2014 Toyota Corolla

2014 Toyota Corolla

Episode 3305
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

The number one selling car name of all time is Toyota Corolla. Never one to wow with style and flash, the humble Corolla has soldiered on decade after decade providing comfort and reliability in an affordable if, to folks like us, a totally boring package. Well, that’s supposed to change with the new eleventh generation Corolla. It has a look we find fresh and appealing inside and out. But, will long time Corolla fans be impressed?

Few cars are likely to be around long enough to be redesigned eleven times. But then, no single car model has ever approached the 40 million sales of the Toyota Corolla. And, while 2014’s dynamic new styling direction may not be necessary for its continued success, we don’t think long term fans will object to driving a much better looking car. 

As before, the front-wheel-drive Corolla is available in a more dynamic S trim, only now it looks like it was designed to be that way from the beginning. No tacky add-ons!

It wears by far the most aggressive face for a Corolla yet, and the cool LED headlights come standard, not just on the sportiest S model. Wheelbase is up 3.9-inches, as is overall length, to 183.1-inches for the Corolla S. It also sits wider and lower, and unlike many of today’s cars, the rear looks just as interesting as the front with sharp looking tail lights, the usual deck-lid spoiler, and rear fascia with diffuser. While 15-inch wheels are standard, 16-inchers adorn S models, and you can opt up to 17’s.

The Corolla’s 1.8-liter engine is carried over from last year, although it’s not that simple. In fact there are now two versions of the I4. L, LE, and S models come with a 132-horsepower version rated at 128 lb-ft. of torque. Oddly enough, LE Eco models actually deliver more horsepower at 140, thanks to a new Valvematic variable valve control and a higher compression ratio, but a tad less torque at 126 lb-ft. Transmissions vary from an old school 4-speed automatic, to rather nice 6-speed manual, and a new CVT with ECO and SPORT modes. It’s programmed with 7 simulated gears that in S trim are triggered with paddle shifters. 

Up front, MacPherson struts feature L shaped lower arms, while a simple torsion beam handles suspension duties in the rear. Bumps are soaked up nicely, and better than before, and the Corolla handles just fine. But, as before, stops well short of being sporty. 

Typical for the compact class, the electric power steering lacks feel, but it’s suitably precise. Drum brakes still occupy the rear axle on most models; you have to step up to 17-inch wheels and the S Plus or Premium packages to get rear disc. 

Interior features a theme that is a pleasant cross between RAV4 and Avalon, and overall it’s a nice place to spend some commute time. There are plenty of soft touch materials and a new 3-piece steering wheel design. Gauges vary with trim level, but look their best in the S model with a classic dual dial setup with a TFT info screen between. 8-airbags are standard, including a driver’s knee and a new passenger’s seat cushion airbag. A back-up camera is standard on all but the base L trim level. 

Another place Toyota did not scrimp are the seats. They are plenty comfortable up front, and also in the rear where the extra wheelbase allows for over 5-inches more legroom. And yet there’s still plenty of trunk space; a very capable 13.0 cubic-ft.; even before you drop the standard folding rear seatbacks. 

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are solid, ranging from 27-City, 36-Highway and 31-Combined for the 4-speed automatic to 30-City, 42-Highway and 35-Combined for LE Eco with the CVTi-S transmission. 

Base price is higher than last year, starting at a still reasonable $17,610, while Corolla LE Eco models goes for $19,510; with Corolla S starting at $19,810.

So, is a more dynamic looking Corolla a better Corolla? Yes, as far as our eyes are concerned. But, it’s more than just the pretty new face that makes this Corolla a winner. What hasn’t changed is the Corolla’s friendly commuter nature, and we expect, its highly reliable reputation. We think the Corolla faithful will be thrilled. Indeed, the 2014 Toyota Corolla is something old, something new, and something for Corolla fans to finally be excited about!

Specifications

  • Engine: 1.8-liter
  • Horsepower: 132
  • Torque: 128 lb-ft.
  • EPA: 27 mpg city/ 36 mpg highway
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance 1

2024 Audi RS 7 Performance

Up For Grand Touring Around A Racetrack

Episode 4329
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

In recent years, Audi has done an increasingly better job at merging luxury, high tech and sportiness equally into all of their vehicles, but that doesn’t mean they all have the same priorities. So, if you’re wondering what this car is all about… well, it’s right there in the name, the Audi RS 7 Performance!

