2010 Toyota Corolla

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Toyota Corolla's no-frills design is beginning to wear on many reviewers. But as a whole, they report favorably on the sedan's comfortable seating, easy-to-use features and reasonably sound build quality. 

• "Materials quality is adequate, but no better than the norm in this class." -- Edmunds
• "As with the Corolla's exterior styling, there's nothing avant-garde about the interior, though its design is clean and functional." -- Dallas Morning News
• "The Corolla has room for five people with its front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench. Cloth seats are standard and leather seats are optional." -- Cars.com
• "Materials and patterns are understated, speaking to the practical side without ignoring basic needs for tactile comfort, and they vary appropriately by model." -- New Car Test Drive

Front Seats

In general, the 2010 Corolla's front seats are soft yet supportive. This generation Corolla includes a telescoping wheel that reviewers say increased the driver's comfort greatly.

• "Unlike previous Corollas, this one has a telescoping steering wheel, which helps longer-legged drivers find a comfortable position." -- Edmunds
• "The driving position and outward visibility are immediately noticeable, although the standard seats are a bit flat." -- MSN
• "Front-seat headroom is down slightly over previous versions but you won't hit your head and virtually every other usable dimension is bigger. Front seats mix comfort and ease of entry and egress nicely, through the sporting models' heavier bolsters will be appreciated by anyone not shopping at the big 'n tall store." -- New Car Test Drive
• "At six feet five, this driver found the seats to be soft and extremely comfortable, with much-appreciated lower-back support as well as more thigh support than before, although tall guys will still welcome a touch more legroom." -- Car and Driver

Rear Seats

Space is limited in the Corolla's second row, but most reviewers accept this as par for the small-car course. Auto writers do agree that kids and petite or average-height adults will be comfortable.

• "The Corolla's back seat offers adjustable headrests for all three seating positions and is spacious and comfortable for its class, easily accommodating four six-plus-footers." -- Car and Driver
• "In back, the Corolla offers plenty of space for children and just enough for adults." -- Edmunds
• "The rear seat is apropos for the class and the floor is flat except for a small incline to the back of the console; the split fold puts the narrow section behind the driver so you can carry long objects and still put two riders behind the passenger." -- New Car Test Drive
• "Good leg and toe space. Those taller than 5-ft-8 will find headroom tight. The seat cushion is a bit soft for best support. Small door openings make entry/exit a chore." -- Consumer Guide

Interior Features

The Corolla's instrument panel is intuitive and made with reasonably good materials. Still, some critics note that the class standard is rising and making the Corolla's design and simplicity seem merely adequate.

The Corolla's standard audio system has four speakers, MP3/WMA playback and satellite radio capability, but most recommend the higher-end JBL audio system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer, eight speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

• "The interior matches the exterior. Plain it's not but it doesn't have the sci-fi dash like the Civic. Instead, the instrument panel is topped by a double curved cowling matching the large, legible speedometer and tachometer." -- The Family Car
• "The instruments and controls are logically arranged and easy to use. There's plenty of hard plastic on the dash and doors, but it has attractive textures that keep it from looking cheap." -- Dallas Morning News
• "Nicely grained cabin surfaces, but many panels have a hollow plastic feel." -- Consumer Guide
• "The S-grade gauges have class-appropriate pseudo-sportiness, although their red and white motif turns to Siamese baseballs by night. ... But wait, there's less! Rotary knobs and switches are clumsy and clunky, and the chrome trimmed-shifter looks out of place in the cabin's sea of flat black. More importantly, at every touch point, the Corolla is cursed with Toyota's latest form of competitive advantage: borderline beancounting. The plastics are harder than cubic zirconium, and the engineering shows a lack of attention to detail." -- The Truth About Cars

Navigation

Although few reviewers assess the Corolla's optional navigation system, they do give credit for including the option in this affordable segment. Also check out our GPS reviews for information on these aftermarket portable devices.

• "The navigation system has fewer features than systems in some other Toyotas -- no voice recognition for example -- but programming is intuitive, and the device is relatively easy to use." -- Consumer Guide
• "Navigation is available but with two caveats: First, you can not get the top-of-the-line JBL sound system in conjunction with it, and second, it lacks voice recognition and Bluetooth to help keep pricing in line with the Corolla's economy-oriented mission. On cars so equipped, especially with a manual transmission, the sliding top console will be appreciated on long drives." -- New Car Test Drive

Cargo

With 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the 2010 Corolla is not a class leader for hauling cargo. But reviewers agree the Corolla provides numerous stowage possibilities inside the cabin.

• "The trunk is spacious enough to hold luggage for four." -- Dallas Morning News
• "Trunk volume is less than in most compact sedans. The cargo hold is fairly wide and tall but doesn't extend far forward and has a tall bumper lip, small opening and intrusive lid hindges." --  Consumer Guide
• "A double glovebox increases storage up front. ... The trunk measures an average 12.3 cubic feet, but boasts a usefully wide opening." -- Edmunds
• "Storage spaces are well thought-out, even to details like a cord slot so your personal electronics connection doesn't get pinched." -- New Car Test Drive