The Corolla is one of the key competitors in the compact segment, and after a week in the car I’m here to tell you how it performed and how it compares to the other vehicles in this segment.

LOOKS
Some Toyota family vehicles are attractively designed inside and out, others are pretty blah.
I’d put the Corolla, redesigned for 2014 and tweaked for 2015, somewhere inbetween -- with a definite trend upward from previous designs of the Corolla.

I give high marks to the exterior design -- it’s not a showstopper but still good-looking. And the key here is the well-designed and spacious interior. No it’s not a large vehicle (hence the compact label), but compared to other vehicles in this segment it does quite well in terms of legroom for rear seat occupants and in terms of feeling somewhat spacious overall.

My head wasn’t bumping the ceiling and I felt comfortable driving the Corolla. Rear occupants might be a bit tight on headspace though.

And be aware though that if you move the front seats back too far, the rear occupants will be a bit squished, so this is probably not the best car for extra-tall folks who plan to transport others in their ride. For that move up to at least a mid-size.

Materials used on the interior were impressive and didn’t feel cheap or flimsy. My test vehicle had a leather-wrapped steering wheel, for example, one of the amenities I wouldn’t have expected in a Corolla.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
Here’s where things start to go a bit south for the Corolla.

It’s 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine produces 132 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque -- numbers that some of the competition in the compact segment blow away (Ford’s Focus compact is one of those who beat it, and is probably my favorite overall vehicle in the compact group).

The Corolla is front-wheel-drive, and offers a smooth ride overall, with minimal road noise. The Corolla handles well overall, even on twisty roads where some maneuvering is required (just don't expect BMW-level handling).

But there’s no denying that at times when you might need it, the power is lacking in the Corolla. And that will turn off some buyers, especially since there are more powerful options available.

And while life’s not just about having fun, considering how often people drive I would say most of us want our ride to be at least a little fun -- and that’s not a feeling I had much while driving the Corolla. It’s not one of those cars you’ll jump into and say, “I can’t wait to drive this thing”.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
I had a backup camera on the Corolla, which was impressive since that is not always included on a vehicle at this price range. A 6.1-inch touchscreen is now included, along with a USB connection, Bluetooth for streaming audio and phone calls, and voice controls.

Honestly, though, I’m not a huge fan of the tech interface on Toyota vehicles, as it seems a bit behind the times and outdated compared to other automakers. Might be time for a refresh in this area.

In the safety arena, the Corolla features the Star Safety System (traction control, anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist and Start/Stop technology, among other features), along with 8 airbags. The Corolla does not offer the option to add advance safety features like a blind spot warning system or lane departure warning, which is a bit disappointing.

On the plus side, the Corolla fared well with high ratings in government safety tests -- small does not mean unsafe.

MPG
Official mpg numbers on the Corolla are 29 city/37 highway/32 combined. I was pushing the vehicle a bit and averaged about 30 mpg.

Overall -- when compared to its main opposition such as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Jetta and Chevy Cruze -- these numbers hold their own, losing slightly to just a couple vehicles.

PRICE
The base price on the Corolla (L model) begins at $16,950. The Corolla S Plus that I tested starts out at $19,845, and final cost after delivery fee came to $20,895. This is still an affordable price range, though some of its competitors in the class do beat the Toyota prices by a bit. In this segment, though, the differences are small so it’s less of a numbers game and more about which brand each buyer prefers and the performance of the vehicles.

BOTTOM LINE
The Corolla is an attractive vehicle and features a comfy and well-designed interior and that alone will garner some interest in a segment where that’s not always the case.

But if you’re basing your decision strictly on how the car drives, the Corolla loses some points to its competitors.

Toyota dependability give the Corolla some bonus points too, but there is definitely some tough competition in the compact segment, and I’d recommend trying out several before choosing either the Corolla or one of its competitors. The Ford Focus, Mazda3, Honda Civic, Dodge Dart and Volkswagen Jetta are among the worthy opponents to take for a spin.

Which one you choose really depends on what aspect of a vehicle is most important to you, and perhaps brand loyalty will sway you in the end.

AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.