by Cheryl Eldridge

Toyota’s  baby is not so timid and shy anymore! It actually has grown up and there’s no turning back.
My tester, the  2014 Toyota Corolla  S Plus is definitely a work of art! Coated in a Blue Crush Metallic exterior with black, the front spoiler attracted a lot of passersby.
The 2014 Toyota Corolla is fully redesigned with a lot of  new amenities and a beautiful facelift.
According to sources, the 2014 Toyota Corolla is a five-passenger compact sedan available in four main trim levels: L, LE, LE Eco and S. All but the L are further offered in Plus and Premium sub-trims.
Standard features on the base L model include 15-inch steel wheels, LED headlights (low beams only), power windows and mirrors, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, Bluetooth phone connectivity, steering wheel audio controls and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack.
The LE adds 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, keyless entry, metallic cabin accents, cruise control, power door locks, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a six-speaker sound system with a 6-inch touchscreen display, and Bluetooth audio connectivity and phonebook download capability. The LE Plus adds alloy wheels and foglights, while the LE Premium further adds premium vinyl upholstery.
The LE Eco includes the LE features and adds specific engine and transmission tuning, low-rolling-resistance tires, a rear spoiler and enhanced aerodynamics. The LE Eco Plus adds alloy wheels, foglights, chrome beltline trim and an Eco driving mode, while the LE Eco Premium adds premium vinyl upholstery.
My tester, the S, includes the LE features and adds a chrome grille frame, foglights, color-keyed mirrors with signal repeaters, a rear spoiler, front sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded instrumentation, a trip computer and piano black accents. The S Plus adds 17-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension tuning and rear disc brakes, while the S Premium gets premium vinyl upholstery.
Key options for the Plus and Premium trims include a sunroof and a Driver Convenience package that includes keyless ignition/entry, smartphone app integration, satellite radio, HD radio and a navigation system. My tester came with the Plus trim.
Every 2014 Toyota Corolla is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. On every model except the LE Eco, it produces 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. For the LE Eco, an enhanced, more efficient version of this engine is used; it’s rated at 140 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque.
EPA-estimated fuel economy for my tester is 32 mpg combined (28 mpg city/37 mpg highway), with  CVT you’ll get a slightly better 32 mpg combined (29 city/38 highway for the LE, 29/37 for the S).
On the safety side the Corolla features include stability and traction control, antilock brakes (front discs/rear drums for all, rear discs available on the S trim), front side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag and a passenger seat cushion airbag. A rearview camera is standard on all versions except the base L.
The 2014 Corolla’s cabin was nice and controls are easy to find and use. The radio features tried-and-true volume and tuning knobs, for example, while the climate control has large knobs and buttons. The upgraded audio system and navigation systems boast a touchscreen with similarly large virtual buttons and simple, clear graphics. Materials quality is average.
The Corolla’s optional suite of smartphone-connected services includes the Bing search engine, Pandora streaming radio, traffic data, and sports and stock information. Getting started with Entune can be a hassle, though, since you have to install an app on your phone and register for an account; plus, you always need an active data connection to use Entune. The touchscreen interface has straightforward menus, but it’s sometimes unresponsive to user touch.
As with most Toyotas, the front seats are soft and comfy, while those in the S version are firmer and have more pronounced side bolsters. There is plenty of space here, even for taller drivers, and the backseat also boasts impressive space. Indeed, at 41.4 inches, rear legroom bests that of most midsize sedans.
The Corolla’s trunk capacity is average at 13 cubic feet, but the wide opening eases loading and unloading. If more space is needed, the rear seat splits and folds to increase capacity.
For $22,870 my Corolla was loaded and I will never forget it!!!!!
In a nutshell, the Corolla is one piece of work. I enjoyed and would advise you to purchase one today, you won’t be disappointed.
Till next week drive safe and don’t text and drive. Remember to buckle up, it’s the law!

By Frank S. Washington
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Although they call it a sport utility vehicle, the 2014 Toyota Highlander is a midsize unibody constructed utility vehicle. In other words, it is a crossover utility vehicle or CUV, and it had three rows of seats.
This all new rendition of the Highlander is the third generation and the vehicle has done well for Toyota. It sold 129,000 units in 2013. What’s more, it has a 40 percent customer retention rate.
But Toyota wants more buyers; in order to do that, it must conquest. After holding focus groups with current owners, the Japanese automaker embarked on a development program to make the Highlander better in three areas: styling, families and driving dynamics.
The new Highlander looked much better. It was lower and that made it appear longer, leaner and sleeker.
The hood merges with a redesigned trapezoidal grille and wrap around headlights that run into bolder fenders gave the new Highlander a far more aggressive appearance than the vehicle that it replaces.
Toyota has always been top notch when it comes to the fit and finish of its interiors. But this time the company outdid itself. The instruments, the information screens and the control buttons and knobs of the 2014 Highlander fit together so well that the entire dash looked as though it had been carved from one piece. And lettering on the controls was large and clear to the viewer to boot.
The dash and doors had soft touch points, the leather was tactile pleasing and there were understated touches of chrome. The seats were redesigned and they provided lots of lower back support in both the first and second row.
Because the rear suspension has been switched to a double wishbone there were no tower struts taking up space in the rear which allowed Toyota to give the Highlander a wider third row. The automaker says the Highlander can now carry eight passengers. Still, the three people sitting in the third row will have to be of the child variety.
The second row can be equipped with either bench seat to sit three abreast or captains’ seats. The second row is also a one-step slide forward affair for easier access to the third row which was a 60-40 split seat that aids storage flexibility. What’s more, the rear cargo space behind the third row has increased by 34 percent.
That rear wishbone suspension also gave the 2014 Highlander a smoother ride and better handling. The test route featured historical locations, thus, it was comprised of everyday driving. The vehicle was really quiet and it handled well. Acoustic front glass, better sealers and a retuned exhaust all contributed to a pleasantly ambient experience inside the vehicle.
There are three engine choices. A 3.5-liter V6 that made 270 horsepower and 248 pounds-feet of torque powered the test car. But the 2014 Highlander can also be equipped with a 2.7 liter four cylinder engine that makes 185 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque.
Both engines are mated to six speed automatic transmissions and both cone in all-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive models. There is also a hybrid Highlander. It pairs the 3.5-liter V6 with a high-torque electric drive motor-generator. Net horsepower is 280; with a fuel rating of 27 mpg city/28mpg highway/28 mpg combined, that’s the best fuel mileage of the three engine choices.
It seemed like an unending list of creature comforts. The 2014 Toyota Highlander had stability control, traction control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, anti-lock brakes and smart stop (it will stop itself).
There was also a backup camera and Hill-start Assist Control. All AWD gas models will have an AWD lock switch too. The three row crossover from Toyota can also be equipped with rear parking sonar, blind spot alert with cross traffic alert, lane departure warning and automatic high beam headlights as well as a pre-collision system and adaptive cruise control.
The usual suspects included Bluetooth, a navigation system; and satellite radio and on it went. Prices start at $29,275 for an LE four-cylinder FWD Highlander to 44,450 for a Limited AWD Highlander with the Platinum Package. The Highlander Hybrid starts at $48,160.
Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com