2007 Toyota Corolla 2.0L D-4D 6MT FWD (126 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Toyota introduced the tenth generation of the Corolla in 2006 in Japan, while U.S. customers could see it in the flesh in the following year at the 2007 SEMA auto show in Las Vegas in October.

The Corolla was already a worldwide bestseller, and customers loved it for its reliability and low maintenance costs. Its biggest downturn was the dull aspect both on the exterior and interior. But Toyota tried to change that, and the tenth generation of this moniker saw a different approach in terms of design. In addition, the cabins were greatly improved and featured modern systems, while the engines got a little bit punchier. Not enough to call the car a sports sedan, but at least it didn’t struggle on entry ramps anymore to catch up with highway speeds.

This generation wore the Axia name in Japan, while in most other countries, Toyota sold it as the Corolla. Unlike other generations of it, it shared the same exterior design around the world, with slight adjustments according to local regulations. The new design language mixed arched lines with a few sharp angles. At the front, the bumper featured an upper chromed grille and a lower one flanked with side scoops. In sedan shape, the Corolla featured an ascending beltline that started from the swept-back headlights and continued all the way to the back, on the taillights. The four-door sedan featured flush door handles and, depending on the trim level, chromed trims around the windows and black B-pillars. The rear fascia showed wide taillights that crossed from the quarter panels to the trunk’s lid above the rear bumper.

The cabin didn’t look like an upscale model, but it wasn’t dull anymore. Toyota installed stain-resistant upholsteries on the seats and light-gray trims on the center console, center stack, steering wheel, and door cards. True, it was made from hard plastic, but it looked better than in the Corolla’s ninth generation. Furthermore, the big dials for the speedometer and tachometer inside the instrument cluster featured integrated LCDs that displayed various information from the car’s onboard computer. Between them, the automaker installed two arrows for up-shifts and downshifts, which helped the driver achieve better fuel efficiency. The front seats were slightly raised on the sides and were designed mostly for comfort, with a knee-height center console. In addition, depending on the trim level, Toyota also offered the car with a center armrest between the front occupants. On the rear bench seat, the automaker installed two ISOFIX systems to fix child seats and a center fold-down armrest for situations when just two passengers sat there.

Another essential upgrade was for the platform, which featured new McPherson struts up front and torsion beam suspension at the back. As a result, the car boasted increased road handling over its predecessor. For selected markets, the car came fitted as standard with various safety systems, including Vehicle Stability Control (VSA), Brake Assist (BAS), and Traction Control (TC). Under the hood, the automaker installed a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines, depending on the market, paired with either manual or automatic transmissions.