The Top Selling Cars of 2014

TOYOTA PRIUS (HYBRID)

This little hybrid is as popular in Europe as it is in the United States. After Toyota’s success with this model, they produced two more versions: Prius V (the bigger version) and Prius C. The interior of Toyota Prius is comfy and looks decent, but the best thing about it is its fuel economy and the fact that it is a hybrid, of course. And it is affordable – around $24,000

HONDA ACCORD

Another Japanese beauty ranks quite high in all lists of top selling cars for this year: Honda Accord. Owners say it is comfy, fun to drive and easy to handle, even in bad road conditions. There are 4 and 6 cylinder versions. The first one comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, and the other one comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission (you can also opt for manual transmission if you buy a model with V6)

TOYOTA RAV4

This SUV ranks high in nearly all lists of good affordable cars. The engine power, spacious interior, quality materials, nice exterior and good fuel economy make this car worth the money. They wanted to improve this model even more, so they also reinforced the windshield so you don’t hear the noise coming from the outside.

HONDA CR-V

A beautiful and reliable car. Whatever you need it for, you will be happy with it. And there is one more thing that makes this car worth your money: fuel economy. There are very few cars in this class that can compete with the CR-V.

FORD FUSION

This sedan is not too big, so don’t expect it to be good for longer rides. Its four cylinder engine is not too impressive, but if you need it for city rides, you will be happy with it. It also looks quite good. The interior is spacious, comfy and made of nice looking materials.

HONDA CIVIC

Another Honda that deserves to be on this list. They made it better than most other cars in this class. It normally comes with accessories like Blutooth connectivity for phone and a camera. It is very easy to drive and there is enough space inside the car. If you decide to sell it, you might still get good money for your used Civic.

TOYOTA CAMRY

One of the most popular midsize sedans. If you are looking to buy one, you might want to wait for an even better version: 2015 model. If you want to buy a Toyota Camry this year, you will still be happy with the current model. Its V6 provides enough power, the car is comfy on the inside and looks good on the outside. There is also a hybrid version.

KIA OPTIMA

This midsize sedan is beautiful and made with taste. Evethough it comes with a V4 engine, owners say they are happy with its power. It performs quite well, even on winding roads and in bad road conditions. The brakes are excellent. The current model comes with some additional cool stuff, like cooling glove box, Bluetooth, satellite radio, etc.

TOYOTA COROLLA

Some owners complain about bad acceleration, but that was expected, considering the fact that it comes with a weak four cylinder engine. However, fuel economy is good, and the ride in general is comfy (unless you plan to use it for long rides ouside the city). The interior could have been made nicer, with less plastic in it.

NISSAN ALTIMA

Evethough it comes with a V4 engine, it feels like it has enough power, which makes it fun to drive and easy to handle. It performs well even on the highways. If you still want more power, you can get one of these with a V6 engine. Owners are also happy with the interior and space. The car looks ellengant, both inside and out.

2015 Toyota Corolla - Review

The 2015 Toyota Corolla keeps with this model's reputation for basic, frugal transportation -- while adding a lot more appeal over the Corolla of two years ago.

With a redesign last year, Toyota showed, at last, that the Corolla can be more than a penny-pinching, trouble-free economy sedan. Although the Corolla has been one of the best-selling small sedans in the U.S. market -- for decades -- the automaker really stepped up its game with the current 2015 Corolla, bringing in the sharper, sportier looks, the quieter cabin, and the in-car technology that today's small-car shoppers expect.

And what it's ended up with, in this 2015 Corolla, is a vehicle that's more than just thoroughly competent, but actually delightful at times -- a model you might choose for reasons other than the bottom line and watching your dollars. Yet one thing the Corolla doesn't stray away from is its low pricing and high value.

The 2015 Toyota Corolla doesn't blow past any boundaries for what a Corolla should be; but it does shed some of its conservative, bare-bones appearance in favor of something more vivid and aesthetically appealing. The Corolla's new look is described by the automaker as more athletic, and we won't argue with that. The core design concept, of ‘Iconic Dynamism,’ might be a little tougher to make sense of, as we see bits and pieces of various other current compact-car models in the overarching design as well as styling details -- too many to call it iconic.

