2006 Toyota Corolla Overview Change Vehicle

This 2006 Toyota Corolla overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2006 Corolla, and includes Toyota Corolla safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

Toyota has not changed the Corolla for 2006. This compact sedan continues to be available in CE, S, LE, and XRS trims with power coming from one of two four-cylinder engines.

Starting things off in the 2006 Toyota Corolla’s lineup is the affordable CE, a model that boasts a single-disc CD player, a folding rear seat, air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, and power-adjustable mirrors. Buyers also get a five-speed manual transmission, or they can select an optional four-speed automatic. If there’s some padding in your budget, we’d suggest spending a bit more by taking advantage of the optional antilock brake system and the front seat, side-impact and side curtain airbags.

Step deeper into the Corolla world and you’ll find the S model. Thanks to standard and optional features including fog lights, tinted headlights, alloy wheels, and a lower body kit, the Corolla S looks the part of compact sport sedan, but the lack of any chassis upgrades proves that it’s a dressed up Corolla CE. At least, it is in terms of ride and handling. The S does reward buyers with amenities you won’t find on its more budget-conscious sibling, such as a beefed up sound system, leather trim on the steering wheel, illuminated mirrors on the visors, and power door locks. Of course, there are a number of options available that allow buyers to personalize their new Corolla S, including a keyless entry system, a tilt and sliding sunroof, cruise control, and a multi-disc CD player. More important, stability control is available on the S and not the CE, though both models can be equipped with side-impact airbags for the front seat passengers and side curtain airbags.

Perhaps basic or pseudo-sporty transportation isn’t what you’re looking for. In that case, the Corolla LE might be a better choice, with its body-color exterior trim, imitation wood interior accents, and convenience features including power windows with an auto-down function for the driver. In keeping with its relatively upscale persona, the LE can be fitted with optional leather upholstery, an upgraded audio system, and amenities offered on the lesser models, such as cruise control and a power moonroof. Stability control is also optional on the LE, along with the side-impact and side-curtain airbag package.

That leaves the genuinely sporty Corolla XRS, now in its second year of production. Like the S model, a body kit and other visual enhancements mark the XRS, though alloy wheels are standard instead of optional. The biggest difference is behind the skin, where you’ll find a more powerful engine and a chassis that’s been tuned to handle better than any other Corolla. Along with that buckled down suspension, buyers will get leather interior accents, cruise control, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, and stability control.

Power for the 2006 Toyota Corolla CE, S and LE models comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 130 horses. That respectable level of grunt is outdone by the kind of fuel economy that makes commuters drool. According to the EPA, buyers who pair this engine with a five-speed manual transmission will see 32-mpg city/41-mpg highway. Opt for a four-speed automatic and you’re still looking at 30 mpg around town and 38 mpg on the highway. There’s a reason you see so many Corollas during your drive to work.

Look under the hood of the XRS and you’ll find another 1.8-liter four-banger, though this one features variable valve timing and lift, and generates 170 horsepower. Despite offering an extra 40 ponies, the XRS still achieves 26 mpg-city/34-mpg highway when mated to the only transmission available, a six-speed manual. Unfortunately, extracting that performance requires filling your tank with premium unleaded gasoline.

Styling, performance and creature comforts are all attention grabbers, but safety is what’s most important when considering a new car. The Corolla XRS addresses that point with standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and a stability control system. Stability control is an options on the Corolla S and LE models, and Toyota makes ABS, front-seat side-impact airbags, and side-curtain airbags available on every Corolla.

When the 2006 Corolla was subjected to separate crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the overall results were positive for models equipped with the side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. The only exception is the Poor rating granted by the IIHS for rear-impact protection.

There’s room for improvement on the safety front with regard to the Corolla’s front seat design, but the 2006 model’s reliability is as solid as granite. Toyota’s compact sedan continues to earn an Excellent rating from Consumer Reports and an above-average grade from J.D. Power and Associates, a consumer research firm that has named this year’s Corolla the Highest Ranked Compact Car in Initial Quality.

When it comes to efficient and reliable transportation, the 2006 Toyota Corolla is among the best. Vehix recommends the 2006 Corolla.

By Thom Blackett