2003 Toyota Corolla Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Corolla is redesigned for 2003, but continues its tradition as a conservative 4-dr sedan vs. Toyota's new-age Echo and hybrid-powered Prius subcompacts. Corolla lends its underskin platform to the Toyota Matrix, a new wagon that also aims for younger buyers. Corolla has fresh styling and gains 5.4 inches in wheelbase and 4.3 inches overall compared to the 1998-2002 version. A 1.8-liter 4 cyl returns as the only engine. It gains 5 hp and offers manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. ABS and front side airbags are optional; curtain side airbags are unavailable. Air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, split folding rear seat, power mirrors, and a CD player are standard. CE, S, and LE models are offered. The S has aero body trim, fog lights, and leather steering-wheel cover and shift knob. Exclusive to the LE is optional leather upholstery. Chevrolet has stopped production of its Corolla clone, the Prizm, which did not carry over to the '03 design.

Competition

Honda Civic continues to be the car to beat with a 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. Also a Best Buy, Ford Focus doesn't offer the refinement of the Civic, but doesn't cost as much either.

Topping the crowded Recommended list are Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys. However, they are among the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the redesigned but still reliable Toyota Corolla, the sporty Nissan Sentra, and the roomy Mazda Protege. Each of these is a valid alternative to a Best Buy if price is your major concern.

News

Corolla has just gone through another redesign, but there's already talk about the next one. It allegedly happens for 2008 to produce a slightly wider, roomier small Toyota. With it comes a new and quite versatile platform that will reportedly serve no fewer than a dozen future Toyota models worldwide. Likely to be among them are the next RAV4 compact SUV and offerings destined for Toyota's youth-oriented Scion line, which launches in California this June and nationwide by mid-2004.

Meantime, don't be surprised if Corolla adds a hybrid-power option in the next 2-3 years. An automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) is another prospect. Both would extend initiatives begun with Toyota's hybrid Prius. Toyota wants to be the world's leading seller of gasoline/electric vehicles. A hybrid Corolla would go some way to achieving that. Toyota is also undoubtedly eager to match arch rival Honda's Civic Hybrid sedan and its available CVT.

Despite early introduction of the clean-sheet 2003s, Corolla sales sagged almost 19 percent in 2002 following a 6.5 percent year-to-year gain for calendar '01. Toyota must be puzzled by the loss, which was enough to push Corolla from third to fourth place in subcompact sales behind Honda Civic, Ford's problem-plagued Focus, and a surprisingly resurgent Chevy Cavalier.

2003 Toyota Corolla Road Test

Pros	Cons

Fuel economy	Acceleration (w/automatic transmission)

Build quality	Handling

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	4

Corolla has never accelerated with much authority and a 100-lb weight gain over the previous model doesn't help. Test LE with automatic-transmission did 0-60 mph in middling 9.7 sec. Even with manual transmission, you must choose passing spots carefully and change gears frequently to keep pace with traffic. Unfortunately, manual shift action has crude, sloppy feel.

Fuel Economy

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
8	8	7	6.5

Test LEs with automatic transmission averaged a pleasant 28.5 mpg in a city/highway mix, but just 20.1 including gas-gulping performance runs. Test manual-transmission S averaged an impressive 34.1 mpg in primarily highway driving.

Ride Quality

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	4.4

A strong point. Solid structure helps revised suspension absorb most rough pavement with minimal disturbance. Body motions quelled nicely over bumps and dips.

Steering/Handling/Braking

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	5.3

Steering accurate and nicely weighted. Impressive straightline stability. Still, Corolla is challenged by anything more than modest lane changes and highway ramps. Like most subcompacts, It lacks the tire grip and suspension sophistication to handle well, though not all testers say body lean is excessive in tight turns. Despite sporty aspirations, S version no improvement. Stopping power adequate, pedal modulation good in routine use. We recommend ABS.

Quietness

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	3.7

Engine intrudes in acceleration, but is otherwise well-muffled. Wind and road noise rise markedly above 60 mph.

Controls

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	5.6

Easy-to-read gauges. Logical switchgear. Audio, climate controls larger than in past Corollas, but some drivers will stretch to reach radio buttons. Interior materials won't disappoint at these prices, but not on par with class-leading Volkswagen. Some test Corollas suffered slight rattles, buzzes from interior panels.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	4.8

Comfortable, nicely padded seats. Ample head room, but leg space snug for those over 6 ft. Excellent driving position enhanced by standard tilt steering. Some testers find outward visibility compromised by headrests.

