2018 Corolla iM – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Specs

Small is the New Hit

You don’t need big size to win big. The 2018 Corolla iM is all about downsizing the unnecessary and simplifying the complexity with its jazzy 5-door hatchback package. And with a base price tag of just $23,485, the Corolla iM is more or less a sure win for family starters in the budget category.

It’s a bit of a reminiscent from the renowned Toyota Matrix, but a bit more stripped down. There’s less insulating flesh worn on the chassis, and acceleration takes a bit of patience to build up with its smaller 1.8L four cylinder engine. Gear shifts are handled by a continuous variable transmission (CVT) that mimics the behavior of a conventional automatic one. Shifts are not the smoothest and whining gears are prominent within the cabin area though.

But if you can deal with that, you’ll be rewarded with impressive savings at the fuel pump. EPA for the Corolla iM is rated at 31 mpg combined with 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This puts the fuel economy performance just slightly below the Chevorlet Cruze and Honda Civic hatchback.

 

Going Funky On a Budget

Just like its name, the Corolla iM goes for a salon beauty treatment on a tight budget, but unfortunately, you more or less get what you pay for here. The front hood goes for a bit of a slanted nose dive towards thin lips sandwiching a slim grille. There isn’t much sculpturing going on around the headlamps, but the lower two polygonal air intakes help give the iM a bit more of a sports appeal.

Interior cabin area is formed up of basic cloth materials and lower grade plastic paneling throughout. A basic 7″ infotainment system still exists for basic AM//FM radio and bluetooth phone connectivity. Despite the longer hatchback form factor, the rear seating area was a bit tight especially compared to other models and even sedans of similar wheelbase lengths. You do benefit from the folding 60/40 rear seating area easily activated from pulling on the ribbon cable in the rear seats for significantly increased rear cargo space.

Raw Mechanics

The drive line is as basic as it gets and while the CVT lends itself to impressive fuel economy, the moaning of gears and the power struggle from the limited power produced by the miniature 1.8L four cylinder engine of just 137 horsepower is not exactly pleasant audible tone.

Throwing the wheel around returns the same favor to your neck with significant body roll experienced in cornering attempts, and when pushed hard, the Corolla iM disobeys driver input with understeer.

Going the Cheap Route

Going the cheap route can sometimes be difficult to remain emotionally positive for thee iM especially when compared to other competitors such as the more zippy and comforting interior of the Mazda 3. There’s not going to be much driving enthusiasm either and unwanted road noise does leak inside the cabin space. Sequential shift mode via its gear shift lever is available, but that also doesn’t raise high hopes for driving enthusiasm.

But to be fair, at a tested price of $25,227, there aren’t a lot of options to choose from. And if you want more thrill in your daily drive while remaining on a tight budget, we recommend going for small wheels on a manual transmission such as the Yaris. Otherwise, an extra few thousand for a higher trim Corolla or Mazda 3 yields a more refined overall finish