Toyota COROLLA D4-D T-SPIRIT
The
Toyota Corolla D-4D T-Spirit May Not Be The Boldest Advertisement For Diesel But It Is One Of The Best. Andy Enright Reports
Toyota are rarely the company that first springs to mind when award-winning diesel engines are considered. Companies such as
Ford,
Volkswagen,
BMW and
Renault have all produced diesel powerplants that make headlines with their power, sophistication and innovation, but Toyota has been quietly mopping up a whole heap of UK sales with engines like the 114bhp D4-D powerplant as found beneath the bonnet of the Corolla T-Spirit.
The figures speak for themselves. Toyotas diesel sales were up by 76 per cent in 2001 and a whopping 120 per cent in 2002 as more people saw the benefits of the D-4D engines reliability, parsimony and performance. With company car regulations turning diesel from a non-starter into a virtual must-have and the introduction of the current-shape Corolla, Toyota couldnt have got their timing better if theyd tried. In the current facelifted car, recognisable by its teardrop shape headlamps, two variations on the D4-D theme are offered.
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One is an 89bhp Euro IV compliant 1.4-litre and the more powerful version that we concentrate on here generates 114bhp from its 2.0-litre capacity. This larger, more powerful intercooled engine is a unit that was found neatly plumbed into the Avensis.
So, we have a car thats agreeably modern powered by an engine that is a little older but is no less impressive for it. In regulation Corolla guise, the D-4D 110 can be purchased in T2, T3 or relatively plush T Spirit trim. The two lesser specifications offer 5-door or estate bodystyles but the T-Sprit that we examine here is only available as a 5-door. The engine is a pleasantly muted thing, certainly a good deal less sibilant than either a
Volkswagen TDi or even a
Ford TDCi powerplant, but it never quite reaches that level of refinement where you could conceivably forget its a diesel.
Theres a gravelly tone to it thats far from unpleasant, the torque more than anything else letting you know that it drinks from the black pump. The figures that matter are the 50mpg achievable on the combined cycle. The £15,895 price tag for the T-Spirit model isnt a huge price to pay for a car thats been designed in France specifically around European tastes though its only slightly less than the range-topping T-Sport model. Like the
Fiat Stilo, 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.
The Corollas key rival may well emerge from the country of its birth in the form of the dCi versions of the
Renault Megane. Modern car design now transcends national borders, and the Corolla is prima facie evidence. Todays Corolla has had its face lifted in the interests of keeping things fresh. 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.
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Toyota couldnt have got their timing better if theyd tried "
The five-door hatch versions of the Corolla D4-D are built in Britain, the domestic build quality apparently being a key factor in the decision to award the contract. The old Corolla was probably the greatest exposition of the car as an example of white goods: unexciting, utterly reliable and representing the classic low involvement buying decision. Basically, it was a vehicle bought by people who had no interest or affection for cars. Theres little doubt that a fair proportion of old Corolla buyers will suffer the effects of inertia and buy one of the latest models. Just as a number of buyers bought the Ford Puma for its cute good looks and lucked into the fact that it was also a great drivers car, so those automotive grazers who sleepily move from one generation Corolla to the next will unwittingly find themselves at the wheel of something unexpectedly class competitive.
You lucky people. Quality is the first area of improvement. 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, enough rubber-lined recesses to put a twinkle in the eye of a back-bench Tory MP 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. It was only a matter of time before Toyota wrapped a decent car around this winning engine and the 114bhp Corolla D4-D T Spirit is a very competitive all-round package. Unfortunately, even in light of the recent styling revisions, its also a teensy bit anonymous. Although theres little doubt the latest Corolla is a car of which you can be proud, Toyota need to sing the praises of the D4-D from the rooftops.
Still, the softly-softly approach has paid dividends for Toyota. When it comes to signing on the dotted line, the British car-buying public are some of the most knowledgeable and well informed around. Small wonder then that Corolla D-4D sales are still going steadily upwards.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota Corolla D4-D 114 T Spirit
PRICE: £15,895
INSURANCE GROUP: 7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 167g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.6s / Max Speed 116mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 50mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4180/1710/1475
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