Toyota COROLLA COLOUR COLLECTION SPECIAL EDITION RANGE
The Toyota Corolla has always had a sound reputation as a medium sized hatchback that is both reliable and practical. Recent styling updates have improved the looks and with added safety features along with improved equipment levels, Toyotas long-serving stalwart can still mix it with the latest offerings from Volkswagen, Mazda and Vauxhall. Just to make sure, Toyota introduced a value-added Colour Collection special edition range in 2004 and has been improving it ever since to keep pace with the market.
These days, the Colour Collection models only come in five-door form, but they do now include climate control for the air conditioning, heat for the door mirrors to clear the frost on icy mornings, plus a set of bespoke six-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels and a metallic paint finish in Silver Steel, Ixion Blue or Eclipse Black. In addition, the interior gains a smart new appearance with a brushed metal effect centre console and a silver fleck seat fabric. Prices start at £11,595 and the engine choices are, as before, 1.4-litre and 1.
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And just to make sure you know youre driving something special, theres a Colour Collection Special Edition badge mounted on the rear door.
"Want a reason for Toyotas success? Look no further than cars like the Corolla Colour Collection"
The current model of the Corolla is the ninth generation of a car that was specifically developed for the European market in terms of design, engineering and performance. The Corolla, as Toyota would readily admit, has been a tremendously important car for the company. They would not be where they are today enjoying such global success without the significant contribution that this car has delivered worldwide since its launch back in 1966. Since then Toyota have sold more than 28 million Corolla models worldwide over its nine generations.
The latest car is easy to identify thanks to the sculpted teardrop style headlamps that give the front end a bit more in the way of personality. The grille and bonnet have been subtly changed as well as the tail lamps and rear bumper. Colour keyed side mouldings also feature. Inside, trim and cabin detailing have been improved and all models are fitted with slick Optitron digital instrument displays and telescopic steering wheel adjustment for improved comfort If you opt for the saloon variant, youll find that the boot is quite a size (437 litres) and the 60/40 split folding rear seats also give a welcome boost to practicality, making the carrying of long and bulky objects simplicity itself.
In terms of overall size, the saloon shares the same body dimensions as the estate, which in turn is slightly longer than the hatchback models) due to marginally longer front and rear overhangs. Its worth thinking about if space in your garage is tight. The Toyotas styling does little to betray the parent companys nationality, instead opting for the sort of clean, global village styling that many pundits would pigeonhole as Germanic. Not so.
Yes, theres more than a hint of Audi A3 in the rear three-quarter view of the three-door variant and the interior is Teutonically dark: but then, were getting used to seeing that. Modern car design now transcends national borders, and the Corolla is prima facie evidence. Toyota has quite unashamedly used the Volkswagen Golf as its quality benchmark and the cabin therefore features silicone-damped grab handles, soft-touch plastics on the fascia, and doors that say thunk rather than ding when they close. Closer inspection shows little evidence of corner cutting.
Although the steering wheel only adjusts for height, its easy to obtain a comfortable driving position and the sheer ease and intuitiveness of all the minor controls is a testament to Toyotas understanding of how we interact with a car. Certainly, the Corolla is more than just a middleweight makeweight and it can play the patriotic card, since the best selling three and five-door hatch variants in the range are built in Britain. In a world where the customer is king and the choice on offer seems limitless, a product has to offer something special or different to guarantee success. Or it has to be extremely well targeted to its intended market.
The Corolla Colour Collection Special Edition range falls into the latter category, as do many models in the Toyota line-up. Want a reason for this manufacturers success? Look no further.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota Corolla Colour Collection Special Edition range
PRICES: £11,595-£13,595 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-14A
CO2 EMISSIONS: 156-198g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60mph 10.2s / Max Speed 118mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.6] (combined) 40.3mpg / (extra urban) 47.8mpg / (urban) 31.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/heightmm 4180/1710/1475
