"Theoretically Toyota could take this car, put a 300 horsepower, turbo-charged engine in it and have a little rally monster. And all these enthusiasts would cheer, and the 'Corolla" name would be forever forgiven." 😆
Now what Toyota needs is to add 30 more horsepower to this car to have it compete with cars in the segment. The GR will still sell also. Two different types of people will buy it.
I picked up one of these a few months ago and have really grown to love it. I consider myself a car enthusiast, with this being my little daily driver with some pep and spunk behind it 😊
It's funny I've been seeing so many of these around recently where I live in Oregon. It makes me happy to see people driving a hatch that isn't a WRX or 90's Civic with jacked up mufflers
@@thundergato84 Yeah a friend of my wife's actually has the 17 Corolla S, and which is nothing but a Corolla with some "fun" trim, a wing, and a red S on the back. I showed her this video and she immediately went and test drove one and loved it
I bought the SE hatch 6MT. I put in an aftermarket cat back exhaust, aluminum shifter cable bushings, aluminum shifter base bushings, and a weighted shift knob. The little things that make it more satisfying to drive, but keep it reliable and daily driving friendly. Only 2 hours of my labor and $600 dollars.
Ultimately, if you throw some tires on it, are you having fun? Our perceptions of hot hatches have been skewed by the new brand of Hyper Hatches. Ten to Fifteen years ago this thing would be a weapon.
Yes, I got one, have 10k on it now, the tires ( on the base SE w/ 16” wheels) not so much let it down, but hold it back. But in reality, it’s a fun commuter, not a sports hatch, and has all seasons on it for this reason.👍
So I came from a Stage 1 Mk7 Golf R (DSG) and I recently moved over to a 6 Speed XSE. I am getting the same amount of joy driving this thing hard all day compared to having to "slow down" in my R. 170HP to me is the sweet spot for street driving in FWD, you can rev the piss out of this and not have to worry about the cops on your ass. Also the XSE with it's adaptive cruise on a manual makes dailying it so much nicer.
I think what this car is, is a hot hatch. No no no, you've got it all wrong. You're thinking this car doesn't compete with the Veloster N, the Type R, the Golf R... of course it doesn't. But those cars are not hot hatches (I own an '18 R). Those cars are hyper hatches or something. The Corolla hatchback is a hot hatch in the classic sense of the word. Change your frame of mind to the first gen of hot hatches, and it's absolutely a hot hatch. It's an inexpensive but fun hatchback that is fun to wring out and toss around. It is slow car fast done well.
Biased reply here. I know the video is two months old. Here we go. I bought a 2001 Corolla S brand new. I campaigned it in autocross from 2004 to 2007, 4 years. 2005 and 2007 I won my class championship regionally. 125 hp, 125 tq, 2400 lbs. I could tangle with the class leading MINI, would beat it with a better driver than me, but no one wanted to develop the chassis. Plus with the oil issues, the Corolla would burn up engines. I still daily drive mine with 235000 miles on the original chassis, engine and transmission. Oh, and the original clutch. contrast that with a 2010 Corolla my parents had from new that the steering was vague and so was the accelerator. It seems like Toyota is trying to find their way back to their enthusiast roots. Even with low power, the chassis, shows through shining bright. Imagine it with summer tires, better struts. If the GR Corolla becomes a thing, I will seriously have to consider one.
I actually cross shoped this exact model with a VW GTI S. Both were manual and fun in there own right. The price was only $1k different between the two. I ultimately purchased the GTI, but the Corolla Hatchback XSE was a close runner up.
I think this is a car toyota try to attract younger drivers with a more practical attitude. Easy on gas, good styling, reliable for daily use, easy to drive and park. I am glad that there is a manual option.
Coincidently im driving a Corolla rental sedan and was pleasantly surprised on how far Corolla have come since my parents owned a late 80s Carolla base 2 door automatic which was not good at all but it was cheap in price and feel and performance. The 2020 rental im driving today isn't luxious but its got decent power and quick enough handling and decent interior for a lower priced sedan. Excellent review! 👍😎👍
New channeeeeeeel. I hope it does well. I kind of like this thing. First car affinity probably. Drove a terrible... 89 I think? Corolla in high school. Hand me down from my grandparents. Loved that thing even with all it's mediocrity.
My first car in 82 was a Corolla SR5...this is what I hoped it would be...good car for young enthusiasts on their way up. BTW, Paul, were you licking the paint because you were so impressed? Your tongue is strangely blue...
