hp and 128nm of torque with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), according to Topspeed. The optional engine is only available in the new LE Eco version, which can produce up to 140 hp and 126nm of torque. The SE version offers an optional transmission six-speed manual gearbox.

2017 Toyota Corolla Looks

The 2017 Corolla receives significant changes on the outside. This time, it assumes design details that were originally assigned to the Toyota Mirai. The look of the Corolla is now more modern.

The model adopted new headlights with a slightly altered format and now with LEDs and projectors, as well as redesigned bumpers, more aggressive front grille, new light-alloy wheels and taillights with the new internal layout. The basic version of the 2017 Corolla L offers 15-inch wheels, while the SE version offers sportier aluminum alloy wheels of 17 inches.

2017 Toyota Corolla Interior

Changes for 2017 include what Toyota calls a more premium look, according to GreenCarReports. The materials used were improved, the seats are more comfortable especially those in the SE and XSE versions and the rear bench now offers more space making the car more comfortable.

The media center is now new, called Toyota Touch 2, complete with new touch-sensitive commands to replace physical buttons, while the digital clock was repositioned to the right side of the center console. The instrument panel features an LCD screen of 4.2 inches. Its touch screen was improved. Virtual buttons are larger, clearer graphics and faster response. Your system interface is the easiest and intuitive to operate in the segment.

Safety Comes First

The 2017 Toyota Corolla gets a set of new active-safety features which includes frontal collision alert, lane departure warning, automatic adjustment of the beam of the headlights and recognize traffic signs. It also now includes the electronic stability control (ESP) as standard, correcting one of the main weaknesses of the previous model.

The new Corolla also adopted retuned suspension, power steering with a new setting, sound insulation of improved cabin making it safer than ever.

In conclusion, the 2017 Toyota Corolla does not stand out in its segment when it comes to changes. It's far from exciting but is a perfect example of a simple, demure, comfortable and safe car which is just fine with hundreds of thousands of buyers in the US every year.

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