Four Alternatives to Toyota Corolla

The attractiveness of the Toyota Corolla in the C-segment sedan space is undeniable. The 2014 update has seen it grow in its wheelbase and also adopt several sharp and unmatched styling. The striking lines on the hood and side are signs of uncompromised design.

Although the car hasn’t received any major update even in 2018, the increasing competition might not hurt the company a lot as the sedan has a pretty good grip over the market space, which it would not let go off so soon.

Toyota Corolla specifications

The 2018 Toyota Corolla has two engine options on offer. There is a total of four variants for the 1.6-litre trim (SE, SE+, Limited and Sport) and three for the 2.0-litre (SE, SE+ and Limited).

The 1.6-litre engine is capable of making a maximum power of 121 hp at 6,000 rpm while making 154 Nm of torque at 5,200 rpm. On the other hand, the bigger 2.0-litre engine makes 143 hp power at 6,200 rpm along with a good torque of 193 Nm at 3,600 rpm. The power is sent down to the wheels via a MultiDrive 7S gearbox.

The Corolla gets a good number of safety features covering braking, cabin safety and vehicle stability. But the best part is, all of these features are given as standard across all the variants, be it for the 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre.

Braking is handled by ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and Brake Assist. Moreover, Vehicle Stability Control and cruise control prove to be lifesavers on speeding situations.

Alternatives

It is to be seen that the Toyota Corolla does not enjoy complete success over the other sedans in the Emirates. Certain other C-segment cars have also been quite competitive and equally popular.

So, here are the top four alternatives that you can probably consider over the Corolla.

1) Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a sporty sedan and is more performance-oriented, which is evident on the aesthetic. If you consider the Toyota Corolla to be a classy and premium, the Civic will open up the sporty side.

The Civic rides on 16-inch wheels as standard while the RS-badged version gets 17-inch units. Moreover, it is more powerful than the Toyota and offers three different options, a 1.6-litre i-VTEC making 123hp/151Nm power/torque, a 2.0-litre i-VTEC making 158hp/187Nm power/torque and a powerful 1.5-litre turbo VTEC making 180hp power and 220 Nm torque.

As for the pricing, the Civic is available in the same price bracket as the Corolla, barring the RS trim, which is very expensive.

2) KIA Cerato

KIA may not be as popular as other brands like Honda and Toyota, but the Cerato sedan proves otherwise. It is way more affordable than the Toyota Corolla and packs in features that will amaze you.

Mechanically, it is available in two engine options. The smaller 1.6-litre engine makes 128 hp power and 156 Nm of torque while the 2.0-litre motor makes 159 hp power and 194 Nm of torque. Though the powers are marginally superior to the Corolla, the fuel efficiency lets it down.

3) Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra is probably one of the biggest names in the segment and is absolutely adorned in the attractive Fluidic Design language. This, along with the fact that it is more affordable than many other sedans, makes it one of the best-sellers.

Just like most other sedans, the Elantra is offered with two engine options too. The smaller 1.6-litre engine makes 121 hp power and 152 Nm of torque, while the bigger 2.0-litre engine makes 163 hp power and 198 Nm of torque.

4) Mazda 3 Sedan

The Mazda 3 sedan is a premium offering in the C-segment space. But despite having a competitive starting price tag, the higher trims are expensive, much like the Honda Civic RS.

Having said that, the Mazda 3 sedan is one of the most stylish sedans currently on sale in the UAE and has an extremely refined engine under the hood. The smaller 1.6-litre engine makes just 105 hp power and 145 Nm torque and relies more on the refinement. However, the bigger 2.0-litre engine is good enough to be making 155 hp power and 200 Nm of torque.

Conclusion

The sale of premium C-segment sedans is on the rise with each passing year. And with this popularity to play with, manufacturers either bring on newer vehicles or upgrade existing ones to gain on the market share. Hence, the car you may like a lot today may have a better alternative in the following year.

Every car has alternatives, thanks to the high competition. And if you thought that the Toyota Corolla is probably the best you can get, hang on a second. These are just the four alternatives to it and the list can get longer.