• Well built and comfortable but high seating position
• Modern but not overwhelming high-tech design
• Facelift brings better screens, new trim

How is the quality and layout?

The interior of the Corolla is sensibly laid out with everything to hand, but not at the expense of some style. It’s clearly related to the Toyota C-HR but a bit less colourful and futuristic.

The materials used are a good balance between soft plushness and durability, and there’s a reassuring weight to all the buttons and switches. And while some of the buttons are a little small and fiddly to find without taking your eyes off the road, at least there are still separate controls for things such as the air-conditioning, rather than having them all integrated into the touchscreen.

For the 2023 facelift, the major interior upgrades include a new infotainment system with a larger screen (more on this below) and a full-size digital instrument cluster, although there are some changes to the upholstery as well.

Infotainment and tech

The pre-facelift model suffered with poor interface design and rather basic voice control, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The physical buttons around the edge of the 8.0-inch infotainment screen were easy to use, too.

For the 2023 facelift, the central screen size expands to 10.5 inches as standard – it brings with it a much improved user experience. It loses the physical buttons, but we found the screen responsive enough to avoid this being too much of a concern.

Similarly, the standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is an impressive improvement over the previous part-analogue arrangement – even if it has so many display options that you really need to take the time to set it up properly before you start driving.

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Other upgrades for the 2023 Corolla include voice control with natural conversation recognition, plus the introduction of over-the-air updates to keep the car’s software contemporary without the need to visit your local dealership. The MyT app allows you to operate the locks via your smartphone, set the climate control to heat or cool the cabin remotely, and activate the hazard lights to help you find the car in a busy car park.

Comfort

• Comfortable front seats, regardless of model
• Good driving position, if you like to sit high
• Rear seats are shapeless and cramped

The cabin in the Corolla is spacious and comfortable for those up front, with seats that come with heating and lumbar adjustment – the sportier items found on Excel and GR Sport models are especially supportive but all do a good job. It’s easy to find a comfortable driving position before you set off, and although you may find yourself sitting a little higher than in some rivals at least this helps with the view ahead and we would have like the steering wheel to come a little closer.

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Those sat on the rear seats may start to grumble on longer journeys. Leg and kneeroom are limited, and the broad front seats on Excel and GR Sport models can block much of the view out ahead. Factor in the small rear windows and black headlining on these top two models as well, and rear passengers will soon feel claustrophobic. The Mazda 3 suffers from similar issues, but the Ford Focus continues to be much more generous in terms of space and light.