2014 Toyota Corolla L

The 2014 Corolla is Toyota's compact sedan, the one you cross-shop with the Civic and the Mazda3 when you want a small car that's easy to live with. Around town the Corolla feels light and nimble, and the steering is easy to guide, though it's not the kind of car that begs to be pushed hard. Inside, the cabin is roomy for the class, with a back seat that folds flat to open up the trunk for bulky items, and the controls are simple to use. Some owners mention a faint squeak from the driver's seat belt anchor over bumps, but it's a minor annoyance that's easy to ignore. The L is the base Corolla, so you skip the S and LE trims' extras like alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped wheel, but you still get the same 1.8L engine and the essentials. Under the hood is a 1.8L I4 making 132 horsepower, and with the automatic transmission it's smooth and easy around town, though the 4-speed automatic is a bit dated compared to the CVT in higher trims.