I bought this at auction earlier in the week and have put a couple hundred miles on it so far. It has the CVT automatic and will turn 250,000 miles in a few days. It’s a one owner title and was used by a medical courier. I had pre-conceived notions that it’s going to be a bland, boring and slow Corolla. Reading the specs, it does have the same 137 hp engine as the Corolla so while it’s not quick, it’s perfectly adequate and has never felt underpowered. The CVT transmission probably helps by keeping it in the power band longer.
I’m also pleasantly surprised with the CVT. Compared to the Nissans I’ve had, this one is way better even with three times more mileage. This is a CVT I could live with. It’s free of the jerkyness and rubber band feel of the Nissans.
Reading up on this car, I see the suspension is tuned stiffer and for better handling than the Corolla and has wider tires. I can say it handles quite well while still having a smooth ride. I can take a corner at speeds that would cause tire squeal in other less sporty cars. And it’s a pretty heavy car right at 3,000 pounds, so gas mileage has averaged 37 mpg overall. Good but not great like the Chevy Cruze 1.4 turbo I had that got 40 mpg.
Mechanically even with these miles, it feels tight and nothing seems to need attention. Rides and drives like any 2017 with 80,000 miles would. I’ll get to the general maintenance shortly, but don't anticipate anything unusual. Cosmetically the body is very nice but there are many scuffs on the plastic trim and ground effects parts. The wheels are all pretty curbed. Interior is very clean and has little wear, but the rear door panels have taken a beating.
