Toyota Corolla Overview

Building and selling inexpensive cars is a tricky business. It's a balance between a reasonable price and meeting customer demands for safety, sophistication and upscale features. The new Toyota Corolla walks this tightrope well.

One step up from the entry-level Tercel, one rung down from the popular Camry, the new Corolla will only enhance Toyota's reputation for meeting the needs of its customers. With an all-new body, engine and interior, the Corolla blends existing virtues with new strengths into an appealing whole.

As a model name, Corolla has been around for some 30 years, evolving from a tiny imported sedan of slightly odd appearance into a made-in-America compact that sells well and is routinely praised for its refinement.

Naturally, there are numerous companies looking for a big slice of this market. Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Dodge, Chevrolet, Ford and Saturn all offer their own interpretations of what a compact car should be. And they all build good cars.