Compact sedans are ideal for drivers looking to save money on fuel costs. Prospective new car buyers looking for a compact sedan may be interested in the Toyota Corolla. The base model, the 2016 Corolla L, has a manual and automatic transmission option depending on driver preference. For this comparison, we’re going to focus on the manual transmission option. Compared to the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer ES, the Corolla has a smaller engine that is slightly more fuel efficient.
The two are quite comparable in price, and they both have seating for five passengers. With a larger engine, the Lancer ES is more powerful than the Corolla pumping out 148 horsepower compared to the Corolla with 132. Overall, the 2016 Toyota Corolla L offers more interior volume with 97.5 cubic feet compared to the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer ES with 93.5 cubic feet.
2016 Toyota Corolla L | VS | 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer ES |
1.8-liter 4-cylinder | Engine | 2.0-liter I-4 |
6-speed manual | Transmission | 5-speed manual |
28 city/37 hwy | MPG | 24 city/34 hwy |
6 | Number of Speakers | 4 |
In addition to the overall interior volume, the Corolla is set with slightly more cargo volume with 13 cubic feet compared to the Lancer with 12.3 cubic feet. The Mitsubishi Lancer ES sits on 16-inch alloy wheels, and the Toyota Corolla L sports 15-inch steel wheels. Front seat passengers in both vehicles will have 42.3 inches of legroom. However, back seat passengers in the Corolla will have noticeably more space with 41.4 inches compared to the Lancer with 36.1 inches.
When it comes to safety, both vehicles are set with automatic headlights, brake assist systems, child safety door locks and electronic traction control. They are also standard with anti-theft systems and immobilizers. The Corolla L comes standard with hill start assist control, which is not available in the Lancer ES. Each of these compact sedans come standard with power doors, locks and windows as well as steering wheel mounted controls, Bluetooth and voice activated controls. The 2016 Corolla L comes out on top with standard vehicle speed proportional power steering, load restraints and an auxiliary input jack, all of which are not available in the 2016 Lancer ES.
Those interested in learning more about the 2016 Toyota Corolla are encouraged to contact our team here at Serra Toyota for more information. Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of this compact sedan can do so by scheduling a test drive online today.