Lighter and more efficient Corolla easily the measure of the Skoda

No contest here, the Corolla winning this battle without so much as breaking into a sweat. A super efficient engine, low kerb weight and gearing give it a fuel efficiency the 2.0-litre Octavia is hardpressed to match. In the city the Corolla managed a respectable 9.1kpl, a figure that's in line with the smaller mid-size lot and on par with the 1.3 Ikon! The Octavia in comparison gives a lowly 8.3kpl.

AUTOMATICALLY YOURS

With automatics fast becoming popular in the top end of the market, Toyota seems to have wisely opted for slush boxes as part of its range. The four-speed automatic they use has an overdriven top gear (fourth on the auto box) and has well spaced out ratios.

The powerful and torquey 1.8-litre 1ZZ-FE engine as a result flatters the automatic gearbox, making it feel and look more capable than it is.

Both mate particularly well and the torque of the 1.8-litre engine, especially its VVT-i system, help. Part-throttle acceleration to be brisk, effortless and hassle-free. Use less than one-fourth throttle and the Corolla is tugged forward noiselessly and with a fair degree of urgency. The engine at this speed is turning over very silently and the smooth box and quick torque converter make driving around in city traffic a breeze.

This auto box is particularly adept at executing almost seamless and imperceptible upshifts when you so much as lift off the throttle. This too significantly adds to making the driving urban driving experience very positive.

Prod the accelerator a little harder somewhere between 20-60kph and the automatic 'kicks down' quite smartly too. With thetachometer now pegged at 3800rpm, you're treated to a burst of acceleration that's ample enough to see all manner of traffic relegated to the rearview mirror.

Unlike the super five-speed automatics used on the Mercs, acceleration is not compareable to the manual version. Zero to 100 from rest does however come up in 11.6 seconds, pretty quick for an auto.

Out on the highway, tapping the O/D button on the gearstick that de-activates the overdriven fourth can be used as a sort of instant kickdown that delivers enough punch to make overtaking a truck easy. This auto also proved to be surprisingly efficient with 8.4kpl not too far from the manual figure. The base automatic 1.8G is also surprisingly good value - it only costs Rs 70,000 more than the 1.8 E tested above.

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