This car makes you feel like a taxi driver in Mexico City when whipping around the block. The steering wheel is a little bigger than expected and the steering ratio a little larger than expected, leading to a great cockpit to play Bus Simulator 2018 in. Really, this car is very easy to swing around the city with little to no resistance, just throwing the wheel wherever you please.

The interior is not noteworthy except for one aspect. Remember back in the early 2000’s when Ford had the entire interior of every car they produced light up with that brilliant Ford Green? Well, the ‘rolla has a similar quirk except it much less charming, and just very mildly annoying. Everything is basking in an electric “futuristic” blue glow, making you feel like you’re driving a commuter car from Tron.

Let’s talk engine, more precisely, transmission. Yep, it’s a CVT. Is it better than a Nissan Rouge? Yes. Is it much better? No. The transmission seeps so much power from the already anemic engine, the car seems to struggle going up hills. This is a fairly new car that feels like it’s got the power of a 1980’s Chrysler k-car. The 135hp it comes with from factory isn’t a ton, but its vastly underutilized and heavily diminished from it’s already pitiful numbers by the CVT.

By far the part that impressed me the most about this was the lane keep assist. Us as car enthusiasts usually hate when the car does things for you. We don’t want anything taking us away from being anally connected to the vehicle, wether it’s a Corvette or a Caravan. HOWEVER, this car does make a point for lane keep assist, kind of. The best place this car is happy is on the highway, with the cruise control on and the A/C blasting. Something that makes this experience even better is the gently bump the steering does whenever you get close to the line. That’s all it does, a very gentle bump. You can easily overpower it with 2 fingers. It doesn’t take control, it doesn’t swerve, just a VERY subtle bump, and I don’t think it should be any more. There is a downside, there always is. As soon as you merge lanes without the blinker on far beforehand, the car will scream, shout and let it all out thinking you’re flying off the road when you’re really just missing your exit on I4 trying to get to a McDicks for fries. Yes, every positive has a negative.

Something this car always has is people saying it’s the right first car. Hell, this one is a first car. But is it the right one? Honestly, and I know it’s a boring reason, but it’s not until the CVT is tossed or has simulated gears. The lack of power leads to this poor engine revving to the moon anytime theres any situation it needs to accelerate, and that genuinely scares a new driver. A lot of people don’t understand how a CVT works or even what it means, all they know is “my car is working very hard and I’m not going anywhere”. That feeling is no bueno for a new driver. But once you toss that tranny, it’s happy days. To make it simple, just buy a Camry.