Does the Toyota Corolla come in automatic?
As traffic becomes more congested, we find ourselves spending more time riding the clutch than ever before. This tiresome action is not only fatiguing, but it results in unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. Switching to an car with an automatic gearbox is one solution. Find out here if the Toyota Corolla is available with an automatic gearbox.
The venerable Toyota Corolla is a staple on the roads. As the world's best-selling car of all time, more than 50 million Corollas have rolled off the production line in a history that spans more than five decades. It's only natural that in that time the engine and gearbox combinations changed, evolving with the times and technology.
Related: Manual vs. Automatic Transmission - Which is best?
Toyota South Africa offers eight different variants of the Corolla, and most of them come with an automatic gearbox... well, sort of. The XS and XR trims, both with the 2.0-litre and 1.8-litre Hybrid drivetrains, are all fitted with CVT gearboxes. These are used the same way as a conventional automatic gearbox, even if their operation is slightly different. Both of the GR Corolla hatch derivatives, the Circuit and the Core, are fitted with 6-speed manual gearboxes with no self-shifting options at this point in time.
The Toyota Corolla Quest, a continuation of the previous generation Corolla, offered at a more affordable price point, is available in both manual and automatic configurations. These versions also employ CVT gearboxes in the automatic models.
Benefits of the CVT
CVT gearboxes have been around for a while now, and they work much like an automatic that has a torque converter. Early versions had a propensity for whining, but you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in a modern CVT. These Constant Velocity Transmissions have fewer moving parts and are less intricate, helping with reliability as the years progress. They also help keep the engine in a rev range that is the most fuel-efficient. This is why you tend to find them in smaller cars, where efficiency is desired.
You can find out more about how they work here: What is a CVT gearbox?
Driving a CVT is no different to a traditional automatic. You have two pedals, one accelerator and one brake. You depress the button on the lever and select D for Drive. You're then ready to drive off. Reverse and Neutral are selected in the same manner as well. When you're stopped and ready to disembark, place the selector in P for Park, and apply the parking brake and switch off the engine. You're then free to exit the vehicle.
