I bought a 2020 Corolla SE, 6 spd manual a couple of months ago. I have owned many cars, sports cars, etc., and I tell you this Corolla is a blast to drive!!!! That 2.0 has some pep, and with the manual.....it keeps me smiling!!!!!! Buying used (certified) very low miles, of course, couldn't pick my color. It is called Blue Crush Metallic. During the day it has a purplish vibe, which I am NOT crazy about, but at dusk, and night it looks pretty awesome!
As an owner of a 2019 Mazda 3 5-door I can tell you that the Torsion beam is just as good as a fully independent suspension. Mazda has figured out how to do it right! I owned the last generation 3 with the independent suspension and the new models ride / handle just as good.
As a person who owns this car a couple of points. The 2.0L in this car gets way better Gas Mileage than the old 1.8L in the L series and much better Horsepower. The gear for first gear also takes a lot of the strain off the CVT taking off from start. I've only used Sport Mode once and the paddle shifters allow for 10 speeds to use, which are just predetermined pulley points on the CVT. The Sport Mode is pretty sporty but I prefer the excellent Fuel Economy myself. Excellent car, I love it.
Scotty would say don't buy it new let someone else/sucker drive it off the lot for $29k break it in you buy it used say coming off a lease. It a Toyota it's reliable!! Toyota been losing their GDM with these price mark ups and no to low tech.
@@MsKewi-NYC 100% true! Never buy new, I always bought my Toyota and Hondas used. Just non-pet/smoker with decent matinence history and no obvious damage is a go for me
2020 SE Sedan is same engine, transmission and TNGA platform as the 2019 SE Hatchback... but the SE Hatchback has smaller 16" wheels. Gets 3 mpg over the sedan and XSE Hatchback. I wanted the SE Sedan with 16" wheel downgrade but dealer wouldn't go for it so I got the Hatchback. Getting 41-45 highway door to door trips. 35 mixed city/hwy.
Good call. I think the 16" wheels make more sense on a car like this and will pay off with better mpg, a smoother ride over potholes and cheaper tire replacement costs over the life of the vehicle. In Canada we can get 16" alloy wheels on the SE hatch or SE sedan and we also have a cheaper 'S' model hatch that comes with 15" steel wheels.
Sam, a SEXY Corolla? Maybe the current Corolla Hatchback in the Flame Blue paint could be seen as sexy. The beauty of the Corolla is that is moderately stylish, reasonably comfortable, and ultra-reliable. Great review as always, and gorgeous Arizona scenery. Thanks for the upload.
goobman1981 The XSE comes with a really nice "standard" interior which is what you got goobman. There is an upgrade JBL interior which has the 9 speaker system and a different center console which has that wireless charger. It's super hard to find the XSE combined with the upgraded interior cuz it takes the price to 29k. Dealers know it just won't sell.
If you have kids get the 2019. The back seat is huge. I got the 1.8 with a stick hate cvt and I hate Gdi. The 1.8 has a quality valve cover its aluminium not plastic ots been perfected over 50 years. I got the last good one
They really shrunk the interiors of their new 'TNGA' cars and made the seating position very low. Many people will end up switching to a crossover just because the new sedans are so impractical. Having said that, the new 2.0 engines are port & direct injected, the new 6 speed manual is getting good reviews and the suspensions are vastly upgraded on all Corollas so some people will be happy.
Camry's 2017 and above till date have automatic transmission slip and jolt problems,Toyota knows it and supposedly not fixing it. may be there is light on the issue in 2020. time will tell.
The 2.0 liter engine gets better mileage than the other. Your comment on that is incorrect. And my friend who has an XSE consistently gets 32-34 mpg with mixed driving. It’s as good as Toyota says it is.
People of Sam's size will fit inside comfortably but anyone over 6 feet will have to look elsewhere. Toyota made a radical decision with their new 'TNGA' cars to substantially reduce interior space and lower the seating position. Now their sedans are far more sporty but far less practical which will force people into CUVs.
