by Kevin Bradley

Created on: January 09, 2009

The Toyota Corolla has been around for quite some time, which suggests that it has been a car that the public has grown accustomed to. But the eagerly awaited 2003 version has been completely overhauled. This is probably the most luxurious and biggest model of the Corolla thus far, which equals more interior room. The quality of the build is substantially better than the previous year as well.

The Corolla has been one of the most reliable models for Toyota and these improvements look to keep it that way. It has come a long way since 1968, when the first Corolla came from Japan, learning from its mistakes and quickly improving upon them. All the while, the Corolla has been dependable and economical, even though the 2003 is a little more expensive that it has been in the past.

Although still considered a compact car, it's just big enough to be considered a sedan by some. The size is good enough for most people, especially those looking for good value, but its accommodation may not be suitable to someone over six-feet tall and the backseat can hardly fit three people, although there are three seat belts.

There are three versions of the Corolla: the CE, which is the most economically appealing, the more stylish S, and the LE, the most extravagant of the three. All come with a manual five speed transmission, power steering and brakes, filtered air conditioning, rear defogger, delayed dome light and cup holders AM-FM-CD four-speaker stereo, intermittent windshield wipers, daytime running lights, power mirrors, outside temperature gauge, remote trunk lid and fuel-filler releases.

The CE is almost indistinguishable from the S and LE physically, with the only noticeable difference being the more narrow tires and simple black side molding, not to mention some other options. Although it only gets 29 MPG in the city and 33 MPG (standard transmission) on the highway, this is much better than standard American cars. Also, the Corolla is a little bit on the noisy side for a smaller car, which can be a turn-off for some people.

In a move that's reminiscent of previous cars, the suspension of the Corolla has been switched from an independent rear suspension to a torsion-beam style suspension. This is assumed to give a better ride and lower cost to build while losing a little bit of the handling.

Although the cost of the 2003 Corolla may be a little bit more than one may expect, the changes make it worth it and still a bargain. The fact Toyota continue to make improvements to the Corolla range is testament to the reliability it has shown through the years and the 2003 Corolla is no different in this respect.

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