Compared to the Honda the Corolla is a literal powerhouse, stomping all over its rival's 115 horsepower 1.7-liter 4-cylinder with an extra 15 ponies of its own.

Compared to its Honda Civic competition, the Corolla is a powerhouse when it comes to acceleration. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Still the 130 horsepower Corolla, powered by a 16-valve 1.8-liter 4-cylinder with multi-port electronic fuel injection and Toyota's sophisticated Variable Valve Timing -intelligent (VVT-i), is no match in a straight line for the 148-hp Mazda3, which is currently Canada's top selling compact. With regards to torque, more important for getting off the line, the Honda scrapes the bottom with 110 lb-ft available from 4,500 rpm, while the Corolla comes in second place once again with 125 lb-ft from 4,200 rpm, and the 3 wins the category with 135 at 4,500, albeit not from as low in the rev range as the Corolla. But ask Deborah, or most other Corolla buyers, what she thinks about speeding away from a stoplight and a puzzled

The 4-speed automatic sucks a fair bit of power away in the lower rev range, but still provides ample get-up-and-go. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

look would most likely cross her face. If the need to make the bank before it closes is priority one, no doubt the pedal will hit the metal with more gusto than usual, and for that the Corolla is more than adequate. Actually I found it pretty fun to drive when mated to the standard 5-speed manual. The 4-speed automatic sucks a fair bit of power away in the lower rev range but still provides ample get-up-and-go for highway passing and merging onto the freeway. As important it's a smooth operator, taking care of shifting duties in an efficient yet anticlimactic manner.