BestCarAudio.com

Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry

Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
  • Articles
    • Bluetooth
    • Car Audio
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Navigation
    • Remote Starter
    • Satellite Radio
    • Smartphone Integration
    • Vehicle Insights
  • Industry Profiles
    • Installation Profiles
    • Installer Profiles
    • Retailer Profiles
    • Vendor Profiles
  • Products
  • Dealer Locator
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • 0 items
Arc Audio

Checking out the 2017 Toyota Corolla SE

June 20, 2017 By Brett Solomon

Toyota CorollaIs it possible to mix the word Corolla with automotive enthusiast? Of course! Although most people think of the Toyota Corolla as a basic transportation pod that gets good gas mileage, the SE gives enthusiasts something to smile about without breaking the bank – my tester base price came in at just over $21K, with some fun additions adding another $2,000 to the purchase price.

Toyota CorollaWhat makes the SE special? You get legendary Toyota quality (the Corolla does feel like it can last a few hundred thousand miles without major problems as long as you treat it to preventive maintenance), combined with an honest-to-goodness six-speed manual transmission. That means you get the fuel economy and reliability you were expecting with a dash of enthusiast fun. Your parents would be proud of the sage decision!

Speaking of economy, the Corolla with the six-speed is rated at 30 MPG combined, but even stepping on the gas to have a bit of fun, my tester still returned 34.5 MPG in both city and highway combined. Wow. For those who go with the automatic and are judicious with the go pedal, the Corolla will probably return even better numbers.

As part of the SE fun, the interior gets a nice blue or red treatment with mixed-fabric seats. Most interior panels are now soft-touch (some even feature stitching) and would look right at home in a Lexus from the early Obama administration. The wheels look decent enough with a black painted accent, but could use an upgrade.

On the performance side, my tester featured a TRD air filter for $80 and a very expensive TRD performance exhaust for $649. That did make the vehicle sound livelier without being on the obnoxious side, but enthusiasts might be better off shopping an aftermarket exhaust to save a few dollars and still kick it up a few decibels.

Toyota CorollaAs far as decibels for the interior, the audio system is controlled by a 4.2” Color TFT multi-info display. The head unit is worth keeping, since it does give you a nicely finished volume knob and easy-to-operate controls combined with apps. However, the loudspeakers and audio quality could benefit from a knowledgeable aftermarket retailer. I would suggest a good set of component speakers with tweeters that can fit in the stock A-pillar mounting locations. An amplifier upgrade would be welcome – especially a four-channel amp. The front channels of the amp could power those component speakers, and the two rear channels could be bridged to power a small subwoofer in the trunk.

The rear seats can be folded down for larger objects, so there’s no reason to take away the practicality of the trunk. If you want to really pound on the bass, feel free, though: The trunk space is there for a pair of 12” woofers in a custom enclosure.

On the safety front, the Corolla does come through with Toyota’s pre-collision system with pedestrian protection and lane departure alert. If you have a Corolla that is a few years old, you should definitely look into upgrading to the latest technology. Many aftermarket manufacturers can add these important functions that many people think are only attainable in brand-new rides.

Toyota CorollaNowadays, most lights have been swapped with LEDs that look and function great – another possibility for a Corolla built a few years ago.

Overall, the Corolla SE is a great vehicle with a few fun touches that move it away from the bland. A couple of audio tweaks and maybe some new rims and tint, and the Corolla SE will be a faithful vehicle that will entertain you for years to come.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: Car Audio, Vehicle Insights Tagged With: Corolla, Toyota

Audison Forza

Momento M7 DashCam Giveaway

BCA---Product-Giveaway-Contest-Momento-M7

Save Time and Money!

Our buying guides will help you make educated decisions when upgrading your vehicle. Click the image above to shop our affordable and informative buying guides.

Industry Profiles

ENORMIS Mobile Specialties

Mobile Enhancement Retailer Spotlight: ENORMIS Mobile Specialties

June 3, 2022 By Dave MacKinnon 

When it comes to mobile enhancement retailers, ENORMIS Mobile Specialties in Erie, Pennsylvania, is unlike any other … [Read More...]

Alpine Tesla

Mobile Enhancement Industry Profile: 2018 Tesla Model S

March 21, 2022 By Dave MacKinnon 

A Honda Civic Si, Acura RSX, Mini Speedster, BMW X5, the Sinister 6 and the Imprint RLS – if you recognize the pattern … [Read More...]

Press Releases

Firstech Launches Momento M7 Three-Channel Car Dash Camera
iBeam
iBEAM® Ships New Tailgate Handle Cameras, Micro Camera, and Window Mount
Firstech, ADS Announce Remote Start Partnership
iBEAM Commercial Wireless Systems
iBEAM Ships New Commercial Wireless Rearview System and Monitor
Firstech KP2
Firstech Unveils New “KP2” Keyless Touchpad Accessory for Remote Start

Vehicle Insights

2022 Acura RDX A-Spec

2022 Acura RDX A-Spec. Long Beach Blue Pearl.

2022 Mazda CX-30

2022 Mazda CX-30. Small Yet Mighty.

Find Facility Near You

Subscribe to BestCarAudio via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to BestCarAudio.com and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Popular Categories

  • Car Audio
  • Window Tint
  • Remote Car Starters
  • Vehicle Insights
  • Radar Detectors

Supporting Manufacturers

  • Arc Audio
  • Compustar
  • Hertz
  • Momento
  • Rockford Fosgate
  • Sony

Contact

  • Editorial
  • General
  • Advertise

Forms

  • Profile Request

Sign up for our newsletter today. Opt out at any time with 1 click.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

BestCarAudio.com is a product of 1sixty8 media, inc. · Copyright © 2022 1sixty8 media, inc. · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...