Toyota Corolla Seventh Generation (1993-1997)

Seventh Generation (1993-1997)

Significantly larger than the car it replaced (it rode on a 97.0-inch wheelbase), the 1993 Corolla sedan and wagon moved up a size classification from "subcompact" to "compact" according to the EPA. But there were no more Corolla coupes or all-wheel-drive wagons. Sedans were offered in standard, DX and LE trim, while a front-wheel-drive wagon was offered in DX trim only. All cars rode on a fully independent suspension, though DX and LE models benefited from an additional stabilizer bar in front.

Power for the basic Corolla sedan came from the same 1.6-liter engine used in the sixth-generation car (output was 105 hp, except in California, Massachusetts and New York, where it was rated for just 100 due to more stringent emissions requirements), but a new 1.8-liter, DOHC, 16-valve four making 115 horsepower was offered in the ritzier Corolla DX and LE models. A five-speed manual was standard, with a three-speed autobox optional on the base sedan and a four-speed optional on all other models. All cars came with 14-inch wheels and front disc/rear drum brakes; ABS was optional across the line. Height-adjustable seatbelts and a driver-side front airbag were standard in '93; the front passenger got one, too, in 1994. Also new that year were locking retractor seatbelts in passengers' positions and CFC-free refrigerant for cars with air conditioning.

The DX sedan got new upholstery, all audio systems were redesigned and the 1.8-liter engine lost 10 horsepower for 1995 in order to comply with stricter emissions regulations, but it did get a smidge more torque for a total of 117 lb-ft (versus 115 previously). The LE model was discontinued for 1996. Additionally, the front grille received a color-keyed frame and the taillight panels were revised with the DX getting a full-width treatment (the base sedan got gray cladding). Inside, the interior trim was revised, and an integrated child seat was added to the options list. Upgrades to the manual transmission yielded shorter throws, improved feel and more positive gear engagement.

In 1997, the DX wagon was dropped, but a special CE (Classic Edition) sedan was offered and it incorporated a number of popular features in one value-priced package. Among the standard goodies were power windows and locks, A/C, power steering, a four-speaker stereo, manual remote mirrors and special floor mats and exterior badging. All models received additional side-impact protection to meet new federal standards. And for the first time, during '97, all the Corollas sold in the United States were built in North America at the NUMMI plant in California and the TMMC plant in Canada. By the end of the 1997 model year, the Corolla had become the best-selling nameplate in automotive history, overtaking the VW Beetle.

Toyota Corolla Sixth Generation (1988-1992)

Sixth Generation (1988-1992)

With the 1988 redesign, the rear-drive Corolla coupe and Liftback were replaced with a new front-drive coupe. While enthusiasts wept, the new Corolla coupe and Corolla GT-S were in fact significantly more refined and capable than the rear-drivers they replaced. They just weren't as much fun.

More conservatively styled than the ultraboxy fifth-generation sedan, the sixth-generation sedan was now built at both the NUMMI plant in California and in Japan, while the coupes and wagons came only from Japan. The station wagon was available with either front-wheel drive or full-time All-Trac all-wheel drive. Trim levels were base DX and better-equipped LE for the sedan, DX and SR5 for the wagon and SR5 and GT-S for the coupe. The FX hatchback was still part of the mix, though it was discontinued after a year.

The sixth-generation Corolla was built using the same 95.6-inch wheelbase as the fifth, but it was almost an inch wider. A slightly different version of the Corolla body (sold in Japan as the Sprinter) with identical mechanical pieces would be built at the NUMMI plant and branded the Geo Prizm. Sedans, coupes and front-drive wagons rode on a fully independent strut suspension, while the All-Trac wagons retained a solid rear axle with coil springs.

All engines were DOHC, 16-valve inline four-cylinders — the sedans, front-drive wagon and SR5 coupe got a carbureted 90-hp motor; the All-Trac wagons got a fuel-injected 100-hp version and the GT-S won the day with a 115-hp EFI version. Transmission choices were familiar — a standard five-speed manual with the option of a three- or four-speed automatic, depending on the trim level. Thirteen-inch wheels were standard, though the GT-S got 14-inch wheels, as well as four-wheel disc brakes and a six-way adjustable driver seat with sport bolstering. Otherwise, equipment levels on the sixth-generation Corolla were a bit spartan by today's standards as most conveniences, like air conditioning, power steering, dual outside mirrors and a stereo, were optional.

There were no changes for 1989, except for the addition of an All-Trac sedan to the lineup; it lasted only a year. All Corollas benefited from fuel injection in 1990, and the base engine was now rated for 102 hp. Meanwhile, the GT-S enjoyed a significant bump in horsepower — now measured at 130 — and five additional lb-ft of torque for a total of 105. In addition, an entry-level standard sedan was added to the lineup — it had all the basic Corolla equipment, including cloth upholstery, but wore a skinnier set of tires and could only be optioned with the three-speed automatic if you didn't want to shift your own gears.

The coupes were discontinued after the 1991 model year. Aside from a few new paint colors, the only change for 1992 was that you could only get the highline LE sedan with the four-speed automatic.