The car is still working after around 23 years, so it's definitely a good car. The back seat is relatively small, and a car seat can only fit in the middle seat-and takes up space of the side seats as well. So there isn't a lot of space. The trunk is big enough for the equipment that is not unlikely to need with a car so old, as well as suitcases or a folded stroller. The brakes are not working so well anymore, but they do work. The steering wheel is smaller than average, which makes steering wheel covers not fit well. There is a tape deck, no CD player, because it is from 1996. (There is a tape-mp3 player converter that I use with it.) The sun visors are smaller than most others that I've seen, and have no mirror on them. The door locks are manual-there's no beeper on the key or anything. The headlights are manual, too, you have to turn them on every time you get in. There is a beep-reminder if the keys are in the ignition or the headlights are on. The windows are manual as well, you have to the wheel/lever to roll them up or down.

Clearly, the Corolla is a smart choice if you value safety and reliability. However, if you want your car to be more than safe, practical, and reliable, you can do better than the Corolla. The Honda Civic has more space than the Corolla, excellent safety scores, and it is more fun to drive. So is the Hyundai Elantra, which also beats the Corolla’s fuel economy ratings. When it comes to the Corolla, millions of car shoppers aren’t wrong – it’s a perfectly fine commuter car. In the small car class, however, “perfectly fine” doesn’t cut it anymore. Keep the Toyota Corolla on your shopping list, but make sure you consider the other cars that are out there.