2014 Toyota Corolla Altis review, road test

Toyota has finally stepped out of its safe zone and built a Corolla that’s great to look at. This new model also improves on the strengths of its predecessor with fantastic interior space and an especially comfortable rear bench. Then there’s the made-for-India suspension that tackles our worst roads without much of a fuss. Both petrol and diesel engines are well-suited to the urban environment and the light controls do well to keep driving fatigue at bay.
However, it has its share of shortcomings. Both engines (especially the diesel) lack the kind of power and excitement offered by the competition and the car still isn’t very well-equipped for its segment. But its biggest weak point is that it lacks the ‘feel-good’ factor. Yes, it’s very spacious, but Toyota has skimped out on crucial areas, leaving the Corolla with an interior that feels low-rent and struggles to justify the over Rs 16-lakh price.
Sure, the new Corolla is great in some areas, but on the whole, it falls a bit short of the lofty standards set by the competition. However, if you want a car that’s sensible, fuss-free and promises to give you years of painless ownership, the Corolla with its legendary dependability is hard to beat.