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Traditionally the top compact car sold across Canada has been the Honda Civic. Recently, that has changed and the Mazda3 has become a contender, especially in Quebec. The new Elantra has also raised its profile recently. The Corolla is a good reliable car but it does not rank as the top compact.
Actually, check the October 2011 (I think) Consumer Reports. The real world mpg rankings show the Corolla's mpg is only beat by the Civic Sedan Hybrid and the VW Jetta TRD. Third best in it's class, and look what beat it. Not bad at all, I'd say.
I wouldn't want one because the Corolla is in desperate need of updating in style, tech and drivetrain to better match the competition. But, like I said, it's a perrenial best seller for the person that just wants reasonable cost transportaion and doesn't care whether they can carve corners with it. Corolla is a good, basic easy driving car that has been ultra reliable and gets at or near the top of all compacts in MPG for the past twenty years or more.
It's also kind of funny mentioning poor MPG in the Mazda3 forum as the 3 has always had subpar MPG numbers in comparison to it's peers until the Skyactiv system.
Plus the Mazda3 has the Corolla beat soundly in SMILES per gallon.
Yes it does, particularly when you look at it in comparison to horsepower compared to the competition. Yeah, it might be #3 or #4 in the segment, but with HP in the 130s one could reasonably expect better than getting ALMOST as good MPGs as machines with 148, 155, or 160 HP. And yet it does not, because, as someone pointed out, it's an outdated design composed of outdated technology. On top of being boring as all get-out.
And someday maybe Toyota will see fit to let us find out. While they are at it, maybe they'll make the Corolla's interior not look and feel so cheap, add something resembling steering feel, and drop in a few more ponies.
I can get very close to that in my ancient iron-block Elantra with a 4-speed tranny that was designed in the late '90s. As you say, whoopee. Getting that kind of mpg in a light car that is underpowered by today's standards for compact cars is no big deal. Time for Toyota to realize this is 2012, 4-speed automatics don't cut it anymore, and when automakers like Nissan are coming out with mid-sized cars with much more power that are rated 27 city and 38 highway, it's way past time for big changes in the Corolla. Also consider their long-time main competitor Honda has seen the light, realizes that "good enough" doesn't cut it any more in today's ultra-competitive car market, and will deliver a redesigned Civic later this year--about 18 months since the last redesign. Toyota should pay attention. They won't get by on low price, reputation for reliability, and lots of fleet sales forever.
Three of those 4 cars have significantly more horsepower than the Corolla. The fourth doesn't, but has significantly more torque. So no, it doesn't do pretty darn good. It's uncompetitive. It get ALMOST as good FE as the segment leaders, while also having less power. Unless you're grading on a curve the Corolla is bad (and we know Corollas can't handle curves :shades: ). It gets less energy out of the same amount of fuel as the competition does. Significantly less. And while this might change with the next re-design, that's today's reality.
Honda's redesigning the Civic. Quickly. They're very afraid of falling behind Mazda (bad), Ford (really bad), and Hyundai (oh-so-horribly bad). And rightly so. They used to be leaders and innovators, remember the CVCC engine? Toyota used to be a leader and innovator too. Used to be.
I didn't say it was a big deal, I just said it didn't get bad MPG and it's as good as the rest of the bunch. How it gets there is another question. Still, 32 combined mpg is not bad even with a car that's somewhat underpowered by 2012 standards. Heck, most of the subcompacts barely avg 32combined mpg. It's got about the same hp/torque as your Elantra and it weighs more so I'd say getting 32 combined is not bad. Should it be better based on the fact that it has less hp than many of the rest? Sure, but it's still not bad. Like I said earlier, it would be interesting just to see what a 6 speed tranny would do for the Corolla.
it's way past time for big changes in the Corolla.
Been saying that all along.
Funny... most of the subcompacts have more power than the Corolla, too.
Fit - 117
Fiesta - 120
Versa - 122
Accent - 138
Rio - 138
Sonic - 138
Yaris - 106
XD - 128
No, actually most have less HP than the Corolla and weigh much less as well.
Just the facts. A biased view might say something about the Corolla being just fine because it gets 32 mpg or thereabouts. There's a lot more to a good car these days than getting 32 mpg. Toyota will realize that someday soon I believe. Mazda has, as have others.
I don't think anyone who buys a Corolla is interested in addressing the car's fun factor.
It does have less hp and an old tranny and like I said before, it would be really interesting to see what it could get with a new 6speed. It may even get 34mpg avg which would probably make it tops in class(from a mpg standpoint) or right there with them. My whole point in this is that it is easy to find a lot wrong with the Corolla, but MPG is not one of them unless you consider 32mpg average to be bad when that is pretty much what the top cars in the class get as well.
This car handles well........wow! The steering is so precise. Love the blue tooth capability and the satellite radio. I think I made a great choice.
I do miss that sweet Mazda handling...
I like the adjustable steering wheel also. I didn't even realize it had that.
I hope they don't go bankrupt.
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When I get time I'll bring it to the dealer to get it checked out.
My AC and defroster also create a bit of a grind noise the first time it is turned on for the day. Maybe I have a bum AC compressor or something.
Guess I'll have it looked at when I get the time.
The downside, as I'm finding now with the warmer weather - is the A/C. With the fan on high, I get fairly cool - almost cold - air blowing, but on a day that's only 25°C outside, I still find myself feeling warm in the car! It's almost as though the condenser's not working properly at removing moisture from inside the cabin.
Anyone else have a similar issue? If 'yes', has your dealership been responsive, or have they brushed it off with a "that's how it's supposed to work" answer?
For the record: My previous car - a 2006 Honda Accord EX-L had ice-cold air. The cabin would cool down quickly and the car would stay comfortable even with the fan turned down. There's definitely something not 100% right with the A/C in the Mazda3.
Aside from that, though, great car! :-)
The A/C in my Miata is good, but it has a much smaller cabin to deal with.
The much-larger cabin of my Accord was also black (w/ black leather seats), but the A/C was awesome. :shades:
And I think it's pulling about 35mpg, roughly. I'm only three thousand miles on it so far, so I'm sure it'll get better as the engine breaks in more. (Or I drive better :>)
Though I was curious. I have what looks like the cutout for the low washer fluid indicator on the dashboard, but it doesn't light up when I start the engine with all the other warning lights do for that quick few seconds. And it didn't warn when I ran completely out of washer fluid. Is this normal for a Mazda? This is my first one.
Then I told the kids my possible plan and it was MUTINY! Funny! They both flipped out, no way do they want me to sell the convertible. It was hilarious.
Wife liked the idea. I was on the fence, but the kids may sway me to keep the MX-5.
With the loyalty rebate I was quoted $17.6k for an i Touring SkyActive. :surprise:
Are people doing any better? Just curious.
We are supposed to have some 90 degree days this weekend so maybe I'll find out. Maybe I'll post after some experience this summer.
Then I asked if I could sample the engine in a lighter car, i.e. the Mazda3 SkyActiv.
So the dealer pulls one up and we go out for a drive. Feels much quicker, I was impressed. Didn't like the hard seats, though, hard just like my Miata's seats.
We get back, and I peek at the Monroney, and it's a 2.5! DOH! C'mon, the guy doesn't know the product he sells? No wonder it felt quick, I had asked for a 2 liter.
It was near closing time and we were shopping for my sister, so after all that I still haven't driven a SkyActiv 3.
For me the seats and overall comfort didn't meet my expectations, though again the SkyActiv has different seats.
Gotta go back when I have more time. We were really shopping for my sister.
Didn't know that. How are they different?