First and foremost, the 2024 Audi RS 7 Performance is absolutely fantastic looking. A gorgeous car from all angles. But this posh performer is a lot more than just a visual treat. Under its silky skin lies a menacing sounding V8 that delivers insane amounts of power and, as we discovered, a gloriously intoxicating driving experience.

RS elements added to Audi’s S7 five-door coupe include new aero treatments with a matte gray finish and silver 21-inch Audi Sport wheels. Those silver wheels are wrapped with 275 Continental summer performance tires and allow for seeing plenty of the enormous brake rotors with black-painted calipers. Up front, there’s a wide grille inhaling all kinds of air and headlights with uniqueness that’s pure Audi. This five-door coupe with frameless door windows speaks a true hardtop design.

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Now that we’ve gotten that out of our system, time to hit the corners of Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway, and it’s been quite some time since we’ve had anything here or on any road course that exhibited this much body roll. It didn’t matter what drive mode we had dialed in, it just liked to roll. You could sense that soft suspension in our acceleration runs too. Bystanders got a clear view of a lot of its hardware, thanks to major rear-end squatting as it exploded off the line. Those explosions resulted in a quick 3.7-second trip to 60 miles-per-hour and full quarter-mile runs of 11.9 seconds at 118 miles-per-hour. Fast indeed, though we’re sure both times would improve in warmer temps than our 40-degree test day.

Drive modes have been recalibrated and shifts by the eight-speed Tiptronic in Dynamic Mode are quick. Indeed, noticeably quicker and firmer than in the RS6 wagon we tested just a few months ago without the “performance” treatment. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard.

We’ve never experienced a car that can feel this soft yet was absolutely point-and-shoot through corners.

The driving force for that acceleration is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 cranking out an additional 30 horsepower from the standard RS 7 thanks to installing bigger turbos. That makes for a 621-horsepower rating, with an even more impressive boost in torque from 590 to 627 lb-ft. And Audi was kind enough to remove a little sound deadening material so we can appreciate it even more through the optional RS sport exhaust system.

For what is really a Grand Tourer built for blasting you away on luxurious adventures, the RS 7 performance is amazingly track capable. Steering is very direct with great feel, and all four wheels are engaged in the process. They’re connected to a new mechanical self-locking center differential that is not only capable of handling the additional power but is lighter and quicker to respond. Chassis software has been recalibrated to make it all work together seamlessly. There must be some serious engineering wizardry happening in the RS-tuned air suspension as we’ve never experienced a car that can feel this soft yet was absolutely point-and-shoot through corners. Brakes were truly phenomenal too; there was some significant nosedive happening, but no wandering or fading no matter how hard we worked them.

And yes, it’s hard to call this actual work, considering this work environment is far from hostile. Absolutely nothing has been compromised when it comes to delivering the luxury car experience you expect from a six-figure Audi. Whether it’s the fabulous real metal, leather, and detailed woven carbon-fiber materials or the fine stitch-work and the always impressive comprehensive digital gauge display, the RS 7 performance feels truly special inside.

2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Dash
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Shifter
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Seat
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Trunk
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Engine
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Dash2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Shifter2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Seat2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Trunk2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Engine

The front seats were supremely comfortable and were only mildly bolstered yet held us in place just fine out on the track. Plenty of room for rear seat passengers too, and there’s even a great 24.6 cubic-feet of cargo space with hatchback versatility. Less practical is all touchscreen all the time for just about every cockpit control.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 14 City, 22 Highway, and 17 Combined. That’s a below average Energy Impact Score of 17.5 barrels of yearly oil use with 8.8 tons of CO2 emissions.

Pricing starts at $129,490, and Audi knows they have a good thing going with the RS 7 performance; so much so, it’s now the only RS 7.

So, could they have just made the RS 7 better instead of tacking “performance” onto the name? Sure, but there’s just something about adding performance to a car name that draws people in. And when it backs it up by delivering more actual performance, well, that’s what we call a win-win. We’d be happy to run some victory laps in the 2024 Audi RS 7 Performance anytime.

Specifications

  • Engine: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8
  • Horsepower: 621
  • 0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds
  • EPA: 14 City | 22 Highway | 17 Combined
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic
  • Torque: 627 lb-ft.
  • 1/4 Mile: 11.9 seconds at 118 mph
  • Starting Price: $129,490