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Estate

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

COROLLA

It'll just about cope with family life, but it's dull to drive

Used Toyota Corolla Estate 1997 - 2004

To cut a long story short, the newer the car, the better its fuel economy will be - although the post-2000 face-lifted versions are pricier. For example, the early 1.3-litre achieved 40mpg and the later 1.4 matched that, while providing increased power and performance.

After February 2000, the VVT-i 1.6-litre provided 39mpg compared with just 34mpg for the previous version. And, the 2.0 D-4D gave 47mpg compared with the 42mpg of the earlier 2.0- and 1.9-litre diesels.

For all that, though, remember you need to do your sums before opting for a D-4D. It'll be more expensive than petrol versions to buy and you need to do a reasonably high mileage to make up for the extra it costs in lower fuel bills.

Insurance ranges from a reasonable group 6 to 9, and independent Toyota garages are no more expensive to pay per hour than their Ford, Fiat and Nissan counterparts, so this is not an expensive car to run.

It'll just about cope with family life, but it's dull to drive

Avoid the 1.3-litre petrol engine and its gravely misleading Sportif title. Rice puddings emerge from encounters with this engine with their skins very much intact - its weedy 89lb ft of pulling power just isn't up to the job. The 109bhp 1.6-litre petrol and the 71bhp 2.0-litre diesel do a better, if not brilliant, job.

Improvements came in 2000. Toyota gave the Corolla a new twin-headlamp face, and the estate got fresh engines. Both the 94bhp 1.4-litre petrol and 108bhp 1.6 use Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology to great effect.

Toyota introduced a 1.9-litre diesel engine in February 2000 which was okay, but the 88bhp 2.0 D4-D turbodiesel, which arrived a year later, is the one to go for. Find a GS-spec model from a used car supermarket and you'll have the perfect combination.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

Toyotas have an enviable reputation for being able to take tough and troublesome times in their stride. Nevertheless it may prove prudent to have the suspension checked out on high-mileage estates if you are planning a lot of heavy load-shifting. In particular, it's important to check that engines have had their cambelt changed by the time they've reached 60,000 miles.

Other trouble spots to look out for include worn front wheel bearings and faulty engine management systems. The wheel bearings should soon make themselves heard and felt on a test drive, but faulty electronic engine control units can be harder to spot. Symptoms can include a loss of power and poor fuel economy.

Despite its well-earned and genuine reputation for reliability, the Corolla has been subjected to a number of recalls, affecting the brakes, brake pedals and the gearbox. Full details can be found at www.vosa.gov.uk.

The Corolla's estate body may say 'family car', but the truth is rather different, as the poor rear legroom prevents this car being the ideal family transport. It's okay for kids in the back, but adults will struggle.

Drop those easy folding rear seats, though, and the Corolla estate is transformed into a roomy load lugger. All models were fitted with roof rails and luggage covers as standard, too, and that all adds to the sense of practicality.

In fact, the whole car comes across as a workhorse. The shiny plastics on the dashboard have a cheap feel to them, but as the miles mount up, they prove durable and hardwearing.

Sadly, it's no more than workmanlike on the road, either. While the Corolla's handling is safe and predictable, it isn't much fun. The ride is hard and lumpy and the steering vague and inert. A Peugeot 306 estate of similar age will put a bigger smile on your face, but won't match the Toyota's reliability.

Used Toyota Corolla Estate 1997 - 2004 reliability

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Used Toyota Corolla Estate 1997 - 2004 review

Toyotas have an enviable reputation for being able to take tough and troublesome times in their stride. Nevertheless it may prove prudent to have the suspension checked out on high-mileage estates if you are planning a lot of heavy load-shifting. In particular, it's important to check that engines have had their cambelt changed by the time they've reached 60,000 miles.,Other trouble spots to look out for include worn front wheel bearings and faulty engine management systems. The wheel bearings should soon make themselves heard and felt on a test drive, but faulty electronic engine control units can be harder to spot. Symptoms can include a loss of power and poor fuel economy.,Despite its well-earned and genuine reputation for reliability, the Corolla has been subjected to a number of recalls, affecting the brakes, brake pedals and the gearbox. Full details can be found at www.vosa.gov.uk.

What to look for when buying a Toyota Corolla 1997 - 2004, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Toyota Corolla Estate 1997 - 2004 reliability

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