I liked your take on this car, very accurate. I'm done waiting for a Maverick, and a few days ago pulled trigger on a 2022 Corolla SE sedan iMT (6 spd). Off course isn't perfect, but as you said, sexy good commute car. Happy with my decision. I will try the Mav for the 2024 model year, and maybe Ford ad AWD to the hybrid by then. ✌🏻
Toyota had developed Scout GPS which requires use phone data on the plus, you need Entunes Premium to get full navigation. Also, they don't let you install other apps like Google Maps and Waze. Toyota needs to get Android Auto
I like your test drive review 👍👏 , But as tested price of that model , it should come with front heated and ventilated seats , plus you are so absolutely right about it should have rear ventilation in the rear seating area.
A stepped CVT is idiotic. I like my CVT. I admit, CVT is not for spirited driving. It is ideal for lazy driving (as I do). I don't like the big air intake at the front of this car. Still, if I needed a car like that, I think I would buy it too.
Where are people getting $29k from? I just got a silver XSE for under $23k. Mine doesn't have JBL stereo or phone charger, but even with those options it would only be $1,500 extra.
@@1980baboon got the 2020 corolla LE for 16k with heated seats, mirrors, blind spot monitoring and androif auto all included lol... i think XSE can go around for 23k of negotiations done right
Hey Sam. I see you have the Wade Boggs thing going on. For some reason the trunk looks stubby from the side...is it BRZ/86 fast? Is it faster than a Crosstrek? Does it have vvtl-i?
Trunk appears stubby because roofline is pulled back into it. It's not fast like a BRZ/86, and no idea how it compares to Crosstrek. The engine has variable valve timing but not variable lift as in the 1.8 "valvematic".
Love the car just not a fan of the tablet in the middle of the dash. I'm the same height as you wondering if it blocks your view much. I can even forgive it' has a CVT because of Toyota reliability.
Go with the SE or XSE, if you want the new 2.0 liter engine. But... NO Android Auto on the sedan, and little chance Toyota will provide an update that includes it - unbelievable and inexcusable... And that native navigation is Toyota's Scout GPS, which is at least a decade behind Google Maps. Most people absolutely hate it.
The 2020 model only has a stick with the new 2.0 gdi motor that has over use of plastics. The good engine 1.8now only comes with the fake gear fake paddle shifting expensive cvt. That's my my 2019 se is the last good 1
I don't remember you saying but I'm guessing it doesn't have Android Auto or Apple Carplay? That's one thing Toyota seems to really be lagging behind on.
Not with similar content. i currently have a gti, 2015, And have has others in the past, and recently looked at getting a new one, but vw priced me out of the market. A 2019 autobahn (i only buy them loaded) is 6+ grand more than my 2015 autobahn. Too much for me, as good as the gti is, it is a low 30s car not upper 30s, imo
The price point is preventing this from being the best Corolla of all time: 29k is in the realm of many other cars that completely destroy it on performance measures (GTI, Civic SI, Subaru, etc..) Toyota needs to lay off the cocaine they're snorting when pricing out this vehicle
Treizez34 it’s true. A WRX might not be the latest and greatest but with awd and 100 more hp, it seems a pretty easy pick. Maybe some of the lower trims offer more value. Also Toyota’s have tended to hold value well so you could get some of that outlay back.
No you can't, a camry se with upgrade is 32000...and that's a 2.5 in a larger car, I own the exact car he is testing in the blue print color and my only gripe is the rear speakers are pretty much garbage. Can't get the JBL system here in Canada.
@@braetonwilson4296 I love the blue print, it is a tough color to keep looking pristine, but I hand wash my car using very little soap and a few good shots of liquid carnuba was in the water.....you must chamois the car dry after but it's well worth it!
They finally fixed the electric steering feel on this model. But the CVT still sucks. It rides well. Still no Android Auto. The tiny buttons in the center stack look and feel cheap. In terms of exterior design, it would look great with a normal looking front bumper.
