The Toyota Corolla is undoubtedly Toyota's longest running and most successful car, having been in production for 46 years and sold over 40 million units, making it the best- selling car of all time, after having been totally revamped mechanically, externally and internally several times over the years. As part of the Toyota tradition, the Corolla derives its name from European traditional history around the root Crown with the Corona, derived from crown and its smaller version the Corolla meaning small crown. Since its launch in the mid sixties the Toyota Corolla Sedan has undergone no less than ten major body upgrades, with the current version first released in October 2006 and having been given a complete styling revamp in late 2011 for 2012.
All of the current 2011 Toyota Corolla versions are powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine backed up by direct fuel injection and electrically powered dual variable valve timing pairing nicely with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission (ECT). The current version of the Toyota Corolla Sedan has received very positive reviews on its electric power-assist steering system that uses a compact motor, speed reducer and torque sensor built into the steering column for superb road holding.
Front suspension in the Corolla is based around a compact, rigid L-arm-type strut with a stabilizer bar while the rear suspension uses a torsion beam to allows solid handling and provide awesome ride comfort.
Although it has been around for close to half a century, and has undergone umpteen face lifts, the Toyota Corolla Sedan carries with it a design common denominator that is eminently recognizable. There have been a few reviewers that have pointed out that it is becoming difficult to recognize the Corolla as it is becoming increasingly similar to the next model up the Toyota ladder, the Camry with the only thing that's separates the two is their footprint. From the day it is was launched , the Toyota Corolla Sedan has filled a unique niche occupied by many famous predecessors including the Beetle, the Ford Escort and even the Model T Ford as providing inexpensive and reliable motoring for the masses.
Externally the 2011 Toyota Corolla Sedan gets a mini-face lift thanks to a restyled nose, and a three bars the grille, graced by an oversized Toyota emblem in the middle. The Corolla's rear has also been restyled and is now dominated by a fairly superfluous strip of chrome running between the tail lamps. Reviews have been more in favor of the front than the rear. To round off the general good feeling that the Toyota Corolla gives off are a fully color coordinated set of door handles and mirrors, spoilers and side sills
The driver and front passenger provide more than enough comfort for even a long journey, with loads of elbow room as well. Leg space in the rear is pretty tight but most people, except the very tall, would find it bearable if not overly comfortable. In keeping with any compact car in general. Also in keeping with its compact car niche, the 2012 Toyota Corolla offers trunk space of just over twelve cubic feet of unhindered storage access which can be enhanced folding one of the back seats forward.