Look, I'm one of those people who did a lot of research before buying a car. I tried everything from the Geely StarRay to the Nissan Sentra and the Volkswagen Jetta. But in the end, I went back to the classics and chose the 2021 Toyota Corolla 1.2T Plus—because, quite simply, it doesn't come with problems, and that's the most important thing for someone in their 30s with a job, a home, and responsibilities. I bought it with a few extras thrown in, like LED headlights, parking sensors, window tinting, floor mats, and 7 free maintenance services. The car won't blow your mind or steal your heart, but it’ll stick with you and do its job. It's comfortable, smooth, has solid suspension, and its performance is more than enough for daily drives—you don’t need to fly. The interior is simple but comfy. The console doesn’t have CarPlay, but it's not the end of the world—I just connect it via Wi-Fi and that’s it. Fuel consumption is around 6.3L per 100 km, and I drive calmly. In short, the Corolla isn’t the best car in everything, but it's probably the one with the least headaches—and that matters more than fancy specs or a big screen.

I had the chance to try out the new Toyota Corolla, the 1.2T Elite version. Honestly, there aren’t many changes in the design compared to the previous generation, but I thought I’d share my thoughts anyway. The engine performance isn’t particularly strong — 116 horsepower on a car this size is just acceptable. But when you push it and let the RPMs climb, it actually feels better than expected. It’s not slow, and it feels lighter than I thought it would. The CVT gearbox is smooth and decent overall, although at low speeds there are some light vibrations and a bit of drag when you lift off the throttle. When you demand sudden acceleration, it takes a little time to reach the higher revs, but it’s not annoying. The suspension handles big bumps well, but you can feel smaller imperfections in the road, especially at lower speeds. On curves and sharp turns, the car holds itself pretty well and stays composed — that was a nice surprise. The steering is great. It’s light at low speeds and firms up nicely as you go faster. The response is smooth and precise, and the brakes are easy to get used to and feel very natural — no issues there. Noise insulation is average. Wind noise is handled well, and the engine isn’t too loud, even at high RPMs — that’s actually better than the hybrid version. But road noise does come through at higher speeds, and ambient noise isolation is just okay. Inside, the design hasn’t changed much — it still feels quite basic. The materials aren’t great; most of the interior is hard plastic. The screen and instrument panel haven’t been upgraded like in the 1.5 or hybrid versions. The infotainment system is slow and outdated — not what you'd expect in a 2024 model. Front seating is fine — you can adjust the driver’s seat to a comfortable low position and the steering wheel aligns well with it. The back seats, however, aren’t great. The space is average, the seatback is a bit upright, and the cushion isn’t very long. The trunk, on the other hand, is decent and handles luggage well. In terms of safety features, you do get useful tools like radar and driving assist, but there’s no rear parking sensor — which is strange. Overall, the car isn’t lacking in features, but the priorities feel a bit off. In the end, this car doesn’t really surprise you — and that might actually be a good thing for people who prefer something reliable and familiar. It’s not futuristic, but if you’re after dependability and ease of use, it could still be a smart choice — especially with how crowded the market is becoming with hybrids and EVs. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and your budget at the time of buying.

To be honest, I didn’t buy the Corolla out of strong conviction at first. Back in April, I quickly bought a used car from the local market before the Eid holidays. Turned out to be a total disaster. I was in a rush and didn’t have time to go to a mechanic or deal with any hassle, so I drove it for a bit, sold it, and moved on. After that, I decided I wanted to buy something brand new, something I could stick with for 10 years without any headaches. I liked the look of both the Civic and the Corolla. I went to check them out, and while the Civic was really impressive, it was a bit too expensive—so I settled on the Corolla. Overall, the car is smooth and comfortable to drive. But when you're on an incline or waiting at a light on an uphill road, you can feel it struggle to get going—you have to press the gas harder, and the engine gets louder without the car really moving much. The front seats are good, but the rear bench isn’t very spacious. I was honestly disappointed to find that the rear seats don’t fold down, so if you want to carry large items, you’re out of luck. As for fuel consumption—those people claiming 5L/100km, I honestly don’t know how they’re getting that. In the city, I’ve been getting around 6.8 to 7.2, and I’m not a heavy-footed driver. From February 2 to early April, I drove about 4,600 km because I was using it for errands after work and even took a long round trip to Alexandria. One thing I really noticed is that the car doesn’t handle rough roads well—you really feel the bumps. In traffic, sometimes the car shakes a bit when moving slowly around 10 or 15 km/h—not always, but it happens. There's also a faint squeaking noise, like the A/C button is slightly loose—it only shows up on bumpy roads. Still, none of this changes the fact that the car is generally reliable and stable. It drives easily, and honestly, I’m quite content with it—especially after what I went through with that used car. For anyone thinking about getting a Corolla, just be realistic about what you’re looking for. It’s a great car for someone who wants something long-lasting, even if there are a few things that aren’t perfect.

