The Number One Reason To Buy A 2013 Toyota Corolla

The 2013 Toyota Corolla might be the bargain you're looking for.

It's not exactly sleek (even in S trim, its sportiest form).

It's very familiar.  You see them everywhere, every day.

So why should you run down to your Toyota dealer and buy a 2013 Toyota Corolla?

Because the 2014 is sleek and shiny.

That may seem like contradictory logic, but stick with me here.

The number one advantage to a 2013 Toyota Corolla: Year-end pricing.

If you're a Toyota Corolla buyer, price is an object.  It's one of your key motivations in buying a new car, along with reliabilty.

With new 2014 Toyota Corollas coming in, dealers are slashing prices on the 2013s to get them off the lots.  Ideally before too many of the new, much more stylish and contemporary '14s arrive and the '13s become total wallflowers.

If you're that kind of practical buyer, now's the time.  Because although the 2013 Toyota Corolla lacks the sizzle of the new 2014 (which we haven't driven yet), it delivers on all the important Toyota Corolla attributes that have been established over more than 40 years.

We drove the S, with a base price of $19,060.  It comes with a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine, a four-speed automatic transmission, power steering, anti-lock brakes (discs in front, drums in back), 16-inch wheels, six airbags, halogen headlamps, fog lamps, color-keyed and heated power outside mirrors, air conditioning, a six-speaker audio system with USB and auxilary connections, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, fabric-trimmed sport seats that are adjustable six ways, power locks and windows and cruise control.

The EPA says it will get 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway (combined 29).  We just made 25 in town.  All its crash tests are four and five star ratings.

The interior of the 2013 Toyota Corolla.

And, decently equipped, the 2013 Toyota Corolla is no penalty box.  It's as roomy as Toyota Camrys were in the 80s.  About as fast as they were, too.
 
Ours had a few options...$209 for body side moldings, $225 for carpeted floor and trunk mats, $359 for an alarm, and $1,900 for the Premium Complete Package.  That bumps you up to 17-inch alloy wheels and more serious tires, adds a power moornoof, upgrades the air conditioning to automatic climate control, wraps the steering wheel in leather, adds Bluetooth, navigation, satellite radio and Toyota's Entune infotainment app suite.

Bottom line, with $795 for delivery processing and handling: $22,548.

Not bad at that price.  But what if you could get that down a bit?

Understand, dealers aren't going to be drowning in the old ones.  The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars in America (and the world, for that matter).  There's not a huge backlog.  But there's motivation for dealers to make their best deals right about now.  And if you're more moved by value and reliability than how slick it looks, this might be your moment.