Why the Toyota Corolla Makes a Great First Car
Choosing your first car is an important decision.
It’s also one you will always remember. You might do your research on things like quality, style, tech and safety features. And you’ll want the affordability, too. The Toyota Corolla is all about that.
As a kid, my dad owned a Corolla, but when I think it, I think of my youngest aunt. It was her first car. I remember her getting her driver’s license and saving up for it. I thought she was so cool and independent. And the best part was that she would take me and my brother out to fun places like the movies and the park. There is such a great sense of freedom that comes with a first car. Here’s why the Toyota Corolla makes a great first car.
Further Reading: 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback: Tech is the Star in this Value Hatchback
Circa 1984: Me with my aunt pictured with my dad’s first love- his cherry red Toyota Corolla.
The Toyota Corolla Has Been Around For Years.
See that photo above? Yup, that’s little old me with my auntie posing in front of my dads first love (besides me)- his cherry red Toyota Corolla. He loved that car. It was perfect for his small family but sporty and cool at the same time. I remember the brown leather interior of that car and riding in the backseat as a child. Eventually, my mom got the “family” car but that’s another story. You can say the Corolla model has been part of the family. I thought it’d be fun to whip out this old photo to compare the old ’80s Corolla with the 2020 model. As you can see, it’s a car that has been around and that the younger generations have loved.
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A line up of the all-new 2020 Toyota Corolla family. Photo: Toyota
Over 46 Million Sold!
And there’s a reason for that. Safe, compact, sporty and affordable. Now in its 12th generation, the Corolla got a bold new style – sleek and sporty design. As soon as I got a look at the new styles I could tell, they went all out. It’s sportier and wider with strong body lines. And wait until you get inside – so much technology! Plus, the interior design is sporty with a cockpit-like environment that’s spacious and modern.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla LE Hybrid front grille. Photo: Lillie Morales
I Got to Test Drive the 2020 Toyota Corolla LE Hybrid
I had a good time test driving the Corolla throughout the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia. It’s a charming, historic city filled with art, vintage architecture, and great food. The Corolla’s compact size was perfect for touring around the old city. It’s small enough to park almost anywhere, making it a great car for travel, too. The ride was smooth and the sporty interior was not only pretty, but comfortable.
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The 2020 Toyota Corolla in front of Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Photo: Lillie Morales
Let’s Talk About Safety Sense
Which is what Toyota calls the suite of safety technology in its cars, or TSS for short. Toyota really cares about their customers’ safety and it’s clear to see with all of the thought put into the safety features. When it comes to purchasing your first car, safety should be one of your top priorities. The Corolla is perfect for a young driver’s first car; as we know, young drivers have less experience. Toyota prides itself in its safety features in the 2020 Corolla.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 includes:
- Lane departure alert
- Improved pedestrian detection – it even detects cyclists during the day, pedestrian detection at night time.
- Speed reduction control
- The camera recognizes the traffic signs- one thing I liked was seeing the signs coming up ahead, displayed in the driver information cluster
- Centers the car in between lanes
- 8 airbags
- Safety connect- automatic collision notification, emergency, and roadside assistance, stolen car finder
Tech Features
The infotainment system makes the ride even better. You can plug in your phone to use Apple Carplay and enjoy your own music (on a 9 speaker JBL sound system!). It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa which is pretty awesome.
A navigation system that also lets you see the time, weather, and music at the same time. Photo: Lillie Morales
The Toyota Corolla has a great infotainment system. You can even talk to Alexa! Photo: Lillie Morales
Sporty Trim
Don’t let the Corolla’s compact size fool you, it’s actually quite spacious inside! The interior design is roomy, modern and elegant. It’s also sporty and set up in a cockpit style. You’ll feel like a drag racer in this little beast. The interior also features heated seats, leather accents like the shift knob and steering wheel, and ambient lighting.
The Toyota Corolla has a nice sporty interior look. Photo: Lillie Morales
Surely, you want to know how much.
Pricing for the Toyota Corolla starts at…
- $19,500+ L model
- $19,950+ LE model
- $29,350+ XLE
- $22,950+ LE Hybrid
- $21,950+ SE CVT
- $22,650+ SE MT
- $25,450+ XSE
Of course, the price can go up depending on any add-ons you may get.
We sure went places with the Toyota Corolla. Photo: Lillie Morales
During my drive, the JBL 9 speaker system was music to my ears.
The Corolla has an option of 9 speaker JBL audio and really, it’s worth it. The sound on the system was nice and clear. I enjoyed driving while listening to the playlists on my phone. All I had to do was plug in my phone and use Apple Carplay to make this happen.
JBL speakers in the Corolla sound crystal clear. Photo: Lillie Morales
Who this car is for…
I loved driving the new Corolla. It was compact, cute and comfortable to drive. I’d say it makes a great first car but it also makes for a great second car. Maybe mom (or dad) needs a little car to get to work and wants something sporty but economical- this could be it. While this compact car targets a younger crowd, it can really be for anyone.
- First car for a high schooler
- College Grads
- Millennials in their teens and twenties
- Adventurous traveler looking for an eco-friendly compact car
- Corolla enthusiasts
- Second car for the home
The Toyota Corolla has plenty of trunk space for your everyday needs. Photo: Lillie Morales
What We Listened to in the Toyota Corolla
This sporty little car inspired some great music. This is just a sample of tunes we loved in the Corolla.
Disclosure: Travel & test drives were provided to me for editorial consideration. All opinions are true and original.
