THE first thing I want to say about the ever popular Corolla is how comfortable the seats are.
I hopped into one after a week driving a rival manufacturer's vehicle and immediately realised how uncomfy I had been.
Because you sink into the Corolla's seats - and after a hard day's graft you appreciate little things like that all the more.
The latest Corolla is the ninth generation of a vehicle which is the world's best selling model range. More than 28 million have been sold since 1966, so clearly Toyota knows what it's doing here.
My test vehicle was the latest T3 1.4 three door hatchback, although you can get a five-door hatchback, estate or saloon versions.
The hatchbacks are built in Britain at Toyota's Burnaston factory near Derby and Toyota claims it is striving for constant improvement and in particular monitoring its customers' needs and comments, which are reflected in the vehicle's development. It believes that a quality car built for the European market has the potential to be successful everywhere else in the world.
Changes have been made to give the Corolla a wider appeal, more specifically attracting younger motorists with active lifestyles. To support this the T3 grade has been repositioned as a more sports-orientated model, with new body styling features and a hi-tech interior trim. And it drives as well as it looks.
The new Corolla hatchback has a commanding presence on the roads thanks to a flowing line from the bonnet down to the front bumper.
The upper part of the radiator grille is body coloured, promoting a sense of unity, while lower down the intakes have been reshaped to direct air to the intercooler or radiator and also provide a neat location for the front fog lamps.
The headlamps are an important element of the car's "face" and the new Corolla benefits from improved designs.
The distinctive lights use separate housings for different functions: high beam lamps are positioned lower than low beam ones, with the cylindrical shape cut into the lower line of the headlamp unit to give a sharper, more modern appearance.
The new T3 certainly feels sporty, which should give it more appeal to younger drivers, while being good in the space stakes inside.
It has plenty of street presence thanks to its 15-inch alloy wheels, side and rear skirts and fog lamps.
The interior trim features special blue accents in a new fabric, exclusive to the grade. It also features carbon fibre-style inserts like the T Sport, to enhance the modern appearance and reinforce its sporting quality.
A leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob are also included as standard, along with an impressive four-speaker sound system with a CD.
My family of four found it extremely comfortable. When he picked up an additional child passenger in the back, it was understandably more of a squeeze.
Toyota continues to raise levels of safety with a number of improvements in all its vehicles and equipment levels have also been upgraded.
All models now feature a steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment and a new steering support bracket that provides a more rigid steering feel.
FAST FACTS
Toyota Corolla T3 1.4 3dr
Price: £12,395
Mechanical: 95bhp, 1,398cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 12 secs
Combined mpg: 42.2
Insurance group: 4
CO2 emissions: 159g/km
BiK rating: 17%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles