Toyota Celica 1.8 Review

Overall Rating

Looks, price, reliability, ownership experience, pace, grip, handles.

Engines need to be worked hard, brakes.

The Celica has been around for over 20 years with various incarnations, shapes, styles, engines and configurations. The current model, it has to be said, is one of the best. It really is a handsome machine. Choose from two engine versions, both 1.8 VVT-i but dishing out either 140 or 190 BHP. There really is no need to go for the more expensive 190 option because the 140 does everything that you will ever need and although people who buy these cars aren't usually too bothered about fuel economy or running costs, the 190 is ridiculously more expensive to run, insure and fuel. Where the difference is, is that the 140 redlines at about 7500rpm, the 190 redlined at around 8500-9000 rpm which gives the extra surge of power in the gear. The paper differences between the torque and 0-60 times isn't staggering, and the 140 can behave like a 190 with a bit of extra thought to how you drive it. Where the engines fall down drastically is in mid-range grunt. An overtake at 60 mph in 6th gear can't exactly be called swift. In the 190, you would drop it down to 2nd and not need to change gear whereas in the 140, you would need a change half way through. Both will do the overtake very quickly in similar times. Both models have an amazing partypiece though. I was recently driving my 140 down an autobahn at a leisurely 85mph. I was overtaken by an Elise which then slowed in front of me. Dropping down from cruising in 6th to 3rd, flooring the gas made the car lunge forward with almost explosive pace until I looked down a few seconds later and saw the needle at 125mph after a change into 4th. What I found most mind blowing was the sheer pace at which it surged off from 85. It was nowhere near lightning pace granted, but for a 1.8 engine it was certainly enough to press me back against the seat and by the time you have half a chance to look down you're zipping into the fun side of 125mph (the brochure says that the car has a top speed of 130mph. Load of rubbish. If it does 125 in 4th, there's still two gears to go. I reckon it'll probably do about 140mph). This car does have an achilles heel. Well, in fact two. I mentioned earlier about not much mid range grunt, all the power is 5000rpm+ which needs for frequent gear changes. However, with an adapted driving style, this cannot cause much of a problem. The second problem is the brakes. For a car which can move fairly quickly, the brakes aren't so good at stopping it. They aren't bad brakes, but I've seen much better. The car has amazing grip both off the line and round corners, which means that the traction control (only available on the 190) isn't missed. Traction control spoils all the fun of motoring anyway. The driving experience is very pleasant as well. The steering is perfectly weighted, you're totally in communication with the front wheels, you know exactly what they are doing. It goes round bends with almost no body roll and grips very well. I know this may sound very silly, but throwing it around some of the fantastic roads in our country, the twisty back roads, you almost get a sense that the car is smiling, like it's a little playful puppy wagging it's tail waiting for you to throw it a stick, as if it's enjoying every minute of the drive, which in turn makes you smile.
This car, in various trim levels costs from around £15,500 to £22,000. The base model, as ever is sparsely equipped. Start moving up the range, and leather seats, climate control, larger alloys, spoiler, sunroof, aluminium pedals, subwoofer, sat nav etc. start to creep in. I own the premium+style which encompasses all the above with the exception of sat nav. Toyota offer an option of custom leather, which gives you an option of 2-colour leather seats and door trim. In silver trim, the black and grey leather looks the business, in red, the black and red etc. You see many Celicas driving round with no spoiler on the back (part of the £1500 style pack) I'm sorry, but without it the car looks very silly and completely wrong. A coupe needs a spoiler, full stop.
As with any Toyota, the ownership experience is wonderful. Reliability is faultless and the car has a very solid, well built feel.
Sure, there are faster, more powerful sports cars around, for example the Alfa Romeo Coupe, Mazda RX8, Nissan 350Z, Chrysler Crossfire etc. However, the Alfa, despite having the sort of looks which make a man want to weep, is too badly built and ridiculously unreliable, the Mazda is too expensive and you're always left with the looming question 'how much will this wierd engine cost to fix if it goes wrong?', the 350Z is more expensive still and is a damn tiresome car to live with and drive. After 2 hours behind the wheel, you get chronic backache and a headache. The Crossfire, well, the less said about it the better really.
The Celica is none of the above. Toyota haven't blinded us with science, they haven't filled the car with pointless technological gizmos. They have given the core ingredients to make an enticing drive - four wheels, a steering wheel and crisp, balanced handling.
One more thing, lose the drive-by-wire system. It's not nice on a sports car.
The Celica is a great car!

Members' Comments onSpirito473's Review

• S Watson on 11th Sep 2005

  Good review, but I disagree that the Toyota Celica looks silly without a spoiler. The point is that the car really doesn't need a spoiler at all because it isn't fast enough to require one. So why spoil its lovely lines by sticking unneccessary plastic on the back. It looks far better without it. Also, the base model is hardly sparse with air con, cd stereo, alloys, abs, air bags, excellent quality fabric seats, etc.

• Spirito473 on 12th Sep 2005

  Fair comment. It is simply a matter of opinion. Agreed, the car is not fast enough to require a spoiler, I just happen to think that coupe's look better with a spoiler. Nothing vulgar, but something that just looks good on the back. Matter of opinion. If everyone liked the same things we'd all be driving round in silver Vectras and it would be very, very boring.

• S Watson on 12th Sep 2005

  Agreed. Everyone in Vectras would not be good. A Celica is a superb looking car, with or without a spoiler, compared to a Vectra or other similarly bland cars, a few of which might cost more. Whichever spec you choose, the current Celica is a car that can be enjoyed and loved without having to be rich. Do you have any idea how many more years they're planning to build this one before replacing it?

• Alan Marshall on 21st Nov 2005

  I had a toyota 190 in thunder grey, until last year. Fantastic car great handling and above all fun to drive. The rear spoiler enhanced the cars good looks but alas became it's downfall in so far as it leaked water on the fitting housings and caused the boot to fill with water in the spare wheel well. Three times Toyota had the car back but it was never solved. I now drive a Mazda RX8 but I still love the celica more. It does'nt make sense that toyota are phasing it out next year, somthing to do with emmissions.

• davsterravster1 on 16th Jan 2006

  Brilliant car ( puppy wagging it's tail bit was a bit weird but I get the idea!!)
  
  How can they be axing this great car?