Toyota Corolla Ninth Generation (2003-Present)

While Toyota claims its 2003 Corolla sedan has been designed to attract younger buyers, it actually looks like a shrunken Camry. Available as a base CE, luxury LE or somewhat sporty S, the new Corolla rides on a 102.4-inch wheelbase, which is more than five inches longer than the Corolla it replaces, and just 0.7 inch shorter than the current Honda Civic sedan. But 178.3 inches in overall length, it's 3.7 inches longer than the Civic. In fact, this new Corolla has exactly the same wheelbase as the original 1983 Camry and stretches out 2.7 inches longer than that car.

The new Corolla's structural integrity would have been impressive in a Lexus a few years ago. The strut front and torsion beam rear suspension are ordinary, but it's poised and the front disc/rear drum brakes work well (ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is optional on all Corollas). Add in excellent rack-and-pinion steering, and this is as close to a luxury car ride as any small economy sedan has ever offered. The Corolla still isn't as sharp a handler as some competitors (Mazda Protegé, Nissan Sentra and Ford Focus, for example), but that doesn't matter to the primary audience.

The engine is an evolutionary development of the all-aluminum 1.8-liter, DOHC, 16-valve engine from the previous Corolla and is now rated at 130 horsepower. The five-speed manual transmission's shifter is precise, and even the base CE-grade Corolla has four gears in its optional automatic. Equipment levels are up, too; the CE comes with air conditioning with micron filtration, a CD player, power mirrors and 15-inch wheels. The LE even comes with fake wood accents and can be optioned with leather upholstery.

Compared to the wide variety of Corollas available in years past, 2003's trio of sedans seems sparse. But like every Corolla before them, they're built to provide years of trouble-free driving. They're also more comfortable — and roomier — than ever.

Toyota Corolla Eighth Generation (1998-2002)

The Corolla grew again in its eighth iteration, but it managed to lose some weight and increase its fuel mileage thanks to a new engine and a generally more efficient drivetrain. The big chunk of that weight savings and drivetrain efficiency came in the form of an all-new, all-aluminum 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine rated at a healthy 120 horsepower — exactly twice what the engine in the first Corolla was rated back in 1968. Fuel economy was improved by 10 percent over the previous generation; with the standard five-speed manual, a Corolla could pull down 31 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway.

Only a sedan was offered this time around, and there were three trim levels — base VE, midlevel CE and highline LE. The VE was stuck with an optional three-speed automatic, while CE and LE buyers qualified for the four-speed unit. Equipment levels were much the same as on the previous generation, though base cars now came with power steering and dual exterior mirrors. ABS remained optional on all models, and there were new extras like side airbags and a CD player.

With its simple yet elegant exterior, and handsome interior, the 1998 Corolla was a mature machine among such adolescent competitors as the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. It was also comparatively expensive and short on rear-seat legroom, but sales remained strong, with Toyota putting 248,195 Corollas into customers' garages during 1998. The nearly identical Prizm (now badged as a Chevrolet) continued to be built alongside the Corolla at NUMMI.

Changes for 1999 were minor. The VE model was given a cassette stereo, and the LE now came standard with last year's Touring Package items, including a front stabilizer bar, wider 14-inch tires, a tachometer and various exterior cosmetic enhancements. In 2000, the company added its VVT-i variable valve timing system to the 1.8-liter engine, which boosted output to 125 horsepower, made for a fatter torque curve and allowed the Corolla to achieve low emission vehicle (LEV) status. New front and rear fascias, headlights and taillights appeared in 2001, as did a quasisporty S version of this popular compact. S models came with unique wheel covers, foglights, intermittent wipers and color-keyed moldings, mudguards and grille. Inside, it offered sportier upholstery, a tachometer and a faux leather-wrapped wheel. In sum, the S was more about cosmetic upgrades than actual sport. Meanwhile, the base VE model disappeared — the CE took its place, along with its unloved three-speed automatic. For 2002, the Corolla line was unchanged, though Toyota lowered the prices for the optional value packages.