Room/Comfort (rear)

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	3.7

No longer a penalty box. Adult-size head and leg room--as long as front seats are no more than halfway back--on supportive, contoured seat. Doors open wide for easy access.

Cargo Room

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	3.8

Trunk room typical for a subcompact, and rear seatbacks fold nearly flat to enlarge storage space. Front-seat interior storage space above class average, but rear seaters denied door or seatback pockets.

Value within Class

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
8	7	8	5.4

Corolla's strong points--value, reliability, and comfort--emerge intact with this redesign. Improvements are subtle, but enough to keep pace with the better subcompacts. Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and VW Jetta sedans have more spice, but no more utility.

Total Score

CE, man.	S, man.	LE, auto.	Class Average
51	50	50	47.2

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		34
Average Score		47
High Score		62

2003 Toyota Corolla Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 10/01/2002

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

CE 4-door sedan, manual	$13,570	$12,550	$485

CE 4-door sedan, automatic	$14,370	$13,290	$485

S 4-door sedan, manual	$14,515	$13,135	$485

S 4-door sedan, automatic	$15,315	$13,859	$485

LE 4-door sedan, manual	$14,680	$13,283	$485

LE 4-door sedan, automatic	$15,480	$14,007	$485

Price note: Prices are for vehicles distributed by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. The dealer invoice and destination charge may be higher in areas served by independent distributors.

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

1.8-liter dohc 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, daytime running lights, emergency inside trunk release.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, power mirrors, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, visor mirrors, remote fuel-door and decklid release, automatic headlights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

185/65R15 tires, wheel covers.

S adds to CE:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather-wrapped steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, power door locks, map lights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Fog lights, 195/65R15 tires.

LE adds to CE:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Height-adjustable driver seat, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, map lights, 195/65R15 tires.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Sport Plus Pkg.
S	$825	$660
Rear spoiler, alloy wheels.

Power Pkg.
S	$605	$484
Power windows, remote keyless entry.

Leather Pkg.
LE	$1,050	$840
LE ordered w/power sunroof	$900	$720
Leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, automatic day/night rearview mirror (deleted by power sunroof).

All Weather Guard Pkg.
CE, LE, S	$70	$59
Heavy-duty heater, rear heat ducts.

Safety
Front side airbags
CE, LE, S	$250	$215


Antilock brakes
CE, LE, S	$300	$258


Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
S, LE	$750	$600
LE requires Leather Pkg.

Cruise control
CE, LE, S	$250	$200


Power door locks
CE	$295	$236


AM/FM/cassette/CD player
CE, S	$100	$75


Premium AM/FM/cassette/CD player
LE	$140	$105


Upgraded sound system
S, LE	$40	$30


Cargo net
CE, LE, S	$48	$32


Cargo logic mat
CE, LE, S	$119	$75


Cargo logic tote
CE, LE, S	$49	$30


Preferred Accessory Pkg.
CE	$177	$112
Carpeted floormats, cargo mat, cargo net.

Carpeted floormats CF
CE, LE, S	$76	$48


All weather floormats
CE, LE, S	$90	$58
Requires floormats CF.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Security system
S, LE	$319	$199
S requires Power Pkg.

Gold Pkg.
CE, LE, S	$179	$119


Wheel locks
CE, LE, S	$55	$34
Requires alloy wheels.

Alloy wheels
LE	$390	$312

2003 Toyota Corolla Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Toyota Corolla 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	102.4

Overall Length, in.	178.3

Overall Width, in.	66.9

Overall Height, in.	57.5

Curb Weight, lbs.	2502

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	13.6

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	13.2

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	39.1

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	41.3

Rear Head Room, in.	37.1

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	35.4

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4

Size, liters/cu. in.	1.8 /110

Horsepower @ rpm.	130 @ 6000

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	125 @ 4200

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	32/40

4-speed automatic	29/38

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Toyota Corolla 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	5

Front Impact, Passenger	5

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	4

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	5/60,000	8/100,000 on Prius hybrid-related components.

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	None/--	3/36,000 on Prius.

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	First three visits free up to 30 mos/37,500 miles on Prius.

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Canada, USA

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2003 Toyota Corolla Photos

Also in the 2003 Toyota Corolla Review:

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla Road Test

Toyota Corolla Prices & Equipment

Toyota Corolla Specs & Safety

Toyota Corolla Photos

Toyota Corolla Full Review

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