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AUTO REVIEW: 2020 Toyota Corolla

NNPA NEWSWIRE — More than 50 years later, 50 million plus copies have been sold worldwide, making the Corolla the best- selling car ever. And despite a market that has turned sharply towards crossovers and SUVs, Toyota vowed not to turn its back on sedans as it introduced the 12th generation of the Corolla.

Published

7 years ago

March 10, 2019

Oakland Post

By Frank S. Washington, AboutThatCar.com

SAVANNAH, Ga. – If not for the Corolla, Toyota may not have survived in the American car market. It was small, fuel-efficient and reliable which was just what the driving public wanted.

More than 50 years later, 50 million plus copies have been sold worldwide, making the Corolla the best- selling car ever. And despite a market that has turned sharply towards crossovers and SUVs, Toyota vowed not to turn its back on sedans as it introduced the 12th generation of the Corolla.

Other than the wheelbase, which is still the same at 106.3 inches, everything else has changed. The car is wider. The front overhang has been shortened while the rear overhang has been lengthened. Neither by much but enough to improve the overall balance of the car.

For 2020, the Corolla is shorter overall. The hood has been lowered by 1.4 inches and the center of gravity has been lowered. They also lowered the side view mirrors and attached them to the front doors. What all this “lowering” has done is create an open airy passenger cabin.

The front seats were redesigned and I found them very comfortable, sort of form fitting, especially around my lumbar. Even the backseats, traditionally a cramped area in compact cars, were relatively comfortable. I had a good bit of leg room as well as ample headroom.

Toyota has created a Corolla for just about every driving appetite in the community. There were six trim lines and for the first time there is a hybrid.

The L, LE and LV HV are for entry-level consumers. The SE is for the sporty minded. It has two transmissions, a six-speed manual and a CVT with a first gear that gave it some snap. The XLE is, in a word, loaded. The XSE as Toyota put it, represents the best of both worlds.

Count the hybrid and there were three engine offerings. The gasoline electric had a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that made 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of the torque. It had a CVT, regenerative brakes and the Nickel Metal hydride battery was under the rear seat.

That gave it a lot of balance and the car didn’t see too heavy for the suspension. Toyota continues to stick with the nickel metal battery. Though heavier than Lithium-ion and more power dense, nickel metal costs less. Sometimes money does matter. This engine was rated 53 mpg in the city, 52 mpg on the highway and 52 mpg combined.

Well this was a hybrid and it had all the characteristics of such an engine. On one hand, it was extraordinarily quiet, smooth and certainly fuel-efficient, though we didn’t drive it that far. On the other hand, there was no power to speak of as with most small engine hybrid engines.

The 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine used in the gasoline-powered Corolla made 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. With the manual, the L trim got 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 33 mpg combine. With the CVT it got the same mileage. In XLE trim, it got one mile per gallon less across the board.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder made 169 horsepower and 151-pound feet of torque. It had a combination of direct and port injection. It got 29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined with the manual transmission. The CVT got 31 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway and 34 mpg combined. The XSE got two miles less per gallon on the highway.

I didn’t get the chance to drive the 2.0 litre engine, but the staffers told me there was a big difference between it and the 1.8 litre engine — 30 more horsepower to be specific. However, I did test drive a Corolla Hatchback with that engine upon my immediate return. It was waiting for me at the airport.

Anyway, the hatchback had a CVT, thus, not much oomph was gained through the increase of horsepower. That’s the problem with CVTs, their power is subtle.

However, the upside was that this car got 32 mpg in the city, 42 mpg on the highway and 36 mpg combined. The downside was that the hatch lost rear passenger compartment space. That’s what happens when you lop off the trunk of a vehicle.

Still all of the engines on the latest model Corolla were solid with enough oomph to handle everyday driving. These compact cars have never been that big on power and the same holds true for the new ones even though they were more powerful and fuel-efficient.

The Corolla’s strength derived from mechanics, equipment and reliability. An eight-inch touch infotainment screen dominated the interior, which was really clean looking. Toyota engineers went so far as to eliminate unnecessary lettering on switch gear to enhance the minimalist look.

Depending on the trim, the new Corolla was equipped with ambient lighting but of course during the day we didn’t get the chance to see the full effect. There was a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display in front of the driver located between the speedometer and odometer.

They lowered the hip point almost an inch and moved it an inch and half reward. The result was a lot more space and that equaled more comfort. And the car drove lighter.

Everything about the 2020 Toyota Corolla was trimmer. They lowered the belt line, slimmed down the instrument panel, and slimmed down the A pillars. Along with lowering the side mirrors, this created a car with elbow room and unobstructed visual sight lines.

Sound absorbing sealers, foams and silencers along with the new architecture rendered a really quiet automobile. Other than the engine under hard acceleration, I don’t remember hearing any road noise or wind noise.

It is all about connections in today’s car world. The 2020 Toyota Corolla has what you’d expect: satellite radio, voice controls and Bluetooth. But it also had Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and Scout GPS. What’s more, a Toyota executive told us that Android Auto is on the way.

Oh, the 2020 Corolla has its own Wi-Fi connect that can service five devices. It’s got a 24-hour live concierge service, remote connect, service connect and safety connect.

Standard is Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. It is comprised of a pre-collision system that includes pedestrians and bicycles, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steer assists, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, road signage assist, blind spot monitor and brake hold.

Prices start at $19,500 for the L, $19,950 for the LE, the SE with a CVT starts at $21,950, with a manual transmission the SE starts at $22,650, the XLE starts at $23,950, the XSE starts at $25,450 and the Hybrid starts at $22,950. Add a $930 freight charge to all base prices.

This is far and above what was offered on the Toyota Corolla 50 years ago, but the car remains in the top tier of today’s compact cars.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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