(PHOTO) Toyota Fancies Up The New Corolla

You have to hand it to Toyota: The Corolla is a true icon, one of the most popular cars ever produced by any automaker with more than 40 million sold. But even more remarkable is the reason why.

Unlike most automotive superstars, the Corolla doesn’t offer tiptop performance, bleeding-edge technology, or innovative styling. In fact, the compact car exhibits none of these attributes. Instead, it has reached rock star status by offering reliability and better than average value, something affordable to purchase and keep on the road.

And as Toyota executives were fond of saying during the unveiling of an “all-new” 11th-generation Corolla last week in San Diego: “Forty million people can’t be wrong.” Or can they?

The answer to that question depends on your perspective. The latest generation is an improvement over a model grown stale and outflanked by more attractive alternatives. But do you want to own an awe-inspiring automobile, something fun that sets you apart, or would you rather drive a sedate, rather workaday sedan that blends into any background like a chameleon? The Corolla still leans far more toward the latter than the prior.
Toyota knew that the Corolla needed a redesign to keep up with the competition, especially the Honda Civic and Ford Focus, which sport updated engines, fresh in-vehicle technology and alluring designs.
Behind them ranks the Hyundai Elantra, Chevy Cruze and Kia Rio — all competitive choices, all newer than what Toyota had to sell.