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TEST DRIVE
Celica 1.8 VVT-i
Build Quality and Accommodation
Build quality of the UK Celicas is superb, apart from a cheap plastic used for the centre console. First impressions from the driving seat are of an ideal driving position with all the controls falling perfectly to hand. Although the steering wheel adjusts only up and down, all our drivers found the cabin comfortable.
Celica Cabin Front
Front seats were beautifully supportive, and other than the centre console the interior finish was good. In the front there was plenty of space and it doesn't feel too cramped.
Celica Cabin Rear
As you would expect, accommodation in the rear is less spacious.
The boot is quite large for a sports car. Not quite room for a set of golf clubs, but the rear seats can be folded down to make quite a lot more room if necessary. No surprise that Toyota don't see this car as remotely similar to the MR2 then!
Engine and Gearbox
On starting the engine the excitement begins. The four cylinder unit bursts into life with a beautiful roar, and is noticeable, without being too intrusive. At cruising speed the car is fairly quiet though even in top the engine revs sufficiently to let you know that you're moving quickly.
Celica VVTLi Engine
All UK models currently sport the six speed manual gearbox was is a pleasure to use with the gears being easily selected with a small flick of the lever. An auto option isn't currently available, though it must only be a matter of time before a sequential shift is introduced. Expect this to add a couple of grand to the cost of the car though.
On the Road
The test drive was a hoot. We started with a quick blast up the motorway, followed by some more pleasurable twists and turns. It was immediately clear that correct gear choice is imperative if the Celica is going to perform properly. The Celica needs to be given revs, lots of them, before it will sing. If you’re looking for something that you can stick in gear and tootle along in then this isn’t the car for you. You need to be prepared to think ahead and be in the right gear at the right time. When changing down to accelerate, don’t just think of going down a gear. In 6th gear it can be necessary to go down 3 gears to really get the engine going. For relaxing driving there is enough torque in the engine for it to be comfortable at a wider range of engine speeds, so if you're not in a hurry you can relax a bit and shift up earlier.
Celica Aerodynamics
We'd expected that at motorway speeds the car would be noisy, but at 70mph it was fine, and we didn’t even have the stereo on. Celcia's airflow has been carefully designed to give it a low drag factor and to provide down force for improved handling. This slippery shape must contribute to the reasonably low cruising speeds.
On the twists, the handling is a real pleasure. The ride isn’t uncomfortably hard in any way, and yet the steering and suspension let you know exactly what is going on. On rough roads, the feel through the wheel is just right, and on smooth roads the Celica glides along. Steering is precise, with the car quickly responding to the driver's input on the steering wheel.
Living with it
The Celica is a very practical car to live with returning a useful 33 mpg when driven reasonably sensibly and offering good accommodation for two adults plus some space in the back for short journeys. There are plenty of cubby holes for storage, and also handy storage areas under the floor of the boot. Other than the limited space in the rear, and the low seating position, it's as practical as any other two door hatch. Main service intervals are 20,000 miles, with only a quick oil change required at the 10,000 mark so servicing costs shouldn't be too bad. Limited numbers, and legendary Toyota quality, should contain depreciation costs.
Celica 190 VVTL-i
After our VVT-i test, we decided we had to have a go in the new 190 and acquired one for long term test. In the UK, the 190 gets standard leather seats, a sunroof plus electronic climate control instead of the basic air conditioning of the VVT-i; Basically the spec is the same as a VVT-i with the Luxury Pack fitted. But that's not the important bit - the 190 VVTL-i gets an extra 49 bhp (So it should be a 189?) thanks to major work on the engine by Yamaha. This includes an increase in the engine's rev limit to nearly 10000 rpm, plus a Variable Valve Lift mechanism to open the valves wide at just over the 6000 rpm mark. Gear ratios on the 190 are altered to make use fo the increased rev limit.
Celica 190 - looks like a normal Celica
Although we couldn't wait to try out the increased rev limit and the new VVTL-i power we ran the car in carefully to prolong engine life. During this period, the Celica was still great fun to drive and easy to live with. However, the car really comes to life once you get to try out the new power. As the engine reaches its change point, the note alters dramatically and the Celica's moderate tone changes into a load roar. The increased power can be clearly felt as the engine leaps forward towards its 10000 limit. In lower gears this is all over in a fraction of a second and its time to change up. In third the experience lasts a little longer. It all reassures you that the extra cost of the 190 is well worth paying.
190 bhp VVTL-i engine
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