MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  SEPTEMBER  2007

TOYOTA  COROLLA  CONQUEST  SEDAN

The new Corolla Conquest  would have to rate as the best-looking Corolla in the long history of this popular small car. The low front/high back styling is very modern and relies on the smooth shape rather than lots of chrome bling. 

Combined the good looks with Toyota's legendary reliability and quality of build plus a fair list of standard equipment and you have the recipe for a sales success. 

OUTSIDE:

The test car was painted in a very dark blue and this made the teardrop headlamps and the alloy wheels stand out even more. The bumpers and exterior mirrors are body coloured as are the grille and door handles.  The roof has a long curved shape that enables more rear head room and easier access through the rear doors.

The multi-spoke alloy wheels do a good job of filling the guards and the low bumpers and side sills give the car a low, sporty flair. The fog/driving lights are set in deep nacelles flanking the lower air intake under the grille and there is a fairly prominent Toyota logo at the top of the grille.

  At the rear there is a boot spoiler - it is a pity that manufacturers persist in adding these plastic spoiler that do nothing except spoil the rearward vision. The rear bumper, like the front one, is deep and quite protective of the panels and lights. The taillamps melded into the curvy bodywork and are visible from the sides. 

The four doors offer very easy access to the cabin. The bonnet is insulated but doesn't have a gas strut. The engine layout is very tidy and impressive and has good access to the engine oil, water and screen washer bottle. The petrol filler in on the left (correct) side.

INSIDE:

The test car's trim was black and grey and gave the interior a rather sombre feel. The materials used were all of fairly good quality although some had a slightly cheaper feel, however, everything fitted properly. The centre console on the dash was similar to the Volvo 'floating console' in that is was separated from the  main dashboard and had a storage compartment behind it. It was highlighted in brushed silver and along with other silver highlights did a lot towards making the interior more attractive. 

The instrument dials were fairly well hooded and easy to read with black lettering on white. The audio and air-conditioning controls were user friendly  and the auto shift lever was well forward so that it didn't foul the central handbrake between the seats. 

The three-spoke wheel was height adjustable and had remote audio controls. The cruise control system is operated by a small stalk on the right of the steering wheel.  Storage areas include  twin glove boxes, door pockets with bottle holders, an overhead sunglasses container and tin cupholders. The vanity mirrors in the sun visors are both covered and illuminated.

Head and leg room is very good in the front and quite acceptable in the rear even for adults. The front and rear seats are comfortable and the front ones give good support. 

LUGGAGE AREA:

Plenty of room for a family's luggage with a solid floor and a full-sized steel wheel and spare tyre. The deck lid is fully trimmed but doesn't have a recess for closing. The loading lip is very high making a chore out of lifting heavy bags or the spare wheel out. The boot has four tie-down lugs for securing cargo.  The rear seats split fold for extra capacity.

ON THE ROAD:

Even though the four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine only develops 100kW at a high 6000rpm, the performance is quite brisk even with the smooth 4-speed automatic transmission.  The ride is very good with no harshness over broken surfaces. Road noise is high due to the imported tyres and combined with wind noise on the highway drowns out the audio system.  The steering is light and the turning circle very good. Road grip and cornering capability instill driver confidence and body lean is imperceptible. Like most front drive cars there is a tendency for the car to understeer is pushed hard into a corner.

PRICE:            $27,500 4-SPEED AUTO  -  $25,550 - 5-SPEED MANUAL - PLUS ON-ROAD COSTS.

STANDARD:    Dual front, head & side airbags; ABS brake system with Brake Assist & Electronic Brake Distribution; air-conditioning; 16" alloy wheels; cruise control; central remote locking; cloth trim; fog/driving lights; engine immobiliser; leather steering wheel; power mirrors, steering & windows; 6-speaker audio system with CD player; rear spoiler; front seat belt pre-tensioners; trip computer.

OPTIONS:        Metallic paint $300.