FOR the money, Toyota’s Corolla Sportivo is a pretty complete package. No other hot hatch offers equivalent engine efficiency (141kW from 1.8 naturally aspirated litres rates it in hallowed territory), nor a six-speed gearbox to get the best out of it. On top of that, there’s a leather-trimmed interior complete with – unusually for Toyota – air-conditioning (and climate-controlled into the bargain), plus a decent sound system with six-disc CD changer. But more importantly, the Sportivo’s chassis is able to put the power effectively onto the road and is backed up by a state-of-the-art ABS braking. The performance is similar to the Celica with which it shares much, including not just its engine and gearbox, but also the general on-road footprint.

Toyota Corolla Sportivo
Released: March
Ended: December 2001
Family Tree: CorollaARRIVING at the very end of the previous-generation Corolla's lifespan, the original Corolla Sportivo appeared here in March, 2001. It was discontinued just nine months later in December, 2001, when the all-new ZZE122R Corolla replaced the previous AE112R model. The 2001 Corolla Sportivo featured a 115kW 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder, while the new one is powered by a new 141kW 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated four.
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