The proportions of the 2015 Corolla are what make its design so successful. About three inches longer than the pre-2014 model, the current Corolla offers a longer wheelbase, with the wheels farther out near the corners of the car -- elements that together give more visual appeal, with a sportier stance, plus more interior space. Some great details, like LED headlamps and running lamps, finish off the design. The sporty Corolla S models stand distinct from the rest; they get a blacked-out grille in front with fog lamps flanking a more aggressive airdam; the look of the S is further sharpened by an integrated rear spoiler that visually lifts the tail. For 2015, LE and LE Eco models are easier to distinguish from base L models, as Toyota has tweaked that front-end appearance somewhat, with a new painted front grille, including dark gray 'Argent' painted surrounds for the grille and fog lamps.

The 2015 Toyota Corolla lineup continues to offer two different 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines; and rest assured that with either version, you'll get approximately the same level of performance and fuel efficiency. L, LE, and S trim Corolla models are powered by a base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. The LE Eco trim, with its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, has Valvematic, which has a broader range of continuously variable valve timing, for better fuel economy as well as a boost in engine output, to 140-horsepower. In most Corolla models (LE, S, and LE Eco), there's a continuously variable transmission (CVT); with it, Toyota has managed to tune in a reassuring, almost linear feel during light and moderate acceleration, while minimizing the 'drone' that plagues CVTs used in other small cars. S models get a special version of the CVT that pretends it's an automatic, with seven simulated gear ratios and steering-wheel paddle-shifters to click through them. The Corolla S (perhaps at odds with its own mission) is the model you should move toward if you enjoy driving; it gets a suspension tune that's buttoned-down in the way you might normally expect of a sport sedan—with a special Sport button that firms up the steering, and a ride that feels firm yet absorbent and nicely damped. Other models in the lineup remain a bit springy and pillowy.

The Corolla might have been considered mid-size just a few model years ago. With its redesign last year, the Corolla gained nearly four inches in wheelbase, and that almost directly translates to some meaningful increases in back-seat space. Even those six feet tall can now ride behind other six-footers—an almost unhead-of feat among small cars. There were improvements in front-seat comfort, too, with more adjustability and longer cushions than before, or than what you'll find in some rival models. Trunk space is abundant, too, with a long, flat floor, plus flip-forward rear seatbacks in all models.

Overall, the look and feel of the Corolla's cabin is more conservative than the contemporary exterior might suggest. Although last year's redesign brought upscale materials and a two-tier dash design that really helps maximize the sense of space in front, the impression is that the Corolla is aiming less for a sporty compact-car feel and more for a cabin that almost rivals mid-size interiors. A soft-touch material now covers the dash; S models have leather-like Softex bolsters and coarse, contrast-toned seat upholstery, while pinstriped accents are strewn about the cabin on the dashboard and door panels.

The 2015 Toyota Corolla offers an impressive safety set, as well as some (mostly) good crash-test ratings; although it's missing some of the advanced active-safety technology that's fast becoming the norm for this class of vehicle. It includes eight standard airbags along with Toyota's Star Safety system, which includes vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, and brake assist.

Across the lineup, Toyota now offers infotainment systems that aren't just competitive, but among the better systems in this class of affordable car when you consider their interfaces, ease of use, connectivity, and sound. Toyota's latest Entune system, featuring navigation and apps in some models, lift the automaker's inexpensive-car cabins out of the dark ages, and they're widely available in the lineup.

That lineup remains comprised of four 2015 Toyota Corolla trim levels: L, LE, S, and a new LE Eco model. The base L model features standard LED low-beam headlights with LED daytime running lights, in-glass AM/FM antenna, color-keyed outside door handles, color-keyed outside mirrors, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, power locks, doors, and mirrors, along with air conditioning, Bluetooth, and eight airbags. Equipment on all LE, S, and LE Eco Premium models now for 2015 includes the same so-called Driver Convenience Package, with a moonroof, Smart Key entry, Navigation, Entune Premium Audio, and the App Suite.

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