2016 Toyota Corolla vs. Its Competition

John Voelcker

Now in its third year, the 2016 Toyota Corolla remains what it has always been: reliable, inexpensive, and somewhat on the bland side—though Toyota's tried to address the latter a bit without compromising the rest of the package.

It's got a crisp, more modern design, a more comfortable interior, and more features.

But even at three, it faces two all-new competitors: this year's Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic promise to offer a tough fight for any buyers willing to look at brands beyond old faithful Toyota.

We haven't yet driven either one, but both feature sportier styling, the very latest in interior finishes and digital integration, and each is likely to do well in a segment that's at best only holding its own.

The Ford Focus is one of the best cars for driving pleasure in this class and it too emphasizes technology options.

The Mazda3 goes even further, focusing on its fun-to-drive qualities and a more daring design over interior space.

The Hyundai Elantra is about to be redesigned as well; the current model has a long warranty and sold well in the segment.