2001 Toyota Corolla: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Corolla for 2001 gets a mild facelift and revised lineup. Base CE, sporty S, and top-line LE models use the same 4-cyl engine with manual or automatic transmission. Front side airbags are optional, and ABS is available on S and LE versions. The S model is new and comes with standard fog lights, tachometer, and wider tires. Corolla lends its design and powertrains to the Chevrolet Prizm, which is built alongside it at a Toyota-General Motors plant in California.

COMPETITION

A perennial favorite, the Honda Civic, is new and better than ever. We love the wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and a high degree of civility. New last year was the Ford Focus. Though we loved almost everything about the Focus, we were reluctant to rank it a Best Buy because it was new from the ground up. After a year of living with a ZTS model, we can say that the reliability is good. Focus ranks a notch below Civic in some areas but costs less. Topping the crowded Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys as they are better than the Civic in many ways. However, they are also the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Dodge Neon and Toyota Echo, the slightly-upscale Nissan Sentra, and the roomy Mazda Protege. If you are looking for a budget buy, the Hyundai Accent offers a lot for your dollar, however, it's not as refined as more-expensive competitors.