When it comes to city cars, turning circles are like royal weddings – they ought to be tight and well-executed. And in the automotive minuet, the humble Toyota Corolla has been pirouetting around corners since bell-bottoms were cool. Let's strap in and take a magical mystery tour of this vehicular icon's twirl capabilities. As we explore the evolution of the Corolla's turning circle, we'll also compare its gyrations with other Toyota siblings and some of its twist-and-shout rivals. Will the Corolla be the darling of the dancefloor or the clumsy partygoer? Time to find out.
Toyota Corolla - How has the turning circle changed over the generations?
Consider the Corolla's turning circle – it's had more ups and downs than a soap opera storyline. The early-generation E7 and E8 models were fairly nimble with a 9.40 m radius, but the E9 said, 'Hold my beer' and extended to a 9.60 m twirling footprint. For a while, it looked like we were on a steady uphill, with the E12 stretching its legs to 10.20 m. But just when you thought you've got the plot, the E17 models threw a curveball with an 11.40 m radius – about as subtle as a sumo wrestler in a ballet. Thankfully, sanity prevailed, and the latest E21 generation brought it back to a respectable (and city-friendly) 10.20 m.
Toyota Corolla generations
(Turning circle)
Toyota Corolla generations| Generation year | Turning circle |
|---|
| Corolla, Model year 1979 (E7) | 9 m |
| Corolla, Model year 1983 (E8) | 9 m |
| Corolla, Model year 1987 (E9) | 9 m |
| Corolla, Model year 1992 (E10) | 9 m |
| Corolla, Model year 1997 (E11) | 9 m |
| Corolla, Model year 2000 (E11 (1. Facelift)) | 9 m |
| Corolla, Model year 2002 (E12) | 10 m |
| Corolla, Model year 2004 (E12 (1. Facelift)) | 10 m |
| Corolla, Model year 2014 (E17) | 11 m |
| Corolla, Model year 2016 (E17 (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
| Corolla, Model year 2019 (E21) | 10 m |
The difference in Turning circle between first generation (E7) from 1979 and last generation (E21) from 2019 is 1 m.
The turning circle of the current generation of Corolla is 10 m.
Variants
Toyota Corolla variants: Corolla vs. Corolla {sedan} vs. Corolla Touring Sports
(Turning circle)
Turning circle: Toyota Corolla variants| Variant name | Turning circle |
|---|
| Corolla | 10 m |
| Corolla {sedan} | 10 m |
| Corolla Touring Sports | 10 m |
The turning circle compared to other Toyota models
Now, let's play 'Compare the Corolla'. Amongst the Toyota clan, the Corolla has always been the middle child. It's more deliberate in its cornering than the Aygo and Aygo X, both twirling at 9.40 m and more akin to a figure skater. Still, our Corolla can outmaneuver some of its larger kin. It sneaks past the Corolla Touring Sports, Land Cruiser, and even the hot-hatch GR Yaris, which all seem to need an extra 0.20 m to complete their pirouettes. And then there's the Proace City Verso with a 11.50 m radius – it's like watching a bus trying to wind up a watch!
Toyota Corolla vs other current cars by Toyota
(Turning circle)
Turning circle: Corolla vs. other models by Toyota| Variant name | Turning circle |
|---|
| Aygo X | 9 m |
| GR Yaris | 10 m |
| Yaris | 10 m |
| Corolla | 10 m |
| Corolla Touring Sports | 10 m |
| Proace City Electric {VAN} | 10 m |
| Proace City {VAN} | 10 m |
| Proace City Verso | 10 m |
| GR Supra | 11 m |
| RAV4 | 11 m |
| RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid | 11 m |
| C-HR | 11 m |
| Prius Plug-In | 11 m |
| bZ4X | 11 m |
| Proace City Electric Verso | 11 m |
| Hilux | 12 m |
| Mirai | 12 m |
| Proace Verso | 12 m |
| Proace {VAN} | 12 m |
How does the turning circle of the Toyota Corolla compare to it's nearest competitors?
But how does our four-wheeled Fred Astaire fare against the automotive Astaires beyond the Toyota ballroom? Let's look at the data, shall we? The zippy Suzuki Alto at 9.20 m makes the Corolla's dance moves look more dad-at-a-wedding than disco-diva. Yet, compared to the Porsche Panamera's 12.00 m circle, the Corolla looks positively agile – navigating city streets while the Porsche maneuvers like a freighter in a marina. And while cars like the Leon, Scala, and Clio offer comparable twirls with figures around 10.20-10.30 m, they just don’t have the name recognition or the reliability repertoire the Corolla boasts. With the premium Lexus CT at 10.40 m, it seems like premium doesn't always mean more agile, and with the Citroen C1 at a spritely 9.50 m, it's tiptoeing just behind our Corolla but without the same roominess or poise. The Corolla's turning circle, much like your eccentric uncle's dance moves, may not be the tightest at the party, but it's reliably consistent and you can bet it'll still be on the floor at the end of the night.
Toyota Corolla vs. similar cars
(Turning circle)
Turning circle: Toyota Corolla vs. similar cars| Car model | Turning circle |
|---|
| Rover (Austin-Morris) Mini 1984 | 8 m |
| Mitsubishi Space Star 2020 | 9 m |
| Opel KARL 2015 | 9 m |
| VW up! 2016 | 9 m |
| KIA cee´d 2021 | 10 m |
| Hyundai i30 2020 | 10 m |
| Renault R30 1976 | 10 m |
| Saab 9000 1985 | 10 m |
| Nissan Pulsar 2014 | 10 m |
| Volvo C30 2006 | 10 m |
| Toyota Avensis 1998 | 10 m |
| Fiat Stilo 2001 | 10 m |
| Ford Mondeo 1993 | 10 m |
| Nissan Tiida 2008 | 10 m |
| Renault Laguna 1994 | 10 m |
| Rover 45 2000 | 10 m |
| Fiat Croma 1986 | 10 m |
| Dacia Sandero 2008 | 10 m |
| Ford Sierra 1982 | 10 m |
| Citroen BX 1983 | 10 m |
| Opel Insignia 2008 | 10 m |
| Renault Safrane 1993 | 10 m |
| VW Beetle 1998 | 10 m |
| Toyota Corolla 2019 | 10 m |
| Infiniti Q30 2015 | 11 m |
| Toyota Auris 2007 | 11 m |
| Citroen XM 1990 | 11 m |
| Rover 800 1987 | 11 m |
Similar cars
