After a complete overhaul, reviewers say the 2022 Toyota Corolla still caters to those who value simplicity and dependability over sporty handling and flashy looks.

The Toyota Corolla has a four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. An optional four-speed automatic transmission gets 27/36 mpg city/highway, and a continuously variable transmission gives the Corolla competitive fuel economy ratings of 29/38 mpg city. Reviewers agree the Corolla offers a comfortable ride and is a competent commuter car.

Critics find both the standard cloth and optional leatherette seat materials in the 2022 Corolla to be very nice. Reviewers like the dash’s soft materials and black accents, but say the rest of the cabin is mostly outfitted with overly-utilitarian plastics. They praise the controls and available Entune infotainment system for their accessibility and simplicity. Standard features include Bluetooth, a USB port, auxiliary audio jack and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. A backup camera, cruise control, keyless entry and moonroof are optional. Reviewers say the front seats are spacious and the back seat has a good amount of legroom, even for tall passengers, which is unusual for a compact car.

Previous-generation Corolla owners cited the car’s looks as their favorite aspect of the vehicle, so the new version has lots of live up to.

Maybe that’s why I think the new Corolla’s front end looks similar to the previous Corolla. It’s got a sharply attenuated and sickle-shaped headlamp design, a more aggressive lighting signature, and an overwhelmingly vast stretch of honeycomb grillework.

In profile, the character lines are familiar, and in my test vehicle’s lovely Celestite paint job, the Corolla looked fairly upscale. This premium appearance is certainly enhanced by the great-looking 18-inch aluminum wheels that come standard with the SE and XSE trim levels.

Around back, the new Corolla looks sleek yet tame, and perhaps a bit less distinctive than last year’s version in spite of the XSE’s black lip spoiler and racy looking diffuser panel.