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Between the A and C-pillars, the lines are clearly Lexus IS200 especially with the sharply raked fat C-pillar and the pull-type door handles. However, this doesn’t reduce the rear headroom given that this car has a lot of spare space to begin with. In fact, the sharp drop in the C-pillar adds to the Corolla Altis’ aggressive stance. As to practicality, the sharply angled C-pillars have produced rear windows that fully retract into the housing, leaving none of those unsightly bits of rear window that’s so common with the rear door designs. The standard side skirt on all G models is a welcome addition to reduce the slab-sided look that dominates the lower half of the car. If the mid-part were to be taken exclusively from the rest of the car, then it isn’t obvious that this is one tall vehicle. In fact, what makes it look tall is with what designers have done with the rear of the car. Like the Honda Civic, albeit to a lesser degree, the Corolla Altis’ lights have been pushed up, to the point that it is about to hit the lip of the rear area. The rear cluster is as unique as the front, employing separate clusters for the major lights with a red colored surround. Once turned on, the brake lights produce what we like to call ‘Las Vegas’-style lights because of the neon-like reflective pattern in the rear lamp clusters. The rear bumper has also been increased in height, comparatively to the trunk opening, adding to the car’s tall appearance. Opening the trunk reveals a very flat and deep luggage space, courtesy of the new torsion-beam axle rear suspension. This is another page thrown away from the Corolla rule book, which has always favored independent McPherson struts and not the current non-independent design. Clearly, a step backward in the suspension department that is similar to the "downgrade" of the Civic's McPherson strut fronts from double-wishbones. Inside, the Corolla Altis is a mixed bag. The design, although not awe-inspiring is actually clean and classy. Some interior bits are made of soft feel plastics such as the dashboard itself and side panels. However, some are made of horrid material such as the ventilation switches on the lower 1.6-liter models as well as the power window switches and to some degree the steering wheel and gear knob. Compared to its rivals, the materials in the Nissan Exalta are much better, but this car kicks the Honda Civic’s interior squarely into third place. The interior wood trim (standard in the G variant) looks unreal especially the way it curves with the side panel and the center console box; the Exalta’s are better. Nonetheless, it gives a break from the interior’s monotony of two-tone plastic. The seats are good or bad depending on the trim level that you choose. The 1.6-liter variants have awful square design full fabric seats, but the 1.8-liter version sports full leather seats that are about the same quality level as that of the Honda Accord VTi-L. Seat support is quite good for the front passengers. Although it does not provide any sort of sporty touches such as heavy side bolstering, the back and side support that it provides are quite good for everyday driving, whether city or highway. At the back, the rear seats provide better thigh and knee support than the Honda Civic’s because of the Corolla Altis’ heavily shaped and contoured design and longer seat. However, rear kneeroom has been traded for this extra personal luxury. |
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