Overall the cabin is devoid of clutter. The clean design includes a perfectly integrated AM/FM/CD equipped audio system between twin air vents at the dashes center, directly above a digital clock flanked by hazard and passenger control buttons, with air conditioning, recirculation and defrost underneath. The aforementioned three-dial HVAC system, just below, finishes off the top half of the center console. The upscale theme continues downward with dual CD bins, covered with wood grain folding lids. The realistic faux wood continues down, curving flat to meet and surround the console mounted shifter. Finishing off the front console area, a small, rectangular knick-knack holder sits in front of twin cupholders - that fit a removable ashtray. The backside of the console houses a flip-down double cupholder servicing rear passengers.

Those relegated to the rear quarters will enjoy more space thanks a 36 mm (1.4 in) of legroom attributable to a 135 mm (5.3 in) longer wheelbase, and a 32 mm (1.2 in) improvement in shoulder room. Still, two adults will be more comfortable than three. Additionally, a greater feeling of roominess is achieved by engineering both the front and rear windows forward and backward respectively.

It would seem likely that pushing the rear window further back would cramp the trunk area but the opposite is true. Cargo space has increased from 343 L (12.1 cu ft) to 390 L (13.6 cu ft) making it the roomiest trunk in its compact class. Need more cargo room? For longer items, the Corolla's 60/40 split folding rear seats tumble nearly flat via trunk-mounted levers.