I attended a Jamaican auto show recently, and saw various Toyota vehicles on display. These included a few Toyota Corolla models, the Hilux, Land Cruiser Prado, among others. I was most interested in the Corolla because it is revered for its reliability in Jamaica, and I have been depending on Corolla cars since my childhood. Let’s see how far they’ve come. The 2015 Corolla XLi model was what I expected — and it had a fairly energetic 1.6L engine, and the ride quality was a little better than average. Note: This is the European version of it.
If you’re just getting started in the work world (and are off to a decent start, financially) and looking for a first car with the standard modern amenities, this Corolla is worth considering. If you are upgrading from a slightly older Corolla hoping to get significantly better ride quality, then I wouldn’t recommend it unless the older one is too badly damaged. The combined fuel efficiency of the 1.6L model is 39 MPG (6 L/100 km), which is the greatest benefit of this car. Bear in mind that combined fuel efficiency ratings assume that you drive on highways more than half the time. In Jamaica, the fuel efficiency may average less than 39 MPG for that reason.
