1997 Toyota Corolla Review & Road Test

are selling you their flavor of the month, but what does value mean? It

isn't just price, of course, but green dollars American on the barrelhead

obviously play a big part in it. For many buyers, though, value is best

described not by price but by what the dollars actually buy. With the 1997

Toyota Corolla line, those green dollars American go impressively far.

Did you know the Corolla has an American lineage? Toyota has long shared

an assembly plant in Fremont, California with Chevrolet. Corollas and the

Geo Prizm (largely based on Toyota mechanicals) are built there, but Toyota

has also imported some Corollas to meet market demand. Now, however, all

1997 Corollas will be built in North American factories, with Toyota's

Ontario, Canada plant supplementing the output from California.

The car has a long history of popularity, so it must be doing something

good. Corolla is the longest-running nameplate in the Toyota line-up, in

fact. After spending quality time in a new Corolla DX model, we're convinced

the '97s are positioned to continue that success.

because it has the sound, functional appearance of a well-made piece of

clothing. It shines in this role. The Corolla is an unpretentious yet attractive

car that won't go out of style in the next model year, and won't look boring

or old-fashioned before its time.

It may be a more formal look than key competitors like the Dodge/Plymouth

Neon twins and the Ford Escort, with more sharply folded sheetmetal than

some trendier products. This isn't because of a shortage of artistic talent

at Toyota's design hive, but to provide a better interior peoplescape.

Corolla's formal roofline promotes head room superior to designs that slope

fashionably into the rear decklid, especially in the all-important rear

passenger seats. Consequently, the Corolla's design is well-tooled for

its family-car mission.

Changes for the '97 model are subtle. Corollas get new door trim and

enhancements to side-impact protection. Safety is a big shopping point

for family buyers, and though it's a small car, the Corolla does very well

in this area.

Three-point safety belts are provided for front seat and outboard rear

seat riders (with a lap belt for the middle rear position). Dual airbags

are standard equipment. For those interested in stepping up to the option

of anti-lock brakes, which we recommend, they are available for all three

Corolla models. Power steering is standard on CE and DX models. Certain

popular amenities, such as cruise control, split-folding rear seat, tachometer,

power sunroof and tilt wheel, are options that can only be checked for

the DX.

The three-model line includes a base or standard Corolla and a Corolla

CE, both standard-equipped with Toyota's 1.6-liter twin-cam 4-cylinder

powerplant of 100 horsepower. The uplevel engine provided in our Corolla

DX tester is a slightly larger 1.8-liter twin-cam 4-cyl. that produces

105 hp, and 117 lb.-ft. of torque versus the base engine's 105 lb.-ft.

The standard transmissions for both four-bangers are specific five-speed

manuals. The optional automatic for the base engine is a three-speed, while

the upgrade path for the larger engine features a smooth-running four-speed

automatic.

The all-independent suspension features MacPherson struts at all four

corners. With a relatively long wheelbase and its independent suspension,

the Corolla offers excellent ride quality and competent handling.

plenty. With comfortable bucket seats in front and a three-place bench

seat in the rear, Corolla is a congenial car for families with young children.

Even your sprouting basketball stars will find enough head room in the

rear.

Interior styling is conservative and functional, yet designed for ergonomic

or operating efficiency. The climate controls and radio/tape functions

are easily read at a glance and well within reach of the driver for use.

The instrument package isn't cluttered up with what, in this purposeful

mount, would be some unnecessary gauges, so the principal read-outs of

a speedometer and tachometer (DX only) are quickly scanned for essential

information.

To our mild surprise, the Corolla's seating comfort was better than

expected. The front buckets offer adequate support at the thighs and in

the lumbar region for long-distance comfort, as we discovered during a

weekend run from Detroit to Chicago and back. Corolla shows that it's thinking

about safety in smaller ways, too, by offering standard child-protector

rear door locks on all models as well as an optional integrated rear child

restraint seat. And all Corollas come with full interior carpeting, dual

cupholders, remote hood and trunk releases, trip odometer, coinholder and

a center console box big enough to corral those give-aways from the fast-food

restaurants.

in part because the wheelbase is comparatively short. Annoyingly, a shorter-wheelbase

car may do a rocking-horse thing over road imperfections that a larger

car would just absorb.

Corolla's 97-inch wheelbase is long enough, and its suspension so well-tuned,

that it offers the ride quality of a much larger, more expensive automobile,

which can be said for the Geo Prizm as well. The ride quality is impressively

comfortable without descending into floaty or uncontrolled motions. Steering

is crisp and linear, adding to confidence behind the wheel.

This is a relatively quiet car, too, as we found during the long road

trip. The bonus of a quieter car is reduced fatigue for the driver and

an atmosphere obviously more conducive to conversation.

Some small cars can be a chore to drive if they're more work than fun.

Not so here. Although the Corolla and Prizm aren't in the same horsepower

league as the Neons, they're surprisingly agile and enthusiastic performers,

even with an automatic transmission. The standard five-speed manual would

infuse it with more fun for some, maybe, but every person in a given household

may not want to drive a stick. This Corolla is designed to provide good

performance to all family members across multi-mission roles, and it succeeds.

a long and typically trouble-free service life, you can expect the ownership

experience to be a very satisfactory one. This fact offsets the car's modestly

higher sticker price, and it's further reduced by a $400 factory value-package

discount, right on the sticker, for a group of the most popular options.

There is less expensive competition out there, and more stylish, too,

but there are the usual trade-offs; less-expensive may mean less equipment,

ultrafashionable design might mean less interior room. The Corolla is a

good compromise. You'll discover a well-made, fun-to-drive little four-door

that will provide many years of service--and then your child can take it

away to college.