phaeton
28-05-2007, 12:01 PM
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By Joshua Dowling and the Drive team for The Sydney Morning Herald 25/05/07
The Corolla is the best-selling small car but is it the best? JOSHUA DOWLING tests the 10th-generation model against eight rivals
Main Article http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=40283
Golf 1.6 Trendline Auto Review http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=40283&comparisonID=1040
The verdict
Given that their prices and features are similar, the main difference with these nine cars is the level of safety equipment.
The Kia Cerato is better than we expected but it needs more standard safety equipment. It doesn't even get anti-lock brakes; they're an $850 option or come as part of a $1700 pack that includes side and curtain airbags but not stability control. But even with this equipment it's only a three-star car for safety. It was first off
our list.
The Nissan Tiida is zippy, economical, roomy, well-built and extremely well-priced. Curtain airbags (but not seat-mounted side airbags) are available on the $22,240 ST-L model but stability control is not available. Of greater concern, though, the Tiida ST is the only car in this group without headrests for rear passengers and a lap-only belt for the centre rear seat. It was next to go.
The Ford Focus handles well but was penalised by its firm ride and lack of safety features such as curtain airbags and stability control - which aren't even an option.
The Hyundai Elantra is well-priced and well-equipped - and has the best warranty in the business - but is let down dynamically. The $1790 optional safety pack (side and curtain airbags and stability control) is reasonably priced but we have reservations about the effectiveness of the stability control system.
The Honda Civic deserves to finish higher up the order but among its shortcomings are that side and curtain airbags are available only on the more expensive models and stability control is not available at any price. Other cars in this test, once equipped with optional curtain airbags, cost less than the $26,500-plus Civic with the same equipment.
With its recent upgrade, the Astra 7.5 received some worthwhile changes (dual and side airbags are standard) but you have to spend $26,990 on the CDX model to get curtain airbags.
The VW Golf is a worthy proposition if the budget stretches that far (it has a full armoury of safety equipment and the roomiest cabin). Many buyers are prepared to pay a premium for the badge but it is overpriced in this company.
That leaves the new Toyota Corolla and the Mazda3 and a tough decision.
The Corolla is roomy, economical and, for the first time, fun to drive. The optional side, curtain and driver's knee airbags are an affordable $750 pack. A Corolla with the optional safety pack is $1580 cheaper than the Mazda3 with optional power windows and its optional safety pack. But, with that, the Mazda gets stability control, which is not available on the Corolla, a significant omission on an all-new car. Further, the Corolla's stylish interior comes at the expense of storage space and it has a smaller cargo area.
Corolla fans will love the new model but this test goes to the Mazda3 - even though it is dearer - because it has the option of a more complete safety package, has a roomy, functional interior, a large cargo area and good build quality. It is fun to drive and also the zippiest, although its fuel economy does suffer.
If the Corolla had stability control, it might well have been a different result.
By Joshua Dowling and the Drive team for The Sydney Morning Herald 25/05/07
The Corolla is the best-selling small car but is it the best? JOSHUA DOWLING tests the 10th-generation model against eight rivals
Main Article http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=40283
Golf 1.6 Trendline Auto Review http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=40283&comparisonID=1040
The verdict
Given that their prices and features are similar, the main difference with these nine cars is the level of safety equipment.
The Kia Cerato is better than we expected but it needs more standard safety equipment. It doesn't even get anti-lock brakes; they're an $850 option or come as part of a $1700 pack that includes side and curtain airbags but not stability control. But even with this equipment it's only a three-star car for safety. It was first off
our list.
The Nissan Tiida is zippy, economical, roomy, well-built and extremely well-priced. Curtain airbags (but not seat-mounted side airbags) are available on the $22,240 ST-L model but stability control is not available. Of greater concern, though, the Tiida ST is the only car in this group without headrests for rear passengers and a lap-only belt for the centre rear seat. It was next to go.
The Ford Focus handles well but was penalised by its firm ride and lack of safety features such as curtain airbags and stability control - which aren't even an option.
The Hyundai Elantra is well-priced and well-equipped - and has the best warranty in the business - but is let down dynamically. The $1790 optional safety pack (side and curtain airbags and stability control) is reasonably priced but we have reservations about the effectiveness of the stability control system.
The Honda Civic deserves to finish higher up the order but among its shortcomings are that side and curtain airbags are available only on the more expensive models and stability control is not available at any price. Other cars in this test, once equipped with optional curtain airbags, cost less than the $26,500-plus Civic with the same equipment.
With its recent upgrade, the Astra 7.5 received some worthwhile changes (dual and side airbags are standard) but you have to spend $26,990 on the CDX model to get curtain airbags.
The VW Golf is a worthy proposition if the budget stretches that far (it has a full armoury of safety equipment and the roomiest cabin). Many buyers are prepared to pay a premium for the badge but it is overpriced in this company.
That leaves the new Toyota Corolla and the Mazda3 and a tough decision.
The Corolla is roomy, economical and, for the first time, fun to drive. The optional side, curtain and driver's knee airbags are an affordable $750 pack. A Corolla with the optional safety pack is $1580 cheaper than the Mazda3 with optional power windows and its optional safety pack. But, with that, the Mazda gets stability control, which is not available on the Corolla, a significant omission on an all-new car. Further, the Corolla's stylish interior comes at the expense of storage space and it has a smaller cargo area.
Corolla fans will love the new model but this test goes to the Mazda3 - even though it is dearer - because it has the option of a more complete safety package, has a roomy, functional interior, a large cargo area and good build quality. It is fun to drive and also the zippiest, although its fuel economy does suffer.
If the Corolla had stability control, it might well have been a different result.