Fun family values
We at Shift love our wagons, even in the case of a mere Corolla. As you may already know from the staggering numbers of these on the road, this is the Corolla Fielder i.e. the Axio in wagon form. The two cars are similarly priced with a slight premium on the Fielder's tag, but for a very small price increase you get a boot that's three times larger, a more spacious cabin, a smoother ride and seemingly better overall build quality. On top of being a wagon, this particular Fielder is a bit more special. It's 2ZR-FAE engine is displaced at 1800 cc's (up from the usual 1500), now pumping out 148 horsepower instead of 107.
Dressed in a dense shade of fiery, orange-ish red, there are no visual changes on the exterior to tell it apart, except for a 1.8S badge on the trunk hatch. The exterior is stock and sober with potential to make it look good with a few smart modifications. High end options such as Bi Xenon HID, Projectors, LED tail and fog lights are all installed from factory, with the interior graced with glossy black fake-wood, leather-stitched steering wheel and gear knob and DVD Sat-Nav system. An independent rear suspension paired with better sound insulation and thick tyre walls also makes for a ride quality much better than I expected and experienced in other variants of this car.
The first thing you notice behind the wheel is the deeper, rich exhaust note, very different from the 1500cc engine most of us are used to. I found myself pressing down on the throttle more often than not. Despite being just a Corolla, it does put a smile on your face going past the gazillion other lunchboxes in the city knowing you have a bigger engine (ahem) than they do. It isn't all that much powerful, just a bit more oomph spread across the rev range with the fuel efficiency of smaller engines thanks to it's Dual VVT-i Valve Matic technology. A second-generation Super CVT-i gearbox ensures maximum efficiency with 5 speed manumatic shifting for occasional fun, an option not present on the usual 1.5 liter variants. It can also cope up to the after effects of CNG conversion unlike regular Axios that tend to fail often.
If you are someone looking to get a new Corolla for yourself to daily-drive, haul passengers and luggage and also go hard on the throttle at the sight of an empty stretch of road, this is the car you really should be looking for. Head over to Car House Limited where it is on display at a massive bargain price tag of just 21 lacs. They say it is a one time deal so grab it while it lasts.
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