Save the manual series episode 4 – 2021 Toyota Corolla

Some say pedestrian, we say practical. If it’s something inexpensive, safe, reliable and well-equipped you’re after, then look no further than the 2021 Toyota Corolla.

Available in either a four-door hatchback or sedan, there’s more packages and trims to choose from than on a menu at an Indian restaurant. Not complaining, we do live in a capitalistic society after all.

The engines on both hatchback and sedan are rudimentary four-cylinders with a hybrid powertrain available on the sedan. This all sounds fairly dull, and to be fair it is. I mean, the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are more exciting, but hey if simple’s what you want, simple’s what you get.

Trying to make it special

We’ll give Toyota this. The Special Edition variants do come with lush Supersonic Red liveries, a new front splitter, side skirts, rear roof spoiler and ‘rear bumper garnish’, unique badging and black 18-inch wheels.

Not sure what Gordon Murray would say about all these extra bits hanging off the car, but I guess if Fast and Furious bodykits is your vibe, then you’ll probably be impressed with this aesthetic.

There’ll be 1500 cars produced for the Special Edition hatchbacks, that’ll come with additional rear-seat-mounted air bags and expanded cargo volume.

Ultra exclusivity

There will also be a super super limited Apex Edition, featuring a specially-tuned chassis and will come with a manual transmission. You’ll have to be quick to get one, though, because only 120 of these will be available, otherwise you’re basically stuck with a standard CVT transmission.

CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission, and it’s a type of single-speed automatic gearbox that’s usually fitted to small cars. Being smaller and more compact than a standard automatic mean that its more cost-effective, which is probably one of the things that keep Toyota’s prices so competitive.

But if CVT ain’t something you dig, then you may just prefer the sporty(ish) SE sedan, which comes with a sport-tuned, stiffer suspension and, yes, a six-speed manual transmission so you can transfer as much of the available 168 ponies via the 2.0L dual VVT-I engine sitting pretty beneath the hood to the front wheels for maximum output.

I don’t know, but this kinda sounds like the car version of cricketer Rahkeem Cornwall, a non-athletic athlete:

It’s pretty bleak, pretty pedestrian, and yet somehow the Corolla has really come through for Toyota over the years, so can’t shit on it all that much. We’re just glad they didn’t get rid of the manual gearbox on it, to be honest, and that’s why it comes in at number 2 on our list.