How to Choose Between the Corolla and the Corolla iM

Those who are fans of the cute and compact hatchback, listen up: Toyota’s 2017 lineup is bringing back the hatchback. Technically it has already been in the Toyota family under the Scion brand. Scion was a division of Toyota targeted at a young market with more sporty compact cars.

Toyota decided to shut down the Scion brand in 2016 but is bringing in the iM model under the Toyota badge in 2017. With this additional model coming onboard, what are the differences between the Corolla and Corolla iM – and which one should you choose?

Toyota Corolla Sedan

The trusty Corolla Sedan turned 50 this year. Since it first went into production in 1966, it has consistently been a top seller for Toyota and named the world’s bestselling car. It always scores top marks for dependability and reliability, so with this long-established pedigree you’re assured of what you’re getting.

There are seven trim levels, including a 50th Anniversary Special Edition in black cherry. Pricing starts at $18,500 for the L model and escalates to $22,680 for the top-of-the-range XSE. This means you will have a wider variety of features than on the Corolla iM to choose from, like Smart Key System with push-button ignition and nice touches like a moonroof.

For those who love sporty features, the SE, XSE, and 50th Anniversary Special Edition models feature sports gauge cluster with illuminated speedometer and tachometer, a sport button on the center console that engages the engine’s sports mode, and paddle gear shifters located on the steering wheel.

In terms of fuel efficiency, there’s only a smidge of difference between the two models: 28 mpg city/36 highway for the Corolla compared to 27 mpg city/35 highway for the iM. For the eco-conscious and fuel-savers, there’s an Eco Mode on the Corolla LE Eco that adjusts the gas pedal output and air conditioning to improve fuel-efficiency even further.

Toyota Corolla iM

No need to painfully compare various trim levels, Toyota keeps it simple with just one model for the Corolla iM. While this is a slightly smaller car, it comes in at $18,750 – $250 more than the base-model Corolla. In terms of space, the Corolla iM has 7 cubic feet more cargo space. However, the Corolla is the one with more legroom.

The Corolla is still a practical-looking sedan, but with sleeker lines and a more prominent grille on the 2017 model while the Corolla iM is sportier with a sharp, distinctive snout. It’s definitely the more racier looking of the two.

The iM sports the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine as the Corolla, but optional CVT transmission and sportier suspension helps the iM better hug corners.  You’ll find the sports gauge cluster on the iM too, plus sports-style front bucket seats.

Which Is the Car for You?

The two models share many similarities in features, engineering, fuel efficiency, and price. The main difference is one is a sedan with more legroom and the other a hatchback with more cargo space. The Corolla still makes a solid choice for a family sedan. For a younger set looking for a fun and sporty runaround, the Corolla iM is the choice for you.

Image via Pixabay

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