The Quiet Mojo of the 2020 Toyota Corolla XSE

Since 1997, the Toyota Corolla has been the top selling name plate in the world – that means, for over 30 years more people bought Corollas than any other vehicle on the market. For a compact car, the Corolla has certainly made a big name for itself since its debut in 1966. But for all its popularity, I will be the first to admit that the Corolla has never captured my imagination in the ways it has for millions of other drivers. Sure, there’s no doubt that it’s a proven vehicle that has built a reputation of reliability but honestly, the Corolla’s size has always kept me away.

Ironically, as a Dad Driver who now needs more space than ever before, I recently had the opportunity to spend a week with the newly redesigned 2020 Corolla XSE. It’s still a small car but it’s made some substantial changes that piqued my curiosity. What does this 2020 Corolla bring to the table for Dad Drivers and non-Dad Drivers alike and what did Zoe like best about the vehicle?

One Mean-looking Mother

The Corolla may have been on the market for over 60 years but it has never looked so good. Much of this is thanks to the features of the XSE model I tested which add elements like the 18-inch alloy wheels and the sporty, dark grey side rocker panels that stick out underneath the doors. Corolla’s base model L is handsome in its own right but the XSE model adds just the right amount of sporty enhancements to complete a visually stunning package. From the subtle spoiler and the killer honey-comb textured bumper in the back to the aggressive nose with dagger shaped headlights – this version of the Corolla looks like one mean mother. I especially dig the two-tone grill with the grey, horizontal racing stripe that only comes in the XSE model.  It gets ruined by the damn license plate but I live in Texas so you got have one. 

The XSE model of the Corolla is the top tier of the available models and while it will set you back an extra $5,550 on top of the L model price, it still comes in at an affordable $25,550.

Less is More is Minimal

Toyota went minimalistic in the interior design of the 2020 Corolla and for the most part it works. One look at the front dashboard and its immediately apparent that Toyota stripped away what it could and left engaging, angular curves – some trimmed in faux, plastic chrome – and a honking big infotainment screen. The silver, faux chrome worked in some places but not so much in other areas. For instance, it looks cheesy implement within the steering wheel and in the door handles; but it looks swanky and cool when it runs from the infotainment screen, clear across the dash and wraps around the air vent. When it comes to the trim, less is more would have worked better overall.

Best interior feature in my opinion is the infotainment screen that pops up from the dash at full attention. It’s hard to miss and reminds me of how Mazda integrations their infortainment screens on the dash of their SUVs. I like Toyota’s choice to follow suit and make a statement with their screen placement and its close enough to the driver that navigating it is a breeze. The bezel around the screen seems rather large and the menu buttons along the side are a bit on the small side but I appreciate the handy dandy volume and seeking knobs. Toyota’s user interface on their infotainment systems isn’t my favorite in the industry but it’s easy to use and gets the job done.

While not entirely as roomy as it’s competitors, I had no issues with leg or head room – besides, it’s a compact car so an abundant amount of interior space should not be expected. My daughter’s car seat fit nicely in the back seat and she enjoyed the wide angles of viewing from the backseat windows.  The XSE model of the Corolla comes with Toyota’s signature SofTex Sport Seats with a sick, two-tone striped pattern that looks beautiful. The seats offered great support and Zoe enjoyed the comfort as evident in the photo at the top of this page.

A Quiet Place to Enjoy Smooth Sailing

I drove Zoe around in the 2020 Toyota Corolla for a week and I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth and comfortable the ride was, especially considering how low the vehicle is to the ground. To accomplish this Toyota redesigned the Corolla from the ground up on a much stronger, stiffer platform made from ultra-high-tensile steel. There is also a new suspension system integrated into the rear axel coupled with the MacPherson strut front suspension that creates dynamic handling and stability, particularly in Sport driving mode. You don’t really have to fully understand all the technical details that went into the new construction but you will feel it when you experience that buttery smooth drive on a nicely paved road.

The cabin is also very quiet, even on the highway with wind slapping against the car. That strong platform I mentioned above plays a part here but Toyota has also installed sound-absorbing materials into the frame of the cabin to help keep out the noise (one of these materials is actually called Thinsulate.) Other improvements, like a single floor silencer pad where there was once a collection of various pads, all work together to create a truly sound-deadening cabin. It’s a helpful environment to be in when you’re consistently driving around a sleeping infant who stirs at the slightest sound.

Under the hood, the 2020 Corolla SXE packs a 2.0L inline-four engine that produces 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. It’s not an engine that’s going to launch you super quick from a standstill but it’s got more than enough “omphf” for your day-to-day driving needs. Most Corolla owners – and I would wager most Dad Drivers – will be more than satisfied by the power this engine offers. This particular engine is new for 2020, but it’s important to note that the most other models of this year’s Corolla comes with a carry-over 1.8 liter 4-cynlinder engine.

You Get Safety Tech, You Get Safety Tech, You all Get Safety Tech!

If you’re dad driver, a mom driver or, heck, just a driver in general, safety is an important factor to consider when choosing a car. Toyota has consistently developed safety technology in their vehicles that are operate at the top of their game. But for 2020, Toyota did something different with the Corolla. It included ALL of their safety technology as STANDARD across all models of the Corolla. That’s a huge deal, considering that the base L model starts at under 20k.

Toyota calls it’s suite of safety features Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 – it’s basically a fancy name for the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steer Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beams, Road Side Assist and Bling Spot Monitoring. I tested out the majority of these safety features during my week of review and they all functioned as they should. I was particularly impressed with the Lane Departure Alert with Steer Assist. I’ve experience tech like this before in other vehicles and it can be jarring when the vehicle readjusts it’s self whenever it senses you’re leaving the lane without the turn signal on. But in the 2020 Corolla, that readjustment is subtle and feels like nothing more than a gentle nudge.

Space for More

While the truck space in the 2020 Corolla is technically smaller than some of its competitors in this class, it’s still a decent amount of space to work with; 13.1 cubic feet of space to be exact. The rear seats fold down for extra length to that cargo space but they don’t fold down completely flat which is a bummer. There’s also not much “nook and cranny” space in the cabin’s cockpit to store and hold cargo that you might be lugging around – like extra toys or snacks for a toddler.

If You’re a Dad Driver…

• The price of the Corolla hits a sweet spot considering an impressive suite of safety features comes standard and the vehicle get darn good fuel economy (30 miles per gallon in the city and 38 highway on the base model. The XSE model gets 31 mpg city and 38 mpg highway).

• You’ll dig the sporty nature of the XSE model and that quiet cabin can be a godsend.

 • The optional JBL Premium audio system is kick ass – even if you’re playing nursery rhymes or Baby Shark for the zillionth time – but it will cost it.

• A stiffer platform makes for a smooth ride for both Dad and baby.

All in All

The 2020 XSE version of the Corolla has changed my opinion of Toyota’s compact sedan – what I once regarded as a reliable but mediocre vehicle is now an engaging example of how an automobile can that takes several steps towards not only being extremely functional but revealing in its new found mojo.