2012 Toyota Corolla

The 2012 Toyota Corolla has one of the best fuel efficiency-to-power ratios of any standard-engine car. Toyota has streamlined the trim options for 2012 to the Base, LE and S trims.

The Base 2012 Toyota Corolla relies on the expertly crafted design of its predecessor, but the LE trim builds on that success with steel wheels and color-matching side mirrors. The 2012 Toyota Corolla S provides even more upgrades. The S trim includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust and color-matched front and rear spoilers. In addition, it includes side rocker panels and impressive model badging. For lighting, the Corolla S gives buyers halogen headlights and integrated fog lights, and Inside, the S trim offers power front seats with double-stitch accenting and a sharp analog instrument panel.

The official fuel efficiency ratings for the 2012 Toyota Corolla have not yet been announced, but the numbers are believed to be not far off from the 2011 models. The ratings for 2011 were 26 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway for the automatic transmission, and the manual transmission rated at 28 MPG/35 MPG.

The 2012 Toyota Corolla's chassis is built for comfort. However, the car is also very stable on the road. It rides as smoothly as a car of much greater size. A lot of the stability of the car is provided by its plethora of features, including traction control (TRAC) and vehicle stability control (VSC). The braking system includes both an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).

For sound, the LE and S trims come with a six-speaker stereo with AM/FM/XM radio capability. Recorded music can be played through the CD player, and MP3 players are supported by an input jack and USB port.

The Toyota Corolla sells well each year, and this year is expected to be no different. A solid, safe and reliable car, the 2012 Toyota Corolla is great on fuel and high on comfort.