I was looking for a good sedan, and I went through the usual headache of choices like anyone else. I looked at the Sentra and the Civic—each had something I liked, but also something that made me hesitant. The Sentra felt a bit too quiet for me—I’m still young—and while the Civic was tempting, I just couldn't fully buy into it. I randomly walked into a Toyota showroom, and right there in front of me was the Corolla. I took it for a test drive, and honestly, the sales team was incredibly polite and respectful—unlike the staff I’d dealt with at other dealerships. In the end, I was convinced and bought the hybrid Corolla. After a year of use, the car has been comfortable and smooth to drive, with no major issues. But it’s not without its annoyances—like the sluggish, outdated screen and the old-school head unit, so I replaced them. Even the seats and the center armrest would get dirty easily, so I had them covered in leather. The headlights were halogen, so I swapped them for LEDs. The horn also sounded weak, so I changed that too. In terms of performance, it's decent—not a rocket, but more than enough for daily commutes. At speeds over 120 km/h, the car felt a bit floaty, so I upgraded the wheels and tires from 16" to 17", which really improved its stability. The most impressive thing, hands down, has been the fuel consumption—it once dropped to 3.9L/100km! But after I accidentally reset the system, it now reads 5.3 and I can't figure out how to get it back. Space-wise, it's fine—comfortable up front, and okay for two people in the back, but three will feel cramped. The one thing that really bugs me is the A/C, especially for rear passengers. There aren’t effective rear vents, and airflow is a bit weak during summer. I enjoy tweaking my car, so I’ve done a lot of modifications—brakes, tires, wheels, lights, sound system, and a few small accessories. Overall, though, I’m satisfied. My advice for anyone planning to buy one: don't go for it just because everyone else is. Buy it because you’re personally convinced. Compare prices and features carefully. At the end of the day, the Corolla is a solid, respectable car. It won’t let you down, but it’s not perfect—there are things that need a bit of work, depending on your preferences and how willing you are to spend a little more after buying it.

I bought the new Toyota Corolla 1.2T. The engine has 116 horsepower—not super powerful, but its performance is better than I expected, especially when you push it. The CVT gearbox is smooth, though there are occasional slight jerks. In terms of comfort, it’s pretty good. The suspension absorbs big bumps well, but you do feel the smaller ones a bit. The driving is stable, the steering is light and responsive, and the brakes are solid. Wind noise is well-insulated, but tire noise becomes very noticeable at high speeds. The interior feels a bit outdated, with lots of plastic materials. The screen is weak, runs the old system, and is barely backlit. Front space is fine, but the back is a bit cramped. The trunk has a decent amount of space. It comes with a full set of safety features, but no parking sensors! The bottom line? It’s a practical, reliable car—great for people who aren’t looking for fancy tech but want something dependable and easy to drive.

I bought a 2019 Toyota Corolla (petrol), and I use it very lightly—I still haven’t passed 100,000 km. Honestly, the car is practical, easy to drive, and very smooth. But the body feels light, and the sheet metal is thin, so any small bump leaves a mark. Fuel consumption inside the city during winter is high—it reaches up to 10L/100km. In summer, it drops to around 7 or 8, and on highways it's about 6L/100km. At the time, the features were decent—like radar, automatic braking, Bluetooth, and a few other things. But now, you can get Chinese cars at the same price with way more features, and the technology gap is clear. I have a few small complaints—like the screen freezing and shutting off sometimes. The car doesn’t have automatic door locking, and it doesn’t make any sound when locking or unlocking, which can be annoying. In the end, the Corolla is a decent car—not exciting, but practical. It’s great for people who want something dependable and long-lasting. But if you’re after luxury or modern tech, there are stronger options now for the same money.

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