Mercedes Benz

Corolla Performance: Easy to Drive, Hard to Drive Fast Corolla Engine Toyota offers two four-cylinder-engine options for the Corolla. The sedan comes with a 1.8-liter base engine that makes 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. Available in the SE and XSE sedan trims and standard in the hatchback is a 2.0-liter engine rated at 169 horsepower (168 in the hatchback) and 151 pound-feet of torque. While the base engine is fine for city driving, it can feel outmatched on the highway. Getting to higher speeds takes time and a heavy foot. Models with the 2.0-liter engine hold their own a bit better. The smaller engine comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The larger one can be had with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. Unlike many CVTs, the Corolla's operates smoothly and quietly. Corolla Gas Mileage With its base engine, the Toyota Corolla sedan gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Surprisingly, gas-mileage est...