Yup, It's a Car

Okay, that may not be the kindest way to introduce the Toyota Corolla, because

It does most things well, but the Corolla isn't exactly a heart-throb. Unless reliability is your thing. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press)

it really is a good car. It's the kind of vehicle that gets good grades because it shows up to class on time every day, does all its homework, answers all the questions on the test, and gets good solid Bs across the board. Neither prodigy nor delinquent, it steadily reaches its potential through hard work and dedication, without slip-ups, but also without the ability to reach any great heights of accomplishment.

Not to be too negative, but being a good car is about the only box on the check list of vehicle requirements that the Corolla ticks off. Zestful cornering? Not exactly. Comfortable passenger accommodations? So-so. Cargo space? Enough for the basics. Cool trick features you can tell your friends about? I don't think so. Lexus-like refinement? Maybe for the next generation. But it will start every morning, move along with traffic at a steady pace, and it is an easy car to get used to and an easy car to live with.

The Corolla, as simple as it is, is a legend in its own time. It is an icon

Simple, safe and reliable. That's the Corolla. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press)

of safe, reliable transportation, but is it capable of doing anything beyond getting you and 4 others (in a squeeze) from point A to point B without incident and without using too much gas? It starts up every morning without fuss and requires a minimum of space to park every night, helped out by even, accurate steering. In fact, the steering was one of the highlights for this car: it was firm and fairly responsive as base economy sedans go.

Of

Corolla's older design means that space isn't as well used, as say, a Yaris. The rear quarters are a bit tight. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press)

 course, its competition consists of the recently redesigned Honda Civic (a dynamic and lively car), the acclaimed Mazda3, the stalwart Focus (which should be getting its Mazda3 update soon, starting with engines), GM's Delta platform twins Pursuit and Cobalt (oh yeah, there's the plasticky Ion, too), the black sheep Mitsubishi Lancer, upstart Korean Kia Spectra and slightly more established Hyundai Elantra, and pretty soon the Dodge Caliber will be joining the fray. Yikes. Each of those vehicles (except the Caliber) has carved out a niche doing something well, even if that something is simply not getting scratched and dented.

So what does the Corolla do? A little bit of everything, I guess, but its signature trait is its vaunted Toyota reliability. It is the turtle to many of the other hares out there racing to pump up horsepower, but while competitors dally with fallible new gimmicks, only to end up in the shop, the Corolla is out there chugging along for years and years, as you can see from the number of Corollas on every street in every neighbourhood, in every city, town or community.