The 2014 Toyota Corolla S represents the top tier edition of Toyota’s most popular model, a compact sedan with such a strong following that even years of being left to lie fallow in the field hasn’t been enough to dethrone it as the segment’s sales juggernaut. The redesigned Corolla is a mix of the old and the new, a fresh platform wrapped around the still-beating heart of the 2013 edition’s engine, and one that has been massaged to blend in more gracefully with the modern crop of compact cars.
Because, you see, that’s exactly what the Corolla does best: disappear into a crowd. In a world where entry-level buyers are treated to high tech marvels like direct-injected, turbocharged engines and high-end infotainment systems, Toyota has chosen to cede the lead and take baby steps forward instead of leaping to the front of the pack. The new Corolla is a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, but it leaves the ground-breaking duties to the new compact champions like the Hyundai Elantra and the Mazda Mazda3.