2007 Toyota Corolla for Sale in Jacksonville, FL

The Corolla will not stand out in a crowd. That’s partly thanks to the fact there are so many of them, but it's also due to the Corolla’s modest styling. It’s no head-turner, but it’s inoffensive, overall. The Corolla comes standard with steel wheels and plastic covers but is available with larger alloy wheels.

Inside, it’s more of the same, with a very clean and conventional radio and climate control layout. It is aesthetically evolved from its predecessors, but logistically the same as it’s been for years. There’s nothing wrong with this, as some might find the more futuristic exterior and interior styling of the competing Honda Civic to be a bit more off-putting.

The build quality of the cabin is also fantastic, with a solid construction, stitching, and panel placement. Reliability is often an idea that is sometimes only proven in a vehicle's history report, but you can actually feel the quality of the Corolla just by sitting its 5-passenger cabin.

Trims for the Corolla are CE, S, and LE. Standard features include cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, power-adjustable mirrors, a pair of DC outlet charging ports, and air conditioning. Upgrades include leather upholstery, a rear spoiler, and an upgraded stereo.

No matter the trim, the Corolla comes equipped with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, sending 126 horsepower power to the front wheels. This engine is paired with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. While the automatic is well-matched to the 4-cylinder engine, acceleration is nothing special. It will get you up to speed safely, but that’s about it.

Considering its subdued styling, the Corolla has almost uncharacteristically agile handling. This is in large part to the lightweight platform and construction of the Corolla. It is not quite a sports car, but it may surprise owners with its steering response and cornering ability.

Unfortunately, the Corolla shows its weaknesses at higher speeds. Once on the highway, it exhibits a chattery ride, and you’ll discover this small car lets in a lot of wind noise.

The Corolla has plenty of helpful cubbies and cargo trays at your disposal. There are dual trays in the center stack, and slots for items in the doors. The center console has a decently sized storage compartment as well. The Corolla also has 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which is great for the class.

Being a small car, one would think that everything would be within close reach, but that’s not always the case. For taller drivers, sliding back far enough for adequate legroom puts you in a position where the steering wheel is a stretch. It would be much better if the steering wheel telescoped further.

The Corolla comes standard with an AM/FM radio and a CD player with four speakers. It is available with an 8-speaker JBL premium audio system with 6-disc CD changer. Otherwise, there is very little in the way of tech features. Compare this to the Honda Civic, which was one of the first compact cars to offer an optional touchscreen navigation system.

Standard safety features include daytime running lights, rear child safety locks, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, and a theft-deterrent engine immobilizer.

The Corolla comes with front impact airbags, but the side curtain airbags are optional, and not every car will come with them, so verify this as you are shopping. It should be noted that rivals like the Honda Civic come standard with the full array of airbags. Basics like four-wheel antilock disc brakes are also optional, unfortunately.

For the 2007 model year, the Honda Civic is a more advanced car than the Corolla, and prices reflect that. You are sure to pay less than a similarly equipped Corolla, but that is not a reflection on the Corolla’s quality or lack thereof. The Civic is merely a newer design and has some features that you can’t get on the ’07 Corolla, such as navigation.

If you are looking to buy the Corolla to conserve fuel, the manual is the one to get, returning 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 combined. The automatic Corolla is still commendable, at 26/35/29. According to EPA estimates, that would put your annual fuel costs at around $1,000.

Not bad, and combine that with the Corolla’s strongest selling point: its stellar reputation for reliability. Together, these features make the Corolla the ultimate economical, practical option for a compact daily commuter car.