I love that they call there self enthusiast but if It dont have the power you dont want it a true enthusiast is going to make the car his own that's y i slapped two turbos on my carolla hatchback
My first time at this channel: Sometimes I can appreciate 2 reviewers going back-and-forth (i.e., SavageGeese). This time = no, it sounds too much like extraneous noise, and feels like a waste of my time. I'd prefer concentrating on one driver's knowledgeable impressions, and it shouldn't take more than maybe 10 - 12 minutes in this case, as virtually everyone has already watched numerous reviews of this model. 'Just my view. Thanks for the review, I'll return again.
Driving a manual version of a car that no one is going to buy is asinine. Real people have jobs, they don't get paid to drive on mountain roads all day. Driving a Corolla manual in urban traffic is quixotic when they make a CVT. You got 20k views on this video in part because you insist on reviewing things no one really wants to live with as a daily.
I like how Paul predicted the 300hp corolla gr perfectly.
"Theoretically Toyota could take this car, put a 300 horsepower, turbo-charged engine in it and have a little rally monster. And all these enthusiasts would cheer, and the 'Corolla" name would be forever forgiven." 😆
Little did they know.. 🤣
Now what Toyota needs is to add 30 more horsepower to this car to have it compete with cars in the segment.
The GR will still sell also. Two different types of people will buy it.
I picked up one of these a few months ago and have really grown to love it. I consider myself a car enthusiast, with this being my little daily driver with some pep and spunk behind it 😊
It's funny I've been seeing so many of these around recently where I live in Oregon. It makes me happy to see people driving a hatch that isn't a WRX or 90's Civic with jacked up mufflers
Thats good. Im getting tired of these suv’s.
wish this thing had real exhaust tips though
I'm really liking the blue color. Hmmm. To trade in my 17 Corolla? 🤔
@@thundergato84 Yeah a friend of my wife's actually has the 17 Corolla S, and which is nothing but a Corolla with some "fun" trim, a wing, and a red S on the back. I showed her this video and she immediately went and test drove one and loved it
@@sdo7875 IKR? Fake exhaust tips just annoy me so much. I would cut those fake exhaust ports off at the minimum....
This is great for an enthusiast daily driver
I bought the SE hatch 6MT. I put in an aftermarket cat back exhaust, aluminum shifter cable bushings, aluminum shifter base bushings, and a weighted shift knob. The little things that make it more satisfying to drive, but keep it reliable and daily driving friendly. Only 2 hours of my labor and $600 dollars.
I might be late to the party but I really love that camera angle behind both driver and passenger. Thanks for uploading gentleman.
Ultimately, if you throw some tires on it, are you having fun? Our perceptions of hot hatches have been skewed by the new brand of Hyper Hatches. Ten to Fifteen years ago this thing would be a weapon.
Yes, I got one, have 10k on it now, the tires ( on the base SE w/ 16” wheels) not so much let it down, but hold it back. But in reality, it’s a fun commuter, not a sports hatch, and has all seasons on it for this reason.👍
So I came from a Stage 1 Mk7 Golf R (DSG) and I recently moved over to a 6 Speed XSE. I am getting the same amount of joy driving this thing hard all day compared to having to "slow down" in my R. 170HP to me is the sweet spot for street driving in FWD, you can rev the piss out of this and not have to worry about the cops on your ass. Also the XSE with it's adaptive cruise on a manual makes dailying it so much nicer.
I think what this car is, is a hot hatch. No no no, you've got it all wrong. You're thinking this car doesn't compete with the Veloster N, the Type R, the Golf R... of course it doesn't. But those cars are not hot hatches (I own an '18 R). Those cars are hyper hatches or something. The Corolla hatchback is a hot hatch in the classic sense of the word. Change your frame of mind to the first gen of hot hatches, and it's absolutely a hot hatch. It's an inexpensive but fun hatchback that is fun to wring out and toss around. It is slow car fast done well.
I had the 2005 xrs that had the 2zzge and fought against a civic si. It was a phenomenal engine.
I never liked the corolla... but now I love it
Biased reply here. I know the video is two months old. Here we go. I bought a 2001 Corolla S brand new. I campaigned it in autocross from 2004 to 2007, 4 years. 2005 and 2007 I won my class championship regionally. 125 hp, 125 tq, 2400 lbs. I could tangle with the class leading MINI, would beat it with a better driver than me, but no one wanted to develop the chassis. Plus with the oil issues, the Corolla would burn up engines. I still daily drive mine with 235000 miles on the original chassis, engine and transmission. Oh, and the original clutch. contrast that with a 2010 Corolla my parents had from new that the steering was vague and so was the accelerator. It seems like Toyota is trying to find their way back to their enthusiast roots. Even with low power, the chassis, shows through shining bright. Imagine it with summer tires, better struts. If the GR Corolla becomes a thing, I will seriously have to consider one.
