2017 Toyota Corolla Review

Standard equipment on the base L model includes 15-inch steel wheels, bi-LED headlights, LED running lights, power mirrors, doors and locks, air-conditioning, adaptive cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver seat and four-way front passenger seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker Entune audio system with 6.1-inch touchscreen, voice controls, a CD player, a USB port, an auxiliary audio jack and, for iPhone users, the Siri Eyes Free voice control system. The Corolla's extra safety features are detailed in our Safety section.

The LE adds 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, keyless entry, metallic cabin accents and automatic climate control.

The LE Eco starts with the LE's features and adds engine and suspension tuning designed for maximum fuel efficiency, 15-inch steel wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, a rear spoiler and enhanced aerodynamics.

Upgrading to the XLE gets you keyless ignition and entry, upgraded headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, simulated leather upholstery (Toyota's SofTex), heated front seats, an upgraded driver information display, and the Entune Audio Plus audio system that builds on the basic Entune features by adding a 7-inch touchscreen display, satellite and HD radio, and an app-based navigation system (Scout GPS Link).

The SE is the sporty Corolla, although we use that term loosely. The SE builds on the LE's features and can be had with either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a six-speed manual transmission. The SE features 17-inch alloy wheels, unique front-end styling with a black mesh grille, heated color-keyed side mirrors with turn signal indicators, a rear spoiler, a chrome-tipped exhaust, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters (for CVT models), sport front seats, a sport-style gauge cluster and, for manual transmission models, a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, and the upgraded Entune audio system.

The XSE takes the SE CVT features and adds a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats and an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat. There's also an SE 50th Anniversary edition that adds anniversary badging, gray-painted 17-inch wheels, and upgraded upholstery and trim with Black Cherry contrast stitching.

A few options packages are also available. LE and LE Eco models can select the Premium package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, bumper-integrated LED running lights and Entune Audio Plus. A sunroof can be added to this package for LE models (it's included with the package for LE Eco).

The Premium package for SE CVT models includes Entune Audio Plus and a sunroof, while XLE and XSE models can opt for Entune Premium Audio with an integrated navigation system and the Entune App Suite.

The 2017 Toyota Corolla comes with two versions of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. In all trims except the LE Eco, the engine makes 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. The LE Eco's engine uses a more sophisticated valvetrain to maximize fuel efficiency and makes a little more power, with 140 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque.

Most Corollas come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The SE can be optioned with a six-speed manual transmission, though.

In Edmunds performance testing, a Corolla LE Eco accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds. This is a about a second slower than many other small sedans.

EPA-estimated fuel economy is 30 mpg combined (27 city/35 highway) for the Corolla SE with the manual transmission. CVT models with 16-inch wheels achieve 32 mpg combined (28 city/36 highway); the larger 17-inch wheels extract a 1 mpg penalty at 31 mpg combined (28 city/35 highway). Topping the range is the LE Eco with 34 mpg combined (30 city/40 highway) with 15-inch wheels and 33 combined (29 city/38 highway) with the 16-inch wheels.