Episode 20: Toyota Fielder 2008

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The Toyota Corolla Fielder is the station wagon version of Toyota’s best selling nameplate. It features the same outstanding reliability of the traditional Corolla with the versatility of a wagon. Under the hood, you will find a range of dependable, fuel efficient engines. It’s easy to see why Corolla is the most popular car in the world.
The Fielder looks different to other Corollas of the time. It has a short, flat nose, with a stylised Corolla badge rather than a Toyota badge. The exterior is very soft and rounded. Indicators are included in the wing mirrors so they can be better seen. The rear of the car features a small spoiler, chrome trim and lights pushed out to the corners to allow for as large a boot opening as possible.
Inside, the Fielder feels notably less spacious than its hatchback cousins. That’s because of its width - it is 70mm narrower than NZ-new Corollas. Designers have done a reasonable job of hiding this but the seats do feel slightly narrow; the gap between the seats small and shoulder room in the rear quite tight.
The front seats are still very comfortable and supportive. The driver’s seat can be raised and lowered by pumping a lever. Rear seat legroom is acceptable. The seat is flat and wide, with headrests for three people. Three adults will find it too narrow and the centre position is best left to children.
The boot is as impressive for its flexibility and size. With all the seats filled, the boot it has 407 litres of capacity, enough for three large suitcases. Pull a handy strip at the rear of the seats and they fold flat, more than doubling the boot capacity to 872 litres.
Lift the boot floor and you will find another sizeable storage space for items best kept out of view. The wagon door is broad and square; the loading lip is virtually flat for ease of access.
Our review vehicle had an expandable cargo cover and a protective aluminium strip on top of the bumper to prevent scratches when loading. The steering wheel is simple - soft to grip and doesn't have controls on it. Big and easy-to-read gauges live in a dash pod that follows their shape.
The centre console is clad in a shiny silver plastic. It houses a simple CD player stereo, which will require a band expander to receive local stations. Below it are the controls for the climate control air-conditioning. The car has plenty of storage with two glove boxes, a cubby in the centre console and large door pockets.
While the 1.8-litre engine found in New Zealand-new Corollas is an option, most Fielders, including our review vehicle, use a smaller version. The 1.5-litre produces 80kW and 140Nm and although this is low, the car’s lightweight - just 1,200kg - means performance is acceptable.
A five-speed manual is a hard-to-find option and our review vehicle uses a CVT automatic. We found it annoying because of its habit of winding up the engine to high revs for small amounts of acceleration. That means the engine is either relaxed or loud and coarse-sounding. Fielders with 1.8-litre engines get manual-style shifting on their standard CVT automatic. An all-wheel drive option is available.