I actually cross shoped this exact model with a VW GTI S. Both were manual and fun in there own right. The price was only $1k different between the two. I ultimately purchased the GTI, but the Corolla Hatchback XSE was a close runner up.
Good car to own on those crappy days when you don't want to dirty up and or put a lot of miles on your Supra, 911 or whatever you have. .
GR comes out next year.
255hp, 266 torque.
If Toyota Australia brought this out in a manual, I'd buy one.
I think this is a car toyota try to attract younger drivers with a more practical attitude. Easy on gas, good styling, reliable for daily use, easy to drive and park. I am glad that there is a manual option.
"I'm glad there is a manual option" did you buy one? Because if not, you being glad about it is pointless.
Coincidently im driving a Corolla rental sedan and was pleasantly surprised on how far Corolla have come since my parents owned a late 80s Carolla base 2 door automatic which was not good at all but it was cheap in price and feel and performance. The 2020 rental im driving today isn't luxious but its got decent power and quick enough handling and decent interior for a lower priced sedan. Excellent review! 👍😎👍
New channeeeeeeel. I hope it does well. I kind of like this thing. First car affinity probably. Drove a terrible... 89 I think? Corolla in high school. Hand me down from my grandparents. Loved that thing even with all it's mediocrity.
how are the front seats when you're taking them turns?
In the late 70s and early 80s, Corolla used to have a hatchback that was called Corolla Liftback. That was a hot sporty item then.
I bought a 2020 Camry XSE (4cyl) about 6 month's ago...and one thing I noticed right off the bat is that car want's to "go" to.
this is a stepping stone to the Apex -- then the GR ---cant wait
Toyota: tugging the carrot since 2001
I'm in it for an answer too! Wtf does it mean!
@Victor Martinez Thats when the "S" badge originated on the corolla, 2001
Would this be equivalent to a British B-road?
Funny watching both of you drive....
My first car in 82 was a Corolla SR5...this is what I hoped it would be...good car for young enthusiasts on their way up. BTW, Paul, were you licking the paint because you were so impressed? Your tongue is strangely blue...
is that Dr. Frasier Driving?
I love that they call there self enthusiast but if It dont have the power you dont want it a true enthusiast is going to make the car his own that's y i slapped two turbos on my carolla hatchback
great review. for me, no sport, no enthusiast, no hot hatch just the way it is and even se model. xze stuff like heated big wuss seats, please.
HEHEHE Awesome Video!
Clutch feel doesn't sound great, not liking that part. The rest seems better than expected.
Shea green?
Please do the 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback comparison👍🏽
The fully redesigned Civic Hatchback will be a '22, coming next year.
gR coming soon!
Anybody who knows a dealership that will sell XSE on the 22,900 range, let me know. The lowest I see is 25k where I live in Chino Hills.
Autotrader has plenty for sale at that price XSE Manual.
@@subvet3668 Ended up picking the SE Nightshade Trim last Friday night from Puente Hills.
This walked so that the GR Corolla could run.
My first time at this channel: Sometimes I can appreciate 2 reviewers going back-and-forth (i.e., SavageGeese). This time = no, it sounds too much like extraneous noise, and feels like a waste of my time. I'd prefer concentrating on one driver's knowledgeable impressions, and it shouldn't take more than maybe 10 - 12 minutes in this case, as virtually everyone has already watched numerous reviews of this model. 'Just my view. Thanks for the review, I'll return again.
130 to 170hp is 30 percent more power
Styling is there, drive train lets you down.
She green?
You are way over analyzing this.
Driving a manual version of a car that no one is going to buy is asinine. Real people have jobs, they don't get paid to drive on mountain roads all day. Driving a Corolla manual in urban traffic is quixotic when they make a CVT. You got 20k views on this video in part because you insist on reviewing things no one really wants to live with as a daily.
This is the easiest to live with manual I have ever driven. And I commute 1 hour each way in heavy traffic.
you reviewing cupholders, floormats....
waste of time. talk about nothing
So we guess you missed the comments made on handling, transmission, power and driving fun?
@@TestDriveVideos yes I did and I am not interested to know them