SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Up-spec’ed: 2020 Toyota Corolla XR sedan m/t

Moved subtly upscale

Pics by Toyota@Motorpress
Posted: November 3, 2020

The numbers
Price: R420 500
Engine: Toyota M20A-FKS, 1986 cc, naturally aspirated, inline four-cylinder
Power: 125 kW at 6600 rpm
Torque: 200 Nm between 4400 and 4800 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 8.0 seconds
Maximum speed: 200 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.9 l/100 km
Tank: 50 litres
Luggage: 470 litres
Standard tyre size: 225/40R18
Spare: Spacesaver
Turning circle: 10.6 metres
Ground clearance: 135 mm
Rated towing capacity: 400 kg
ASEAN NCAP: 5 stars
Warranty: 3 years / 100 000 km
Service plan: 6 services, 90 000 km at 15 000 km or annual intervals


Unless you’re a dedicated fan, Toyota may have slipped a few curve balls by you lately.

First, this new one isn't “just another Corolla.” Yesteryear’s little grocery getter has been seriously up-spec’ed in recent times. How about: Disc brakes now at both ends; double-wishbone back suspension, for better comfort and handling, instead of the cheap torsion beam most cars use; all the safety kit and connectivity you could want; Bi-LED headlamps with automatic high beam control; push button starting and part-leather upholstery with powered driver’s chair.

Then there’s adaptive cruise control; two lane keeping aids; blind spot monitoring; reversing camera (back to that later); one-touch-both-ways powered windows all around; automatic air conditioning; spacious seating for five, although backseat headroom is tight, and a decently sized boot.

Second, its performance image was moved subtly upscale. Apart from the brake- and rear suspension upgrade, the high-sided tyres of previous years made way for 40-profile Dunlop SP SportMaxx rubberware. “W” rated for speeds up to 270 km/h, they’re also compounded for good grip and braking, wet and dry, decent handling and long life. They aren’t so hot in snow but that’s seldom an issue around here.

The engine scored attention too, but let’s first go back to Model Year 2000. A typical Corolla weighed 1070 kg and Toyota Camry, a medium-to-large car of the time, had a 2.0-litre manual in its range. That motor developed 93 kilowatts and 183 Nm to propel the 1310 kg saloon from zero to 100 km/h in 10.47 seconds and on to 181 km/h, according to a contemporary Car magazine road test.  

Today’s 2.0-litre manual Corolla sedan is only 40 mm shorter than that Camry but is 85 mm wider and 70 mm lower. Its engine produces, thanks to modern design and technology, 125 kW and 200 Nm to slingshot its 1335 kg mass to 100 km/h in eight seconds flat and a top speed of 200. Despite weight-loss programmes in the meantime, Corolla has chubbed out somewhat; new fixtures and fittings, you know.

Having driven the CVT version recently, it felt odd to shift gears by hand in a naturally aspirated car again - no turbo-car’s endless power band, no “switch brain off and hoof it” – one has to actually work the mixer to get best results. But it’s worth it. The six-speed box is smooth and precise - like a mechanical Swiss watch - and the engine thrives on revs, so let the chubby lady sing sweet arias. Your soul will thank you. Never thought we’d say that about a Corolla, did you?

The only let-downs are that it doesn’t have parking alarms to supplement the camera, especially in front, and that its price is no longer in “humble grocery getter” territory. But you can’t have it all, unfortunately.

Test unit from Toyota SA press fleet



CVT version shown

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.