I own a Corolla TS 2026 in the Executive trim (the top-of-the-range model) with a 2.0-litre engine, and unfortunately, two weeks ago, someone crashed into my car, so it had to go in for repairs. During that time, the shop offered me a courtesy car. It was also a Corolla TS 2026, but with a 1.8-litre engine and in the entry-level ACTIVE trim. I had the car on loan for a week; here are my thoughts on the trim levels and whether I’d buy the top-of-the-range model again.
To begin with, the Active trim level in my country starts at €25,090, whilst the Executive starts at €34,490 (with a 2.0-litre engine).
In everyday use, I mainly noticed the difference in the engine. When driving on motorways (120–140 km/h), the difference was almost imperceptible; the performance was steady, and I had no trouble overtaking, although the higher revs meant more noise in the cabin. Problems became apparent on local roads and in town. The weaker 1.8-litre engine with 140 Nm failed to provide the same ‘confidence’ when pulling out of busy junctions or overtaking on short straights. It has often happened that I’ve been afraid to overtake a lorry on a road I know well, because I wasn’t sure whether I could do so safely; but perhaps it’s just a matter of habit.
As for fuel consumption, I had the impression that the 1.8-litre engine was less economical. Over the course of that week, I covered approximately 500 km, 40% on the motorway, 40% outside the city and 20% in the city. According to the car’s computer, the overall average fuel consumption was 5.9 l/100 km (40 mpg), whereas the same routes with the 2.0-litre engine yield an average consumption of around 5 l (47 mpg). Perhaps this is due to the larger battery fitted in the 2.0-litre model, which results in lower fuel consumption, or perhaps it’s down to different tyres.
Now, turning to the interior, the biggest disappointment was the speakers. The Executive version has an 8-speaker JBL system, which doesn’t sound all that good. I also had a RAV 4 on loan for a while, and its speakers are only slightly better than the standard ones – Toyota really missed the mark here. If you switch from another car, such as the Hyundai Kona, which has Harman Kardon speakers, you’ll want to drive the Corolla with the music turned off. During these colder months, I’ve missed having the option of heated steering wheel and seats a bit, but it’s nothing I couldn’t live without. What I really couldn’t do without, however, are the parking sensors and the blind spot monitoring system (BSM). It strikes me as downright illogical that Toyota could think such essential features don’t belong in the STANDARD specification, especially when the car costs over €25,000. Another great feature is the Nanoe-X in the air conditioning. When you’re driving past a field that’s recently been fertilised, you’ll appreciate it very quickly.
And one last thing – I suppose many people wouldn’t mind, but the car comes as standard with 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, which will sooner or later fall off or be stolen. Can’t Toyota fit alloy wheels as standard, or at least reduce the price?
As far as I’m concerned, the Corolla TS is a brilliant car – practical, with excellent handling – but the entry-level Active version isn’t worth the money. I’d pay extra for at least the Comfort or Style trim.
Now, as to whether I’d buy the Executive version again… Probably not; I’ve realised that most of the features are ‘nice to have’ but not essential to my daily life. I’d go for the Style version and save around €3,000. Still with the 2.0-litre engine, though – in fact, I’d love it if Toyota offered a more powerful option with at least 220k.
