Toyota’s Corolla Goes Places…NAILING THE APEX

Toyota’s Corolla Goes Places…

NAILING THE APEX

Now that gas prices are starting to rise, new car buyers are rediscovering the advantages of owning a smaller car.  It’s a whole lotta fun driving a big SUV or pickup when gas prices are under $2 a gallon, but attitudes change when gas prices start sneaking north of $3.  Smaller cars don’t necessarily equal less fun, but they do typically cost less at the dealership – and typically cost less to maintain.  

The Toyota Corolla is one of the most iconic compact cars on the road. Currently in its twelve generation (which in itself is amazing), the Corolla is one solid little car, although it has certainly grown significantly over the years.  Today’s Corolla is larger and roomier than the original Camry.  And it’s a car, something that the three big Detroit carmakers have removed from their lineups to concentrate on more lucrative crossovers and trucks.  

I had the opportunity some weeks ago to test drive a Black Sand Pearl 2022 Toyota Corolla HSE Apex that arrived with an MSRP price tag of $30K, about $10,000 over a base model.  Under the hood the Corolla HSE Apex is powered by a 169 hp, 2.0 liter four-cylinder mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway.  

The Apex Edition Corollas were introduced last model year and are designed to look and feel sportier. The name refers to track driving, where drivers aim to “clip the apex” of a corner to achieve the quickest lap times.  The Apex Editions are visually set apart from the rest of the Corolla family with a lowered profile, putting the car closer to the ground. And with that, you experience every little bump.  

Also included in the trim and price bump are an aerodynamic black body kit complete with bronze accents, a front spoiler, fog light covers, side moldings and rear diffuser to aid in high-speed vehicle stability.  If you need even more, you can add a rear trunk aero spoiler that’s only for display; with but 169 horsepower, it’s not like you need high speed aero. The Corolla Apex Edition features a track-tuned suspension which Toyota developed and extensively tested on different tracks around the world, including TMC Higashi-Fuji Proving Ground in Japan, Toyota Arizona Proving Ground and our own MotorSport Ranch near Cresson, Texas.

The engine in the Apex is the same as the one in the other Corollas, with nothing done to increase horsepower.  The Apex has, however, a specially-developed Cat-Back exhaust that provides a more aggressive tone when you start the engine. Also, a unique 3.5-inch stainless steel tip was developed to match the vehicle’s styling.

All in all, Toyota engineers did what they could to squeeze out every last bit of driving excitement from this Corolla platform, although I never got the idea that the car achieved anything close to what the press release claims.  The point is the Corolla is a great compact car, while the Apex Edition never makes it as a sports car.  If you’re looking for one of those, Toyota offers a couple of good ones – the GR86 and the Supra – that really do fit that sports car descriptive in a big way. But to get the Corolla’s four doors, you’d have to buy a pair of ‘em!