Toyota Corolla Seca Levin Car Review

When you first see the Corolla Seca Levin it will probably give off a good first impression. It has a nice sporty look to it so it is fairly easy to be pleased by its appearance. With the six spoke 15 x 6 alloy wheels, front fog lights, front and rear spoilers, sideskirts, and the overall change in its styling it is very easy to be mislead. Even the interior of this vehicle will lead you astray from the harsh reality. Inside you will find a great steering wheel along with comfortable and rather supportive seats as well as an automatic transmission. All of these features build up to one huge disappointment. I say this simply because these looks are truly deceiving. Sure the Seca Levin looks the part, but that doesn't mean that this vehicle is any good out on the road. In the past the Corolla series has normally been less than impressive and that trait seems to carry through a little longer with this model.

Now if you are to take a look at this vehicle on paper you will once again be fooled. Honestly, the car sounds absolutely great on paper. You get the exterior/interior sporty styling and an all alloy 1ZZ-FE 1.8 liter VVTi engine that is accompanied by variable inlet valve timing. With stats like that you would think it is pretty hard to go wrong by choosing this vehicle. The fact of the matter is that this car goes downhill quickly from this point on. Though you may think it would be great, the driveline is poor even when it is setup with the A245E automatic transmission. It just can't seem to come together as it should. Speaking of the auto trans, it was programmed to change down one to three gears with only the slightest pushes on the accelerator. That may not sound so bad, but when the gears drop down the engines revs will rise and create unnecessary vibrations from the steering wheel as well as creating more noise. When the car is revving at the 6200 RPM redline it is still only average among its class at best. However, if you can manage to stop thinking of this vehicle as a small and sporty car then things may look a little brighter for the Corolla. It still won't look spectacular but could possibly spare this vehicle some shame.

What is holding the Corolla Seca Levin back from being a better vehicle in its class? If you take a look at the engine and the gearbox you will see that the issue has nothing to do with them on a fundamental approach. The answer to this problem is the auto trans. They normally do more harm than good to a vehicle and usually end up just slowing it down and that is the case here. The automatic transmission Corolla is much slower than you would expect it to be and it feels even slower inside the vehicle. The handling of the Corolla is not what I was expecting which was basically a go-kart experience so that's a good thing. At the same time tough the suspension found in this vehicle is pretty average, but the fact that there is a lack of tire grip present makes it seem even worse.

As for the build of the Seca Levin there is no shortage on quality in this department. This Japanese built car is absolutely excellent in its appearance. From the great paint job to smaller features such as the panels being aligned perfectly and doors that close with ease it is easy to get carried away thinking this vehicle could have what it takes and what you want. All of the backlit instruments are visible and very easy for you to read. Though the features found in this vehicle are basic, you get four airbags, electric windows, Antilock Brake System (ABS), manual air control, and electric mirrors. There is an optional sunroof that you can add to the vehicle that adds a nice touch. However, adding the sunroof does add one issue which is the noise level. Because the sunroofs wind deflector is sticking up to far it creates a lot of unnecessary noise that can become annoying fairly quick. That is really the only downfall I could find as far as cosmetic features go and it really isn't that big of a deal in itself. The amount of space in the cabin of the Corolla Seca Levin is more than forgiving. Thanks to the new design of the body you will find yourself with plenty of leg and head room in both the front and back of the vehicle. The new design is tall which makes it easy for you to get in and out, but the wide opening doors do quite a bit to help you out as well. The storage space in the hatch is also sufficient enough and you can increase the amount of room by folding the rear seat in a 60:40 split. When you fold down the seat it doesn't sit completely flat, but is close enough to do the task required of it. If you look under the floor of the hatch you will see a full-size alloy spare tire instead of the space saver spare that you find in most vehicles.

Overall, the Corolla Seca Levin just doesn't add up to its other competitors. With a retail price of $31,500 you really are not getting much in return for your money. Now if you plan to do nothing but drive around town running errands, drive to work, and the occasional visit with friends then you should find the Corolla competent. Basically if you are light driver and do not require much out of a vehicle then you may be quite satisfied. Otherwise you will find yourself disappointed in many ways. From the auto transmission issue to the fooling appearance, the more hardcore drivers will fill as if they were conned. There is nothing absolutely horrible about this vehicle, but it easily falls into the average category at best.