The Toyota Corolla has long been the obvious choice for buyers who want an affordable, reliable and practical compact car, and by and large, the current model still lives up to its historical reputation. The 2026 Corolla is available as a sedan or a hatchback, with both offering generous seating space up front and ample cargo room. The Corolla's infotainment system is about as simple to use as they get nowadays, and every model comes packed with standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights. Starting at $22,725, the Corolla is also Toyota’s least expensive model, slotting below the Prius hatchback, Camry sedan and its SUV cousin, the Corolla Cross. I spent a week driving a Corolla sedan in and around the Washington, D.C. area, and while its 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine isn't what I'd call punchy, it did return great gas mileage (38.5 mpg). For even better fuel economy, you'd want the Corolla Hybrid, which we review separately. The Corolla proved comfortable to drive on rough roads, with handling that feels neutral and composed. I was less impressed with the interior trimmings and passenger space. The cabin has a dull appearance that's beginning to look dated, and back-seat space ranges from snug in the sedan to "no thanks, I’ll walk" in the hatch. At the end of the day, the 2026 Corolla remains a great basic transportation option, but a few of its rivals go above and beyond. Make sure to also check out the well-rounded Honda Civic, sporty Mazda3 and value-packed Kia K4.