Sacramento,
California -- So I had another week in a Toyota Corolla XSE, the 2018 version,
and found myself conflicted.
This is a
Corolla, one of the best-selling cars in the United States, and historically as
dependable as the sun coming up in the East.
Love that part.
My XSE was
sporty looking, with nice, sharp angles sculpted into the front end. And just sitting there in that eye-catching
"Blue Crush Metallic" paint job, the car offers a suggestion of some
heart-racing moments at full song.
And while it
is agile and easy to steer, the XSE delivers a lot of roar but not much
corresponding oomph. That wasn't just
me. Other reviewers I chatted with
expressed the same feeling. Very loud.
But not much payoff on the performance end.
That's really
not a surprise, given that the power plant is a relatively humble 1.8-liter,
four-cylinder creation putting out around 140 horsepower. The good news on that front is exceptional
gas mileage at 28 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
But maybe
that's the point. Maybe Toyota engineers
tuned the XSE engine to resemble one of those compact tuner cars that buzz by
me occasionally on the freeway, putting
out enough engine noise to make me feel it in my toes.
After all,
Corolla means variety. Maybe that was
the plan. And it doesn't appear that
Toyota is having any trouble selling Corollas these days.
Beyond the XSE
engine characteristics, you get the classic Corolla package: nicely equipped,
plentiful standard perks and the long-established assumption that the thing
probably will run trouble-free for 70 to 100 dog years.
Oh, it's also
affordable, starting at just $22,730. My
dressed-up version read a still-reasonable $25,337 on the sticker's bottom
line.
So, looking
for a Corolla with an audible attitude?
Check the XSE box at the Toyota dealership.
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