Video: 2011 Toyota Corolla

We're gonna check out what's different, and in the face of redesigned competition from Chevy to Ford to Hyundai, we'll see if these updates are enough to keep the Corolla competitive. Up front the major changes include new headlights, a new sort of split grill here, and a new lower bumper here with fog-light portals kind of in the outboard sides. Trim levels include the standard, the LE, and the up-level S, this is kind of a mid-grade LE. I'm seeing a lot of previous-generation Mazda6 going on here, check it out, see what you think. This LE model has body-colored mirrors and door handles, but there's a lot of sort of black plastic here lining the windows, which is odd, 'cause you get to the rear of the car and there's this big chrome strip down here between the tail lights, almost looks too done up in back. I wish they'd put more of the chrome along the sides, not here. Not a whole lot has changed on the inside. Got a new flat-bottom steering wheel, not in this car, but in the Corolla S. And Toyota says the A-pillars and windshield, are a little more aerodynamic now to help with wind noise. That wasn't really a problem in the old car. Unfortunately, cabin quality kinda was, and it doesn't look like that was really addressed here. You've got kinda hard areas where your elbows are gonna fall along along the upper doors and center console cover here. You've got pretty crude climate controls and this head liner's really, really cheap feeling. Also the driver's seat doesn't go back far enough. We've had a problem with that before, and it doesn't look like it tracks any farther here. Gonna be a problem if you're more than six feet tall. The 1.8 liter four cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission are good for about 29 miles per gallon overall. That's better than most versions of the Chevy Cruze, but it falls short of cars like the redesigned Ford Focus and redesigned Hyundai Elantra. Kind of a raining theme here, decent stuff going on with the Corolla, but not outstanding. And a lot of competitors really are. If you want, check it out, hits dealerships early next year. <v Announcer>For more car related news go to Cars.com or our blog, KickingTires.net.