The Toyota Corolla has been charming entry-level car shoppers since the late 1960s with its strong reputation for value. Though it faces tougher competition than ever, the 2021 Corolla keeps the car’s tradition of safety, durability and offering plenty of features at nice price alive. Some old habits die hard, however. The Corolla’s engine still gets noisy when pushed, and it prioritizes comfort over excitement.

The current generation of Corolla was new in 2020, and enters 2021 with a pair of new limited-production special models, the sedan-only Apex and the hatchback Special Edition. There are also some small changes, including standard Android Auto, two new airbags and an expanded cargo area option for the hatchback.

The sportiest Corolla is the spoiler-bedecked XSE Apex, with suspension upgrades, sticky summer tires and an optional six-speed manual transmission. It looks quite sporty and has lots of equipment, but isn’t any faster than the other 2.0-liter Corollas.  Toyota

There are seven Corolla trims: L, LE, Hybrid LE, XLE, SE, XSE and Nightshade, though only the last three are available in both sedan and hatchback form.

The L, LE and XLE models use the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine making 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The L starts at $21,020 including a $995 destination fee. For this, buyers get a healthy suite of driver-assist gear, 15-inch wheels, power windows and locks, a 60/40 folding rear seat, a 7-inch infotainment screen with standard Apple CarPlay and, for 2021, Android Auto.

The LE ($21,470) adds 16-inch wheels, automatic climate control, premium fabrics, a rear-seat USB port and an 8.0-inch touchscreen. The XLE ($25,420) adds a power moonroof, Softex upholstery with heated front seats and power driver’s seat, normal and sport driving modes as well as a few other tech niceties. The Hybrid LE ($23,600) is similarly equipped to the standard LE but can be upgraded with blind spot monitors.

The Corolla Hybrid LE looks more sedate than the Apex and is closer to how most Corollas appear. With a 52-mpg combined EPA fuel economy estimate, it’s very frugal, and all Corollas get good gas mileage. Toyota

Higher trims, powered by 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, begin with the $22,760 hatchback SE and extend upward to the XSE, Nightshade and Apex models. 

Most cars get a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), but SE and SE Apex models are available with a six-speed manual gearbox, a $700 option. Sedans cost $460 to $2,260 more than hatchbacks depending on trim.

The SE hatch gets 16-inch wheels (SE sedans use 18-inchers), smoked LED tail lights, a dual chrome-tipped exhaust and sport seats with fabric upholstery. The Corolla XSE ($25,710) combines the equipment of the XLE with the more powerful engine and adds blind-spot monitoring. It also comes with sport seats and the ability to upgrade with packages for navigation and enhanced audio.

The Corolla Hatchback is a pretty machine and does add cargo space over the sedan, but it’s smaller back seat offsets the gain. Toyota

The new for 2021 Apex SE ($26,165) and Apex XSE ($29,305) add mechanical upgrades to the suspension, stickier summer tires and cosmetic additions like spoilers and blackout wheels. The hatchback special edition gets Supersonic Red paint and a sporty-looking blackout-trim body kit. 

Even with the more powerful four-cylinder on board, there’s no real thrill to be had in the Corolla. The base 139-hp engine and CVT produce an efficient but tame driving experience. The 169-hp 2.0-liter engine is more potent and helps the Corolla effortlessly cruise around town and reach highway speeds without issue, but both engines get noisy and rough under hard acceleration or strain. 

The Corolla more than makes up for that lack of oomph with a calm, comfortable ride. Around town, the car’s suspension system hides everything from potholes to exposed sewer drains with ease, and helps the car remain stable and planted on curvier roads. The Apex models look fast and are sharper handlers than the other Corollas, but there’s a big gap between this car and anything truly sporty. Still, the car behaves with composure and predictability even when pushed hard.

Drivers will find plenty of comfort in the Corolla cabin, as well as quality materials and a well-thought-out cockpit. This Apex model shows off the sport seats. Toyota

Fuel economy is about average for the class, with EPA combined ratings between 31 and 35 mpg. That’s about even with the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf but short of the Hyundai Elantra. The Hybrid is very frugal at 52 mpg combined, but suffers more of a performance penalty for that mileage than some rival hybrids.

The Hybrid is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor for a total of 121 system horsepower. It too suffers from noise when pushed hard. The Honda Insight and Hyundai Elantra Hybrids are similarly frugal but better performers.

The Corolla’s cabin is clean and easy on the eyes, and comes with soft, premium-feel materials that are better than they need to be at the car’s price point. The front seats offer plenty of padding and the ability to find a good driving position for most adults. Sedan models are about average for the class in terms of rear leg room, but with just 29.9 inches of rear legroom the hatch is five to eight inches short of most competitors. Parents with kids in car seats will find the sedan easier to manage.

The Corolla sedan offer average rear seat room for the class and rear passengers won’t be disappointed with its smooth ride. The Hatchback’s smaller rear quarters are more difficult for tall people and car seats. Toyota

The Corolla’s trunk is small for its class at just 13.1 cubic feet, but the cabin offers a decent amount of small item storage and the center console is deeper than expected. Toyota only quotes cargo volumes behind the rear seats on the hatchback, 17.8 cubic-feet standard and 23 with the new enhanced cargo option that deletes the spare tire. That’s impressive, but the hatch’s cabin is also volumetrically smaller than most competitors. With the seats down there’s less space than in a Civic or Mazda3 hatchback.

The Corolla’s infotainment system is a much-improved over past models, but still not as intuitive or smooth as competitors’ systems. The screen looks good though, mounted high on the dash and easy to view with its matte finish. Physical controls for volume, radio tuning and climate control knobs are a welcome addition.

Safety takes a front seat for all Corolla models in 2021, and all models get forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision warnings, lane departure alerts with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and lane tracing assist. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts are optional. All that gear, and a robust structure, helped the Corolla earn a 2021 Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and five stars overall from NHTSA.