Overview

Introduced more than four decades ago, and often touted as the world's best-selling vehicle, the Toyota Corolla is a compact sedan with seating for up to 5 passengers. The front-wheel-drive Corolla is now in its 10th generation, last redesigned for the 2008 model year. The economy-oriented Corolla is offered in several trim levels, with two different engine choices. The big news for 2010 is the addition of standard stability control and traction control across the model range.

• New standard stability and traction control on all models
• Otherwise, carried over for 2010

A popularly priced, compact front-wheel-drive sedan, the Toyota Corolla has been available in the United States for more than 40 years. Its five trim levels and various option packages allow the buyer to create a sportier model. The 2010 Corolla is a carryover from the previous year, in which it was considerably revamped.

The base-level 2010 Toyota Corolla features 15-inch wheels, a basic sound system, air conditioning, and some power accessories. The succeeding trim levels-LE, S, XLE, and XRS-gradually add features. The top-of-the-line Corolla XRS provides a larger engine, 17-inch wheels, sportier performance features, cruise control, and a rear spoiler. Options on the upper trims include leather upholstery, sunroof, navigation system, and upgraded sound system. The Corolla's trunk provides 12.3 cubic feet of cargo space, according to Toyota.

The 2010 Toyota Corolla's standard power plant is a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission. It delivers 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the automatic gearbox, according to the EPA. The Corolla XRS trim employs a 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine and adds a fifth speed to the optional automatic transmission. The larger engine delivers 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Standard safety features on the 2010 Toyota Corolla include anti-lock brakes (disc on the XRS trim, drum on other trims) with brake assist, stability and traction control (newly standard for 2010), active front head restraints, front side air bags, and side curtain air bags. In government crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Corolla received 4 (out of 5) stars in front-impact tests. In side-impact tests, the Corolla received 5 stars for front-occupant protection and 4 stars for rear-occupant protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Corolla the highest-possible "Good" ratings in frontal-offset and side-impact tests.

Starting MSRP for the 2010 Toyota Corolla was $15,450.